Best Jobs for 13-Year-Olds in 2026: Legal, High-Paying, and Easy Options
Discover the top legal jobs for 13-year-olds in the USA, including neighborhood gigs, remote ideas, and entrepreneurial hustles fully compliant with 2026 FLSA and state child labor laws. Whether you're a parent guiding your teen or a 13-year-old ready to hustle, this guide delivers practical tips, average pay rates from sources like BusyKid and KidVestors, real success stories, and step-by-step guides to start earning safely without risking violations.
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Jobs for 13-Year-Olds in 2026
Looking for the absolute best? Based on pay, ease, legality, and popularity, here are the top picks:
| Job | Avg Pay | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babysitting | $15-25/hr | High demand, flexible hours, builds responsibility | Requires trust-building, evening work |
| Dog Walking | $10-20/walk | Fun for animal lovers, quick cash, repeat clients | Weather-dependent, pet handling skills needed |
| Lawn Mowing | $20-50/job | Scalable to business, seasonal high earnings | Physical work, equipment costs |
| Lemonade Stands | $50-200/day | Low startup, entrepreneurial fun | Weather/location reliant, short-term |
| Tutoring | $12-30/hr | Leverages school skills, remote possible | Needs strong grades in subjects |
These gigs are informal and self-employed, dodging strict FLSA employer rules while maximizing earnings (BusyKid data).
Key Takeaways: Best Jobs at a Glance
- Babysitting tops pay at $15-25/hr, ideal for responsible teens.
- Dog walking averages $10-20 per 30-min walk, popular in suburbs.
- FLSA allows informal gigs like these for 13-year-olds; no federal minimum age for non-hazardous self-employment.
- Lawn mowing can net $20-50 per yard, scaling to $500+/summer.
- Remote options like Etsy crafts (13+ with parent) or Swagbucks surveys (13+) offer $5-50/task.
- Highest earners: Tutoring ($12-30/hr) and car washing ($20-40/car).
- Easiest: Lemonade stands or pet sitting, startup under $20.
- Legality key: Stick to neighborhood/self-employed to avoid state bans under 14.
- Earnings potential: $200-1,000/month part-time without exceeding 3 hrs/school day (DOL Fact Sheet #43).
- Success stat: Teens in gigs like these build skills leading to 20% higher future wages (per studies cited in BusyKid).
Child Labor Laws for 13-Year-Olds in the USA (2026 Update)
Understanding laws builds trust--violate them, and face fines up to $10k per incident (Texas Workforce Commission). Federal FLSA sets baselines, but states vary. Informal neighborhood gigs (babysitting, mowing) are generally allowed as self-employment, exempt from many rules.
Federal FLSA Rules for Non-Agricultural Jobs
FLSA (DOL Fact Sheet #43) prohibits 13-year-olds from most formal jobs but permits casual work:
- Hours: Max 3 hrs on school days; 18 hrs/week during school; no work before 7AM or after 7PM (extends to 9PM June 1-Labor Day).
- Prohibited: Hazardous tasks like power-driven machinery, explosives (Hazardous Order 1), meat processing (Order 10), logging (Order 4) per CRS report.
- No federal earnings cap for informal work, but hours limit income.
State-by-State Guide: What's Allowed for 13-Year-Olds
States often stricter; check local rules (WorldPopulationReview 2026 data). Parental consent often required.
| State | Min Age (General) | 13-Year-Old Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 14 | None except family business/acting (TWC) |
| Illinois | 14 | Caddying at golf courses (IL Labor) |
| New York | 14 | Work permit for casual jobs |
| California | 12 (entertainment) | Informal gigs OK |
| Florida | 14 | Agriculture/sales with permit |
| Pennsylvania | 14 | Delivery/newsboy |
| National Avg | 14 | Self-employed neighborhood work |
Agriculture exceptions lower age to 10+ outside school (IL data).
Top 10 Highest-Paying and Easy Jobs for 13-Year-Olds
From BusyKid and KidVestors: Focus on high-pay, low-barrier options with mini case studies.
Neighborhood Gigs (Babysitting, Dog Walking, Lawn Mowing, Car Washing)
- Babysitting: $15-25/hr. Tips for beginners: Get Red Cross certified ($30 online), start with family, set rules. Case: 13yo built $500/month client base.
