Earning your own money at a young age provides valuable lessons in responsibility and financial independence. Many 13-year-olds are eager to find ways to contribute financially, save for large purchases, or simply have spending money. Navigating the world of work at this age requires understanding specific legal boundaries and focusing on self-employment opportunities. This guide will clarify the types of jobs available to you and provide actionable steps to begin your journey toward earning income.
Understanding Child Labor Restrictions
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the federal standard for youth employment, establishing a minimum age of 14 for most non-agricultural work. This regulation means that a 13-year-old cannot legally be an employee of a traditional business like a restaurant or retail store. Work options are limited to specific, informal exemptions that fall outside the traditional employer-employee relationship. These legal boundaries are in place to ensure that work does not interfere with a minor’s schooling, health, or well-being.
The FLSA permits certain occupations for minors under 14, which typically involve casual work performed in a private home or self-employment. Examples of legally exempt work include delivering newspapers, working as a casual babysitter, or acting as a performer in radio or theater. Another exemption is working for a business that is solely owned or operated by your parents, though this work must not involve manufacturing, mining, or any occupation deemed hazardous.
Hazardous occupations are strictly prohibited for all minors under the age of 18, regardless of the employment situation. For instance, operating power-driven machinery, such as commercial meat slicers or heavy-duty lawnmowers, is forbidden. Work in environments like construction sites, manufacturing plants, or mining is also universally restricted due to the inherent dangers. Therefore, a 13-year-old’s earning potential relies almost entirely on self-employment and providing services directly to neighbors and community members.
Practical Informal Jobs and Services
The most accessible earning opportunities for a 13-year-old involve providing services directly to community members as an independent contractor or “odd job” worker. This type of work is generally exempt from formal child labor laws, allowing for flexibility and direct control over your schedule and services. Building a client base in your neighborhood through word-of-mouth is the most effective strategy for securing these types of jobs.
Pet Care
Pet care is a popular and rewarding option, especially for those who enjoy spending time with animals. Services can include dog walking, offering 15-to-30-minute neighborhood walks for local dog owners. Other services involve “drop-in” visits for cats and other small animals, where you handle feeding, refilling water bowls, and cleaning litter boxes or cages. Providing these services requires a high degree of reliability and a willingness to learn about the specific needs of various animal types.
Yard Work and Gardening
Many homeowners seek assistance with general yard maintenance tasks that do not require the use of prohibited power equipment. This work can be seasonal, such as raking leaves in the fall or shoveling snow from sidewalks and driveways in the winter. During warmer months, services can include weeding flower beds, spreading mulch, watering plants, or helping with general garden clean-up. This type of work is physically demanding but offers immediate, visible results.
Housekeeping and Organizing
Assisting neighbors with light household chores and organization can provide steady income, particularly for families with busy schedules. Tasks usually involve interior jobs like vacuuming, dusting, wiping down kitchen counters, or organizing pantries and closets. These services are typically performed under the supervision of a parent or homeowner and require attention to detail and trustworthiness. Focus on offering specific, non-intensive tasks rather than deep cleaning services.
Tutoring Younger Children
If you excel in a particular academic subject, such as math or reading, you can offer tutoring services to younger students in elementary school. This requires patience and the ability to explain complex concepts in a simplified manner. Tutoring is often done in a public location like a library or at the client’s home with a parent present, ensuring a safe and focused environment.
Babysitting
Casual babysitting is one of the few exceptions explicitly allowed under federal child labor law. While there is no official minimum age, obtaining certification in CPR and First Aid is highly recommended to demonstrate competence to potential clients. Initial jobs should focus on caring for younger siblings or children of family friends to build experience and trust within a familiar network.
Digital and Online Earning Opportunities
The internet offers a variety of self-employment opportunities that a 13-year-old can pursue with necessary parental supervision. Many platforms have minimum age requirements of 18 for full account control or monetization, but a parent can manage the account on your behalf. These opportunities often leverage creative skills or basic digital proficiency.
You can create and sell physical items through online marketplaces, such as handmade jewelry, custom artwork, or baked goods. This involves a parent setting up the seller account on platforms like Etsy, which allows you to manage the product creation, photography, and packaging process. Content creation on platforms like YouTube or TikTok offers another path, although direct monetization through advertising revenue is usually restricted until age 18.
Other online options involve simple freelance services that can be done remotely. This might include data entry, organizing digital files, or basic transcription work for a family member or a parent’s small business. These tasks require strong organizational skills and attention to detail, and they must always be performed under parental oversight to ensure safety and compliance with platform terms of service.
Developing Skills and Finding Work
Securing informal jobs requires a proactive and professional approach, starting with creating a simple service flier to advertise your offerings. This flier should clearly list the services you provide, your contact information (including a parent’s phone number or email for initial inquiries), and a brief statement about your reliability and experience. Distribute these flyers to houses in your immediate neighborhood, focusing on homes that might need assistance.
Developing strong communication skills is necessary, as your first interaction with a potential client acts as an informal interview. Practice having a clear, confident conversation with your parents about your services, your rates, and your availability. Emphasizing your commitment to showing up on time and completing the job thoroughly helps to establish a reputation for professionalism.
Safety is paramount, and every job should be undertaken with parental knowledge and consent. Never accept a job from a stranger without your parent meeting the client first and knowing the exact location and duration of the work. For services like dog walking or babysitting, always have a plan in place for emergencies, including a direct line of communication with a parent.
Managing Your Earnings
Once you begin earning money, learning how to manage it is a fundamental step toward financial literacy. It is beneficial to divide your earnings into categories, such as money for immediate spending, saving for a larger goal, and setting aside a portion for future investments. Budgeting software or a simple ledger can help you track where your money is coming from and where it is being spent.
A practical way to manage your savings is by opening a custodial bank account, such as a UTMA or UGMA account, with a parent or legal guardian. This account is legally owned by you but is managed by the adult until you reach the age of majority in your state. This arrangement provides a safe place for your money to grow and allows you to learn about banking and interest accumulation.
You should also be aware of the concept of income tax, particularly regarding self-employment earnings. If your self-employment income exceeds a certain annual threshold, you are legally required to file a tax return. While most 13-year-olds will not earn enough to owe federal income tax, they must file if their net earnings from self-employment reach or exceed $400. Understanding this threshold is important, as being an independent service provider means you are responsible for reporting your own income.