There are a lot of things to look forward to when being a teenager/young adult. Looking forward to more freedom, getting a license, being on your own, eventually being able to drink legally, being entrusted with more things, etc. I'm sure you can imagine.
But just in the midst of starting to enjoy all this stuff, you start to realize that all this crap costs money. And on top of all this stuff, your school doesn't give you books to use for the year. Oh, and also, now you have to pay for school. Honestly, anything you want now is going to have to be paid for by you. That doesn't necessarily mean you, alone, but you're going to have to put up a big chunk of money for all this new stuff. Trust me, during college you'll probably spend a month's worth of tuition on booze. So now is the time to explore your options for jobs. None of them are that great, but you have to start somewhere and that somewhere is pretty typically the bottom.
1. Nanny
Probably the most lucrative job but also the most time consuming. People are literally trusting you with their offspring. Like, the thing they love most in the world, they are giving to you anywhere from 1 to 23 hours of the day. They are going to pay you the big bucks so they can ensure you don't, you know, kill their kid, but they are also going to expect a lot out of you. You are now the stand-in parent, and chances are, you will look like a single parent. Get ready for your friends to mock you for that, and the car seats in the back of your car. The only question is, is it worth it to you?
Typical salary: somewhere from $10-$20 an hour
(The lesser of nannying is being a camp counselor) Still have to be around kids all day, but you also get to hang out with people your age. Pay: probably around $10 an hour
2.Caddying/working at a Country Club
If you can get into a country club, do it. Caddying is typically reserved for guys, god knows why, but people who like golf pay through the nose to not have to carry around their golf bag. Also, a country club points to some sort of wealth, so any job you can get is doubled when it's for a country club. And the tips are going to be great.
Typical salary: $10-$15 an hour, plus tips and more for caddies
3. Waitress/waiter
This job is possibly the third highest paying job if, and only if, you're good. It involves good memory, a lot of walking and a sh*t ton of fake smiling. If you're any good and you work at a good restaurant it's likely you'll make good tips. The salary is crap though, so this job is really only worth it, if No. 1, you have no experience and can't get anything else. No. 2, if you live in a rich town, and No. 3, if you're hot and know how to manipulate people.
Typical salary: $5-$10 an hour
3. Mom and Pop Shop
If you can get a job working for a local business, you are getting a better deal than anyone working for a franchise. They are typically more relaxed, they may pay under the table (which is awesome), and it's probably more fun. Now something you may covet in working is a lax boss, as they can become the bane of your existence. And no franchise will have a chill boss because they are under strict rules from the corporate managers. Mom and Pop shops get their own rules, and they understand that you are a human not a work robot.
Typical salary: around $10 an hour
4. Odd jobs
Odd jobs are awesome, especially if you only have little time during the summer to work. They are sporadic, and you can pick pretty much when you want to do them. Unfortunately, that's not a steady stream of cash, and they can be obnoxious jobs, like, watering flowers, building sheds or fences, washing cars, babysitting, mowing lawns, watching pets, etc. You can imagine. A lot of it is brunt work that other people don't want to do. There is no real typical salary, but you can try to negotiate these, which is nice.
5. Lifeguard
This requires a lot of training, but you get to sit in the sun and tan all day -- or burn. You make that call yourself. It has all the makings of a very easy job, because drowning is rare, but there are people lives in your hands so make sure it's worth it.
Typical pay: $10-$15, and again, higher if at a country club
6. Retail/franchise
These jobs suck. They don't pay well, they set your hours, and the tips are crummy because you're sharing it with a bunch of other people. Also, you need to give two weeks notice for any vacation time. What teenager really knows what they will be doing in two weeks? If you can avoid it, do not work at places like Dunkin' Donuts or McDonalds or clothing stores like American Eagle or Victoria's Secret.
Typical salary: $10 an hour, minus taxes
And finally, there's always the internship. It's leading you into a career, but it's probably unpaid. Good luck.
So, pick your job wisely. Think about the money, the time and how much effort the job really takes. Having any one of these crappy jobs is going to give you time to think about what you really want to do for your career, so pick wisely, and enjoy your time on the bottom of the totem pole; it can only go up from here.