- Dog Walking: $10-20/walk. Post flyers; liability waiver via parent. Pays $15 avg (BusyKid).
- Lawn Mowing: $20-50/job. Buy used mower ($100); target 10 lawns/week = $1k summer.
- Car Washing: $20-40/car. Supplies $20; detail interiors for premium.
Summer & After-School Jobs (Lemonade Stands, Tutoring)
- Lemonade Stands: $50-200/day. 10 tips (GigglesGalore): Prime location (cul-de-sac), fun signs, add cookies ($1 upsell).
- Tutoring: $12-30/hr for younger kids in math/English. Use school strengths; summer girls' favorite.
Other top: Pet sitting ($10-15/visit), crafts sales.
Remote and Online Jobs for 13-Year-Olds: Legal Options from Home
Digital gigs shine for flexibility, but platforms require 13+ with parental consent.
- Etsy Handmade Crafts: 13+ OK with parent-managed account (Swagify). Sell bracelets ($5-20/item); earnings $50-500/month.
- YouTube/TikTok: Monetize at 18+, but parent-owned channels allowed (Mydoh). Focus gifts/donations; 10k followers needed.
- Surveys/Apps: Swagbucks (13+), $1-5/survey (MoneyProdigy).
| Type | Pay | Ease | Legality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood | Higher ($15+/hr) | Medium | Always legal (informal) |
| Remote | $5-30/hr | High | Parent consent; platform rules |
Best Gig Apps and Platforms for Under 18s
- Swagbucks (13+): Surveys/games, $25-100/month.
- Mistplay (13+): Play games for units/$ (Stephatch).
- Stock photos: $5-50/image (Shutterstock, 13+ parent).
Starting a Business at 13: Pros, Cons, and Success Stories
Self-employment > traditional jobs for flexibility.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Set hours, unlimited scale | Inconsistent pay |
| Skill-building (Kate Toon's son: $25/hr videos) | Startup costs |
Stories:
- Ollie (13): Opened passion shop, scaled fast (MoneyTree).
- Patterson (13): Book/brand sold thousands, now in 60 stores (Ultra Education).
- Imogen/Annie (12): Lockdown cosmetics biz.
Emphasize parental consent.
Step-by-Step Guides: How to Get Started in the Best Jobs
Checklist: Launch Your Lawn Mowing or Car Washing Hustle
- Get parent permission/tools.
- Price: $25-50/job.
- Flyers: "Reliable 13yo service."
- First 3 free for reviews.
- Track earnings.
Checklist: Start Selling Handmade Crafts on Etsy Legally
- Parent creates account.
- List 5 items (photos, $5-20).
- Promote on social.
- Ship via parent.
Babysitting: Certify, rates $15/hr, references.
How Much Can a 13-Year-Old Legally Earn in 2026?
No federal cap on informal earnings, but FLSA hours limit: ~$500-2,000/month max (3hrs/day). Taxes if >$400/year (parent files). States like Texas fine employers $10k/violation, but self-employed safe. Realistic: $12-30/hr tutoring, $20-200 lemonade day.
Pros & Cons: Neighborhood Jobs vs. Remote Gigs for 13-Year-Olds
| Factor | Neighborhood | Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | $15-50/job | $5-30/hr |
| Flexibility | After-school | Anytime |
| Legality | High (informal) | Medium (COPPA/parent) |
| Skills | People/physical | Digital/creativity |
Neighborhood wins for pay; remote for ease.
FAQ
Is babysitting legal for 13-year-olds in the USA?
Yes, as informal self-employment; no FLSA employer rules apply.
What are the highest paying jobs for 13-year-olds in 2026?
Babysitting ($15-25/hr), tutoring ($12-30/hr), lawn mowing ($20-50/job).
Can 13-year-olds do remote jobs from home legally?
Yes, with parent consent on platforms like Etsy/Swagbucks (13+).
What are FLSA rules for part-time jobs for 13-year-olds?
Max 3 hrs/school day, 18/week; no hazards (DOL #43).
How to start a lemonade stand or lawn mowing business at 13?
Location/signs for stands; tools/flyers for mowing--parental OK.
State-by-state: Jobs allowed for 13-year-olds with parental consent?
Varies: IL caddying, most allow informal gigs; check DOL state chart.