How to Make Money in High School — 4 Tips to Help You Get Started

If you are looking for ways to make money in high school, you’re in luck! It’s not too early for you to think about this, and there are great ways for you to build a small nest egg for college while boosting your profile. While making money by itself is helpful, the journey is pretty rewarding, too! You’ll develop practical skills like communication, teamwork, and negotiation, along with the ability to manage finances. To help you get started, we’ve identified some great ways for you to enrich yourself and make money in high school. Let’s dive in.

1. Get an internship

High school is not too early for an internship. It can help you try a potential career option, build a strong work ethic, acquire key professional skills, and learn beyond the classroom. It also offers a first-hand look at the kind of work you can expect in your field of choice. Here are a few other benefits of a high school internship:

• Stronger profile: Prestigious internship programs can add value to your profile. The internship experience would demonstrate additional skills in comparison to your peers, opening up doors to other similar opportunities in the future. Additionally, a high school internship experience can strengthen your college application by showing the admissions team that you are committed to exploring career options and acquiring occupational skills.

• Hands-on experience: An internship is a great way to explore the real-world application of the concepts you learn in school. As an intern, you will also develop soft skills like critical thinking, analytical, business communication, interpersonal, problem-solving, and leadership. 

• Networking opportunity: As an intern, you will get to interact with and learn from experienced professionals and experts in your field. You can also build lasting connections with them and other interns that may help you in your career. 

Check out the wide variety of options here to figure out which type of internship would be the best fit for you. Many internships come with a sizable stipend, which you can save, invest, or set aside for the future. Also, check out our list of paid internships to find such opportunities. 

You will come across internships offered to high schoolers by institutions, universities, government departments and agencies, and independent organizations. You can also choose from online, in-person, or hybrid internships. You could even narrow down your search further by setting your ideal internship timeline: summer, fall, winter, spring, or even year-round! Then, you can determine your interests, beginning with broader fields like arts, STEM, business, and media, and then choosing a specific field you would like to work in.

While internships do come with many perks, there are some cons to interning in high school. For instance:

• Time constraints: You may get too busy if you take up an internship in high school. Internship commitments could interfere with schoolwork. So it’s best to choose opportunities that have manageable work requirements or run during school breaks.

• Uncertain job prospects: An internship does not guarantee a job in the future. It’s wise to have the right expectations when applying to be an intern. 

• Unexpected results: You may find out that the internship structure and outcome are not exactly what you expected and you may have to work on tasks you have no experience or interest in. 

In that case, consider a mentored internship experience like Ladder to get started. In all cases, do your research and ask the hiring team key questions before signing up to intern.

2. Start a blog

If you enjoy writing and sharing your experiences, discussing a hobby or sport, or just journaling, blogging is worth considering. Blogging, by itself, won’t bring in money initially. But, once you build a steady reader base, you can monetize your blog with ads. Or, you can try affiliate marketing—a way to make money by sharing products you like on your blog. For this, you will share a link to the product and share your experience of using it, and if readers click on it, you get a commission from the brand. If this sounds like something you would enjoy, then you can choose from free blogging platforms like WordPress, Wix, or Medium and get started with your blog.

3. Look for jobs and paid gigs

• Look for paid gigs around your neighborhood: You could look for after-school or weekend jobs like babysitting, pet-sitting, or starting a paper route in your area. Consider part-time jobs that do not take up all your free time. You can look for babysitting, house-sitting, and pet care jobs online or by just asking neighbors if they need such assistance. You should also utilize social media platforms and Facebook groups to advertise your skills and willingness to offer such services.  Also, check bulletin boards at coffee shops, bookstores, libraries, grocery stores, and other establishments for any fliers for such gigs. Alternatively, post your own flier indicating that you are offering such services.
  
  If you want to start a paper route, you can contact your local newspaper office and see if they have paper route jobs in your neighborhood at the moment. Additionally, you can run errands for neighbors for a fee. So, you can offer lawn care services, pick up things from the local store and deliver them, or car maintenance services like taking the car for an oil change, car washes, etc (if you can legally drive in your state).
  
  You could also find part-time or summer jobs on job listing sites like LinkedIn and Indeed. Some listings might not mention high schoolers in the eligibility criteria, but may still accept them. You can reach out to the recruiter and ask if they are open to hiring high school students.
  

• Sign up for freelance work: Freelancing in high school can help you monetize your skills and explore your interests. For instance, you can pick up freelancing gigs like writing, graphic designing, programming, and more on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and even LinkedIn. You can pick up work as and when possible so that it does not interfere with school work and make money per project.
  

• Work in retail or service: Teens can work in retail or service, at establishments like stores, malls, and restaurants. Waiter, cashier, and sales gigs are often open to high schoolers. These jobs can help you get some work experience and a first-hand look at how a business runs. But, you should check the government guidelines for teenagers before signing up for a job. 

4. Start a business

It is never too early to become an entrepreneur! Starting early with a unique business idea gives you much more room to make mistakes, learn valuable lessons, and let the business grow at its own pace. You can even make a part-time gig like babysitting or selling upcycled goods your business! 

To get started, you will need an idea, research to understand if what you are offering will find takers, some mentorship (from an adult with some experience in running a business), and a little bit of experience. For the last part, you can consider getting an internship first or a part-time job. Business internships can help you understand key aspects of running a business, like marketing, finance, management, and more. Also, look up handy guides on starting a business to know what to expect. Establishing a startup while in school is a great way to develop entrepreneurial skills, work ethic, financial literacy, and responsibility. 

If you’re keen on starting your own venture, you can consider applying to the Young Founder’s Lab – a real-world start-up bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.

A few more business ideas you can consider:

• Offer tutoring services: Parents are often on the lookout for smart high schoolers who can help their children do well at school. If you are good at a subject, consider tutoring, online or offline, for a fee. You can offer tutoring services before or after school or on the weekends. This way, you get paid for something you are good at and also help other students improve their academic performance. It doesn’t have to be just school subjects. If you play an instrument, you can teach someone else for a fee!

• Make and sell unique products: If you enjoy hobbies like crocheting or knitting, pottery, upcycling things like clothes, furniture, or decor, or creating art, selling finished products can be a good way to make some money. You can list your products on Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, and Amazon, among other platforms. You can utilize social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to sell handcrafted or upcycled products. This way, you get to indulge in your hobbies and earn at the same time.

Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!

Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!

Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.