A 12-year-old may be ready to earn money, but a grocery store or restaurant will probably say, “Come back when you are older.” That does not mean paid work is impossible. It means the best jobs for 12 year olds that pay are usually casual, local, parent-supervised services rather than conventional payroll positions.
There is no reliable national average wage specifically for 12-year-olds. Earnings vary widely because most opportunities involve neighbors, relatives, family businesses, entertainment, newspaper delivery, or certain agricultural work. Before accepting any job, families should confirm that the work is legal, age-appropriate, and safe.
Can a 12-year-old legally have a job?
Under federal law, age 14 is generally the minimum for most nonagricultural employment. However, children under 14 may perform certain types of work, including casual babysitting, newspaper delivery, acting or performing, and eligible work in a business owned entirely by their parents. Minor chores around private homes may also fall outside the rules covering ordinary commercial employment.
Federal agricultural rules are different. A 12- or 13-year-old may perform nonhazardous farm work outside school hours with written parental consent or on a farm where a parent is also employed. Children may also work on a farm owned or operated by their parents, although safety remains essential.
State laws can be stricter than federal rules, and some states require permits or impose additional restrictions. Parents and potential employers should review the U.S. Department of Labor rules for workers under age 14 and check their state labor department before making an arrangement.
What jobs can a 12-year-old do for money?
Casual babysitting or working as a parent’s helper
A mature 12-year-old may watch a younger child for short periods or help while the child’s parent remains at home. A parent’s helper might play with children, read stories, organize toys, or prepare a simple snack. The child’s maturity, the number and ages of the children, emergency readiness, and the length of the assignment all matter.
Pet sitting and dog care
Feeding familiar pets, refreshing water, cleaning small-animal enclosures, or taking a calm dog on a short walk can provide repeat work. Parents should meet the animal first and supervise initial visits. Large, aggressive, sick, or difficult-to-control animals are not appropriate for a young worker.
Tutoring younger students
A student who is strong in math, reading, spelling, music, or another subject may help younger children practice. Tutoring can pay well relative to the time required because it uses a specific skill. Sessions should take place in a safe setting with an adult nearby, and the 12-year-old should provide practice rather than complete another student’s assignments.
Household and yard chores
Neighbors may pay for sweeping patios, watering plants, pulling weeds, raking leaves, organizing a garage, bringing bins to the curb, or washing a car by hand. Stick to simple chores and hand tools. Power-driven lawn equipment, ladders, chemicals, heavy lifting, roof work, tree cutting, and jobs near traffic introduce unnecessary risks.
Newspaper delivery
Delivering newspapers directly to customers is a recognized federal exception for children under 14. Availability depends on whether local publishers still use neighborhood delivery routes. Parents should evaluate the route, weather, traffic, delivery time, and whether adult transportation or supervision is needed.
Acting and performing
Children may be paid for work in television, film, radio, theater, modeling, music, or other performances. This can be one of the better-paying settings, but opportunities are inconsistent and state entertainment laws may require permits, restricted hours, adult supervision, or protected earnings. Families should be cautious about auditions or representatives that demand large upfront fees.
Working for a parent-owned business
A child may sometimes work in a business owned entirely by their parents, but not in manufacturing, mining, or work classified as hazardous. Suitable tasks might include sorting safe office supplies, filing papers, labeling envelopes, or completing basic supervised clerical work. The arrangement should involve real, age-appropriate duties and comply with federal and state law.
How much do jobs for 12 year olds pay?
No government survey calculates an average wage for 12-year-old workers. Most are not employed in enough conventional jobs to produce a meaningful national figure. Pay is commonly negotiated by the hour, visit, session, route, or completed task.
Several factors affect an appropriate rate:
- The time needed to finish the work
- The difficulty and level of responsibility
- Local prices and household budgets
- The child’s experience and reliability
- Whether an adult must provide transportation
- Whether the job requires preparation or cleanup
Families can compare an agreed task price with the estimated time. For example, $18 for 90 minutes of work equals $12 per hour. This calculation makes it easier to spot a job that demands too much time for very little money. Families should also discuss what happens if the task takes longer than expected.
Federal or state minimum-wage requirements may apply when a child is legally employed by a covered business. They may not apply in the same way to casual babysitting, minor household chores, or some other exempt arrangements. Parents should not assume that every informal job is governed by standard payroll rules.
Which settings may pay the most?
The highest-paying opportunity is not always the one with the largest advertised price. Travel time, supplies, difficulty, and frequency affect the real value of a job. Settings with better earning potential often include:
- Repeat neighborhood clients: Regular pet visits, tutoring sessions, or household chores create predictable income.
- Skill-based services: Tutoring or beginner music practice may command better pay than simple chores.
- Bundled tasks: Watering plants, collecting mail, and feeding a pet during one visit can be more efficient than separate jobs.
- Entertainment work: Acting and performing can pay more per assignment, but work is uncertain and closely regulated.
- Parent-owned businesses: Legal, structured work may provide consistent duties and practical experience.
A 12-year-old should never enter unfamiliar homes alone, meet online customers without a parent, handle payments from strangers privately, or use an adult’s account without permission. A parent should know the client, location, schedule, duties, and agreed payment.
What is the career outlook?
Informal jobs at age 12 do not have their own official employment forecast. However, they can introduce skills used in established careers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of animal care and service workers to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035, while grounds maintenance employment is projected to grow 5%. Childcare worker employment is projected to decline 2%, although openings will still occur as workers leave the occupation.
These projections describe the adult workforce, not guaranteed opportunities or earnings for children. The more immediate value is learning punctuality, communication, money management, customer service, and safe work habits. As young people get older, their options expand. Families planning ahead can also explore where 14-year-olds may be able to work.
How to get started safely
- Choose one or two services that match the child’s abilities.
- Begin with relatives, family friends, and trusted neighbors.
- Agree on the duties, schedule, payment, and supervision beforehand.
- Keep school, rest, meals, and extracurricular activities the priority.
- Record dates, hours, completed tasks, and payments.
- Decline any job involving dangerous equipment, isolated locations, late hours, or inappropriate responsibility.
The best jobs for 12 year olds that pay are safe, limited in scope, and supported by a parent or guardian. A modest neighborhood job can teach valuable lessons, but earning money should never come at the expense of education, health, personal safety, or childhood.
