You may want to save for a game, buy a birthday gift, or simply have money of your own—but every store in town seems to require workers to be older. If you are wondering how to make money as a 12 year old, the good news is that you still have practical options. The key is to focus on small, safe jobs for relatives, neighbors, and other people your family knows rather than trying to get a regular part-time position.
At age 12, earning money should never interfere with school, sleep, family responsibilities, or your safety. A parent or guardian should know where you are, approve each job, help you set a fair price, and be involved whenever you communicate with customers.
Can a 12-year-old legally work?
In the United States, federal law generally sets age 14 as the minimum age for most nonagricultural employment. However, certain activities are allowed for younger children, including casual babysitting, delivering newspapers, acting, completing minor chores around private homes, and working in some businesses owned entirely by their parents. Agricultural work follows different rules.
State laws may be stricter than federal rules, so families should check both before accepting paid work. The U.S. Department of Labor’s guidance for workers under 14 explains the main federal restrictions. These rules can depend on the type of work, who owns the business, the equipment involved, and whether the work takes place during school hours.
A 12-year-old usually cannot take a standard job at a restaurant, grocery store, warehouse, construction company, or similar business. Even when helping in a parent-owned business is permitted, children cannot do manufacturing, mining, or hazardous work.
Safe ways to make money at age 12
Offer extra household services
Parents may be willing to pay for occasional work that goes beyond normal household responsibilities. Possible projects include organizing a garage shelf, washing outdoor furniture, sorting reusable items, cleaning baseboards, or helping prepare for a yard sale.
Agree on the task, payment, and expected result before beginning. This prevents confusion about whether something is a regular unpaid responsibility or an extra money-making project.
Help trusted neighbors with simple yard work
Seasonal outdoor jobs may include raking leaves, pulling weeds, watering plants, sweeping a porch, picking up sticks, or shoveling a small amount of light snow. Use simple hand tools and ask an adult to handle lawn mowers, snow blowers, chainsaws, chemical products, and other potentially dangerous equipment.
Work only for people your parent or guardian knows. Avoid entering an unfamiliar person’s home or working alone in an isolated area.
Care for pets
Pet owners may pay someone to refill water bowls, feed a familiar animal, clean a small pet’s enclosure, or play with a calm pet while the owner is busy. Dog walking should be limited to friendly, manageable dogs in safe areas and should have parental approval.
Ask about allergies, medications, escape risks, feeding instructions, and emergency contacts before accepting the job. A 12-year-old should not handle aggressive animals or provide medical care.
Wash cars or outdoor items
With permission, you could wash a family car, bicycle, wagon, recycling bin, or patio furniture. Decide whether the customer will provide the water and supplies. Choose a safe location away from traffic, wear suitable shoes, and avoid strong cleaning chemicals.
A simple service can become more valuable when it is done carefully. For example, washing and drying a bicycle may earn more than spraying it quickly with a hose.
Help younger students
If you are confident in a school subject, you may be able to help a younger child practice multiplication, spelling, reading, or basic computer skills. This should be informal academic support—not completing another student’s homework.
Sessions should take place where responsible adults are nearby. A short, focused lesson is often easier for both students than a long tutoring session.
Try casual babysitting or a parent-helper role
Casual babysitting may be permitted under federal law, but readiness matters more than age alone. Some 12-year-olds are not yet prepared to supervise children independently. A safer starting point may be working as a parent’s helper while the child’s parent remains at home.
Before babysitting alone, consider taking an age-appropriate childcare and first-aid course. Know how to contact the parent, another trusted adult, and emergency services. Never accept responsibilities you cannot manage, such as administering medication or supervising children near a pool.
Create and sell simple items
If you enjoy making things, consider bookmarks, greeting cards, simple artwork, friendship bracelets, or decorated plant pots. Start with a small number so you do not spend more on supplies than you can reasonably earn back.
A parent should supervise sales, approve materials, manage online listings, and handle digital payments. Do not meet online buyers alone or share your home address, school, phone number, or daily schedule.
Assist with a family business
Federal law may allow children to help in a business owned entirely by their parents, but important restrictions still apply. Safe duties might include organizing nonhazardous supplies, labeling folders, watering office plants, or helping with basic filing.
Parents should confirm that each duty is permitted under federal and state law. A child should not operate dangerous machinery, work around harmful substances, drive for the business, or take on tasks intended for trained adults.
How much should a 12-year-old charge?
There is no single correct price for casual neighborhood services. Payment may depend on the task, time required, supplies used, local expectations, and your experience. Ask a parent to help you choose either a price for the complete job or an hourly amount.
- Explain exactly what the service includes.
- Agree on the price before starting.
- Do not promise results you cannot provide.
- Keep a basic record of the work and payment.
- Tell the customer promptly if the task is bigger than expected.
Being reliable matters. Arrive when expected, follow instructions, clean up after yourself, and tell the truth if something goes wrong. These habits can lead to repeat customers and recommendations from trusted adults.
Watch for scams and unsafe offers
A real opportunity should not require you to pay money to receive a job. Be suspicious of strangers who promise unusually high earnings, send an unexpected check, request gift cards, ask you to forward packages, or want access to a bank account. Never send money back after someone claims to have overpaid you.
Do not communicate privately with unknown adults about work. Have a parent review messages, confirm the person’s identity, arrange meetings, and supervise payment. If an offer feels secretive, urgent, confusing, or uncomfortable, stop and tell a trusted adult.
Use your earnings wisely
Consider dividing your money into spending, saving, and giving categories. Keep a notebook showing what you earned, what you spent on supplies, and how much remains. This helps you understand profit: the amount left after your expenses are subtracted.
Starting small at 12 can also prepare you for more formal work later. As you get older, you can explore a wider range of job opportunities available to 16-year-olds. For now, choose work that is legal, age-appropriate, supervised, and safe. Making a modest amount responsibly is far better than taking a risky job simply because it promises fast money.
