How to Help Your Teen Find a Summer Job at 14 to 16 (And What They Can Expect to Earn)
- The Penny Pincher Team
- Jul 3
- 10 min read
As we head into summer, many teens are seeking their first job, or a summer job, to keep themselves busy and earn some extra money.
Whether it’s about earning money, gaining experience, or finding a new sense of independence, a summer job can be a real turning point. I know this first-hand.
When I was a teenager, my first job was working in a sweet shop. It was actually a little local newsagent 'The Tuck Shop' that sold penny sweets, groceries, cards and gifts.
I absolutely loved it, it was one of the best jobs I've ever had! I worked behind the counter, stocked the sweets, and helped customers. It gave me confidence, a sense of responsibility, and a genuine love for working within a retail environment.
It was just a part-time job, but they were hard to get as there weren't many opportunities for teenagers, other than paper rounds, and I didn't fancy that!
I worked there as my Saturday job, during term time, but in the summer, there were lots of opportunities for working extra days, and I always grabbed as many hours as I could, (I don't think the rules about home many hours a kid could work were so well adhered to then!), to fill up my free time.
Even though the pay was frankly awful, it felt like a lot of money to me, and it was my first experience of bringing home a wage, and having my own hard-earned money I could spend on whatever I saw fit!
That part-time job experience helped to shape my career, and even though I left secondary school and trained as a chef, and worked within the catering industry, it gave me transferable skills, such as customer service skills and being able to communicate well with people, which are essential when working in a restaurant environment.
I eventually ended up back in retail, and I’ve been in and out of different forms of retail ever since, however, if I'm honest, The Tuck Shop is still my favourite retail job, and I look back on that job role with great fondness, having many nostalgic memories of my time working there.
Even before that, I was a bit of an entrepreneur. At school, I sold drinks, sweets, homemade sandwiches and popcorn to other kids. At one point, I was making more money than my dad. That drive and creativity started young, and I credit a lot of it to getting a proper job early on and realising how rewarding it could be.
So what jobs can 14 - 16-year-olds work during the summer holiday?
This guide walks through where your teen can look for summer work, what the law says, and how much they could earn with some real-world tips along the way.
What Jobs Can a Teen Do at 14 to 16?
Before age 16, most teens are limited to part-time or light work only. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of good options.
Here are some of the most common and accessible types of summer jobs for this age group:
Dog walking or pet sitting for neighbours
Car washing (with supervision)
Helping at a local summer fair or event
Babysitting for family friends
Leafleting or newspaper rounds
Volunteering at a charity shop or food bank
Tutoring younger children in subjects they enjoy
Helping out in a family business
Doing light gardening work for neighbours
These jobs don’t require formal contracts and can often be arranged informally with people you know. But that doesn’t mean they’re not valuable.
Your teen will still learn about time management, responsibility, interacting with others, and earning money through their own efforts.
At the age of 16, new doors open:
Once your teen turns 16, more formal employment becomes possible. Here are some example companies currently known to hire 16-year-olds in the UK, and what they pay:
Company | Typical Hourly Pay Range |
Wetherspoons | £7.55 to £9.12 |
JD Sports | £11.49 to £12.31 |
Pets at Home | £10.17 to £12.12 |
Primark | £11.50 to £12.48 |
Co-op | £9.22 to £12.30 |
Odeon | £9.85 to £11.44 |
Waitrose | £11.35 to £12.87 |
Costa Coffee | £7.55 to £12.60 |
Pay rates vary depending on location, experience, and shift patterns. These are current estimates based on advertised rates as of mid-2025. The current UK minimum wage for 16 to 17-year-olds is £7.55 per hour.
What Are the Rules About Teenagers Working in the UK?
There are strict rules about how, when and where teenagers can work:
Teens must be at least 13 to work part-time legally
They must still be in full-time education
They can only work up to 25 hours per week during school holidays
They may only work between 7 am and 7 pm
They must have at least a two-week break from work during school holidays
Employers must apply for a Child Employment Permit from their local council for any child aged under 16. They must ensure the work is suitable, safe, and does not interfere with the child’s education or well-being.
The employer, not the parent, applies for permits. This legal paperwork ensures the job is appropriate and protects the child’s welfare. Councils like Hampshire offer online applications via the local council’s education department.
