Top Summer Jobs For Teens: Who’s Hiring And Paying The Most

When I was a teen, my summers were spent less on fun in the sun and more on working hard to save money through various summer jobs. I truly enjoyed the summertime hustle. I met some awesome people along the way, and I had the money I needed for school in the fall. For many teenagers and younger college students, summer is not just a break from school. But it is a crucial time to earn money and prepare for the upcoming academic year.

ADP Research Institute used payroll data from more than 25 million workers to break down which jobs hire the most teens and younger college students in summer months. They also looked into the ones that pay the most.

According to the report, 16- to 22-year-olds comprise about a third of all new hires each June, compared to 23- to 26-year-olds, who account for roughly 15% of new hires. 

Which jobs hire the most teens and young college students?

The study found that hotels, restaurants, and other leisure/hospitality services employ the most teens and college students over the summer, but there are other significant employers for teens, too. Retailers, warehouses, and transportation also account for many summer hires.

Also revealed by the study is that companies hired more young workers in May 2024 than in May 2023. “So we expect strong summer hiring in these industries,” the ADP Research report states.

Which jobs pay the most for teens and college students?

According to the report, construction, manufacturing, natural resources, mining, and other goods-producing industries typically offer higher pay because their jobs require specific skills or experience.

Restaurants, retailers, and other service industries usually hire the most young workers and offer lower pay, but this trend is shifting due to labor shortages and rising minimum wages in many states.

The median hourly pay for young leisure and hospitality workers is $13.30 an hour. While this is still less than other industries, it does not include tips.

“In short, leisure and hospitality offers great opportunities for younger job-seekers because employers are willing to pay more for much-needed seasonal help,” the report said

There are plenty of jobs out there that can help a teen build up their savings, gain work experience, or simply get out of the house this summer. According to Fidelity, a financial services corporation, some of those jobs include babysitting, pet sitting, customer service agent, golf caddy, concessions worker, lifeguard, camp counselor, seasonal restaurant staffer, and others.

Take a look at the complete report here.

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She’s made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.

She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.

A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community.

She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.