Part-Time & Summer Jobs for High School Students
Nichable lists 215 jobs for high school students right now. 96% of them pay students, and 65% accept 9th graders. More figures
A paid job teaches things volunteering and coursework don't — showing up on time, taking direction from a manager, handling money and customers. Many students start with a city-run summer youth employment program, which places you with a real local employer with far less legwork than applying cold to individual businesses.
Age and hour restrictions for minors vary by state, and most city youth employment programs have their own eligibility window (often tied to residency or school enrollment) and a fixed application period that opens and closes well before summer starts. It's worth checking your specific city or county's program directly, since the details differ meaningfully from one place to the next.
What counts
- · City and county summer youth employment programs (often paid, application-based)
- · Retail, food service, and hospitality roles
- · Camp counselor and recreation-program positions
- · Office, clerical, and other entry-level roles that accept 16-18 year olds
- · Federal programs like the Youth Conservation Corps
Real jobs right now
7 upcoming deadlines for jobs, by month, with a calendar you can subscribe to.
How to actually get one
- · City and county youth employment programs typically open applications in winter or early spring for a summer start — missing that window usually means waiting until the next year, so it's worth checking your city's program earlier than feels necessary.
- · A part-time job during the school year (not just summer) is just as legitimate on an application as a summer-only role, and can be easier to sustain since it doesn't require competing for a fixed number of summer slots.
- · If you're applying cold to a retail or food-service employer, showing up in person with a printed resume (even a short one) still works better at many smaller local businesses than only applying online.
- · A consistent, ordinary job — reliably showing up, handling real responsibility — is a legitimate and often underrated thing to describe on an application; it doesn't need to sound impressive to be a genuinely strong example of work ethic.
Common questions
How old do I need to be to work?
It varies by state and by employer, but 14-16 is the typical minimum, with more roles opening up at 16 due to fewer restricted-hours rules.
Do city youth employment programs pay minimum wage?
Most do — federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher — and many also include job-readiness training alongside the paid placement.
Is a paid job worse than an internship for college applications?
No — admissions officers and employers both value real work experience; a consistent part-time job often demonstrates more reliability than a short internship.
Do I need a work permit?
Many states require one for minors — check your state's department of labor site, since the process and required forms differ by state.
What if my city doesn't have a youth employment program?
Retail, food service, camps, and recreation programs hire directly year-round in most areas — a city-run program is a convenient starting point, not the only path to a first job.