Employers will need to confirm the role, working hours, and insurance coverage. Medical clearance may also be required.
The permit must be approved before the job begins. The bigger the company, the more organised and used to the process they're likely to be.
Teens cannot work in pubs (behind the bar), betting shops, or on industrial sites.
They cannot work more than 5 hours per day if aged under 15, or 8 hours per day if aged 15 to 16.
They cannot work without a permit if required.
Always check with your local authority. Even unpaid work, such as volunteering, may require permission for individuals under 16.
How Can Teenagers Find Summer Jobs?
Some roles, such as babysitting or leafleting, may be found through word of mouth, among family members, or from a family friend.
For more formal jobs, encourage your teen to:
Hand-deliver a CV to local businesses like cafés, coffee shops, retail stores, and gyms.
Search online job boards like E4S, Indeed, or local council websites, and set up email alerts to get information about new part-time work opportunities.
Join local Facebook groups with adult supervision, or other social media platforms, to search for part-time or seasonal jobs, as potential employers may advertise roles here, especially smaller companies.
Your teen might decide to volunteer first to build contacts and references, especially at places they’d like to work.
Encourage your teenager to visit retail stores, especially those known for hiring young workers, and ask about job opportunities. Don't do this for them! It's an excellent experience for your teen to speak with a potential employer! It's also great for the employer to see that the teenager is confident enough to come in and speak to them, plus a good opportunity for the teen to make a good first impression as well! For that reason, make sure your teen dresses to impress, don't go in clutching a CV, dressed like they just fell out of bed! Treat that trip in-store as a job interview; you never know who you'll be speaking to when you go in! I was part of the management team for a well-known retailer, and on more than one occasion, I had someone come in clutching a CV, who made a great first impression. They didn't know they were talking to a manager, and going by the questions they were asking me, and the way they acted, and responded to questions I then asked them, I offered them a job right there and then, and this happened several times, so it shows that first impressions really count.
Having your mum come in for you and ask for an application form, or dropping off your kid's CV, doesn't show much enthusiasm from a management point of view, and you were far less likely to get an interview!
Some examples of where to check for summer job openings:
E4S (Employment4students.co.uk)
Local shop windows or noticeboards
The Prince’s Trust or Youth Employment UK
Company websites for retailers like Greggs, Tesco, Lidl, WHSmith, or Boots
What About Holiday Camps or Theme Parks?
Seasonal businesses, such as theme parks, holiday resorts, and activity camps, often ramp up recruitment in the summer, and many take on 16-year-olds. If you live in a seaside town, you may well find it to be a great place to find some seasonal work.
Common roles include:
Serving snacks or ice cream at kiosks
Running games or activity stations
Cleaning and general upkeep
Assisting with children’s clubs or events
Places to check include:
Local theme parks like Alton Towers, Legoland, Paultons Park, Holiday parks like Haven, Butlins, Parkdean Resorts, Council-run holiday clubs or leisure centres, National Citizen Service roles or volunteering schemes.
Applications often open early, so check company careers pages in spring or ask if they offer work experience.
How Much Can They Expect to Earn?
From age 16, teens are legally entitled to the National Minimum Wage for their age group:
16 to 17 year olds: £6.40 per hour (2024 to 25 rate)
Many big companies pay more than this (see table above). Some employers also offer staff discounts, free lunches, or paid breaks.
Teenagers getting a job can be hard for them!
Remind your teen that the first few weeks may feel tiring or overwhelming. But the confidence boost from earning their own money, even just £30 for a few hours, is huge.
It's also worth mentioning that starting a job, especially during the summer when they might work longer hours, can be exhausting both physically and mentally.
Unlike school, work doesn’t usually come with scheduled breaks, downtime between lessons, or the support of familiar routines. Your teen needs to know that real work can feel intense.
They’ll be expected to focus, stay productive and manage customers or tasks without zoning out. It’s a shift that can be hard at first.
That’s why it’s essential to maintain an open line of communication. If they’re feeling tired, overwhelmed, or unhappy, check in with them and help them decide if it’s just part of the learning curve or if something’s not right.
It’s also worth mentioning that, as parents, we need to ensure our children can reach their workplace safely. Guide your teen towards jobs that they can realistically get to, by walking, cycling, or using public transport, or where you can help with drop-off and pick-up.
