Top 5 Summer Jobs Ranked

Easy jobs, easy money.

As the next summer rolls in, most of us teens will have the luxury of too much time on our hands. In theory, this phenomenon sounds ideal, but in practice, an excess of free time leaves you in a state of utter boredom. You're faced with a dilemma where going out just doesn't hit the same with all this leisure, and now you're not even in the mood to doomscroll. Shocking. But, I’ve got the solution. Summer is the perfect time to finally earn some cold, hard cash, as easily as you can, of course. To help you on this productive journey, I have derived a list of five easy jobs for anyone to pick up over the summer so you can tell your friends that you actually did something cool over break. 

#5: Odd Jobs

Wages: $5 to $20 per job

What is an odd job anyway? Glad you asked. It's a chore or errand someone pays you to do. The job itself could range from something like yard work to delivery. Make your services known to the general public and people will pay $20-40 per “task.” Due to the nature of odd jobs, it forces you to work on one task at a time, meaning you aren't bound to a 9-to-5 work shift, leaving you to clock out whenever you want. And this gives you more freedom to do what you want in the summer. In short, odd jobs are quick to do, easy to find, and therefore a perfect summer job for those wanting to earn some quick cash.

#4: Tutoring (online or in person)

Wages: $20-50 per hour

For the academically inclined, summer tutoring is an excellent job opportunity this summer, especially if you have high marks in a certain subject or you're just an expert at said subject. Tutoring earns an exceptional amount of money each summer, with basic subjects such as grade school curriculum math even making about $20 to $40 an hour. Keep in mind that in areas with a higher cost of living, like California, rates tend to be on the upper end of that range. As a bonus, tutoring doesn't always have to be done in person, which means that with the convenience of online video calling, tutoring can be done strictly online. Not to mention that tutoring looks great on resumes and college applications because it lets them know, 1. you have a strong work ethic and discipline, 2. You have almost, if not, perfect social skills, and finally, 3. Tutors are smart. Colleges love these sorts of things, for some reason. 

Tutoring is an exceptionally easy and fun job when you're teaching the subject you love.

#3: Summer Camp Counselor

Wages: $18 per hour

While the whole idea of being a camp counselor goes against this lazy mindset presented in the first paragraph, please hear me out. A summer camp counselor job is where it's at if you want to have fun, and get a consistent paycheck. It even helps you boost your social skills. If you want a job that gets you out of the house, for something enjoyable, this job is for you. The typical summer camp counselor will need to lead games(these can range from indoor games like duck, duck, goose, and mafia, to more involved ones such as scavenger hunts and Star Wars dodgeball), play them, and clean them up. I myself have worked at a summer camp for a few years now, and can back up every single claim I have mentioned thus far. The only downside I can seem to think of is that shifts are around 8 hours a day, so if this sounds too long, consider some other options. 

If you need any proof or have any questions, the comment section down below is always open.

#2: Reselling on Online Marketplaces

Wage: can range from $1 to $1,000 if you know what you're doing.

Warning! This option is not for those planning on making a stable income, but more for making a quick buck. 

Lazy? Just don't want an actual job? Great. Plenty of teens are flocking to sites like eBay and Facebook to resell some of the old things they and their families don’t need anymore. I personally know a friend with an eBay store who has made about $600 in the last 90 days just from selling coins. So yes, reselling is extremely profitable, not to mention, an easy side hustle, especially if you're selling stuff that people actually want.

#1: Pet Sitting, Baby Sitting, Dog Walking

Wages: $20 per hour

My research and personal experience have led me to present to you the best summer job of all time.

Pet/babysitting is not only an easy way to earn quick cash but it can also be super fun if you actually take time to engage with the animal or human you’re taking care of. Sure you can walk the dog, but why not go the extra mile and play with them too? Trust me, the fun you'll get out of it will make everything worth it. This applies to the kids, too. At least try to play with them before you let them be on their iPad. “How might I accomplish such a painstaking task?” you might ask. I got you covered. Often, you just have to ask them what they like to do for fun, and that's the only question you'll need to ask.

Might I remind you, people get paid to do all this. Typical pet-sitting and babysitting rates in this economy are usually about $20 an hour; on top of that, sometimes you'll get tips. Just make sure you're actively engaging with the pet or kiddo.

Honorable mention: Online tasks

This wasn't put on the actual list because it's not even a job, nor a side hustle. Think of it as a last resort. Completing online tasks can be an easy way to earn a bit of snack money. Doing online tasks such as surveys, watching ads can earn you from 40 cents to $2 per survey. Swagbucks, and MyPoints, just to name a few, are websites that offer these services. 

Have any suggestions, or know of other forms of employment? Shoot me a comment down below. 

Good luck on your journey of employment!