There’s little point applying for a role that’s 10 miles away with no transport plan. Helping them map out how they’ll get to and from work builds independence and avoids last-minute panics.
Do Teenagers Pay Tax?
In most cases, teenagers won’t earn enough to pay tax.
Every UK resident gets a personal allowance, the amount they can earn before paying income tax. For 2024/25, that’s £12,570.
That means unless your teen is earning over £1,047 per month, they won’t pay tax.
However, if they do receive payment through a formal payroll system (rather than in cash), their employer may still deduct PAYE tax and National Insurance automatically.
If this happens and your teen earned under the allowance, they may be entitled to a refund, but they’ll need to contact HMRC or claim it online at the end of the tax year.
Help Them Budget With nimbl
Once your teen has their first pay packet, they’ll need to learn how to manage it. Tools like nimbl make this much easier:
Set up spending and saving pots to divide wages
Track purchases to see where their money is going
Build saving habits for things they want, like a new phone, college gear, or driving lessons
Learn to manage a debit card safely
A summer job plus nimbl gives teens the tools to make smart choices, not just with earning, but with spending too.
Getting paid is one thing. Knowing how to manage that money is a whole other skill, and one that can take years to master without help.
Tools like nimbl help teens start that learning early, in a safe and simple way, and make handling their money once they have a job easier and less likely to go wrong.
Final Tips for Parents
Help your teen prepare to apply for a part-time or summer job:
Helping them write and then review their CV. Want to help your teen write a great CV first? Check out our previous post: How Your Teen (Aged 14 to 16) Can Write a Standout First CV.
Help Them Prepare for Interviews and Speak Up If Something Feels Off
Before your teen heads off to interviews, have a chat about the basics. It doesn’t need to feel formal, just run through what to expect so they don’t go in blind.
Talk through:
A few common interview questions to practise:
"Why do you want this job?"
"What are your strengths?"
"How would you deal with a difficult customer?"
"What do you know about our company?"
You don’t need to rehearse like it’s a school exam. Just help them think through some honest, simple answers. Practising aloud makes a big difference.
Know Your Rights at Work
It’s really important that your teen knows what’s fair and legal in a job. Even at 16, they still have the right to:
Take a proper break; 30 minutes if they work over 4.5 hours
Have two full days off a week
Say no to anything unsafe or inappropriate
Work no more than 8 hours a day and 40 hours per week
Be paid at least the minimum wage for their age group
If something doesn’t feel right, if they’re not getting breaks, if they’re shouted at, if they’re made to feel uncomfortable, they should speak up.
Encourage them to:
Talk to their manager or supervisor first
Speak to a trusted adult (like you, a teacher, or a family member)
Contact Citizens Advice or Acas for confidential advice
Keep a note of what’s happening in case it needs escalating
Sadly, younger workers can sometimes be taken advantage of, especially in smaller businesses where rules may be ignored. That’s why starting with a bigger company, chain, or charity can offer more protection; they’ll usually have proper HR processes and clear policies in place.
Talk to your teenager and see how they got on
After each shift or at the end of a summer job, ask your teen:
What did they enjoy doing most?
What felt hard or boring?
Did they feel respected and supported?
What skills did they learn (even small ones like handling money or dealing with tricky customers)?
Would they want to work in that kind of role again?
Try to Remember How You Felt After Your First Summer Job
Think back to your first summer job. That feeling of holding your first payslip, no matter how small. The nerves before your first shift. The buzz when someone trusted you to do something on your own.
It’s not just about the money. It’s about that first step into the world of work, learning to show up on time, deal with people, solve problems, and keep going even when you’re tired. It’s those little moments that build a sense of pride and confidence that school doesn’t always give.
For me, it was working in a little sweet shop. I still remember the smell of the penny sweets, weighing out the cola cubes, the regulars coming in for their paper, and that first feeling of being part of something. It shaped how I saw work and started me on the path I’m still on today.
Your teen’s first job might not be perfect. They’ll make mistakes. They’ll get tired. They might even want to quit. But they’ll also learn things they never could in a classroom, and they’ll grow in ways that surprise you both.
And who knows, that little part-time role might be the beginning of a lifelong passion, just like it was for me.
This post is part of our collaboration with nimbl, the pocket money app and prepaid debit card that helps young people learn money skills for life.
