High Paying Jobs For 18 Year Olds (25 Jobs)
Looking for the best high paying jobs for 18 year olds?
Well… stick around because we will get into 25 high paying jobs you can get as an 18 year old to make money!
As a teen, there are the classic fast food and retail jobs you can get which are not bad but they are pretty low-paying so in this list, you will find jobs that pay well that you probably haven’t considered before.
Let’s get straight to it…
Best Paying Jobs For 18 Year Olds
While all the jobs on this list are great there are some I recommend checking out first for young people so let’s get into them.
Assistant
A great job you can do as an 18 year old, in high school or college, is to become an assistant at a company.
This will help you get experience in the corporate world and move up in the company!
There are two types of assistants as you’ll see later, one is the traditional one that does tasks in the office and the other is a virtual assistant who works from home.
Content Creator
I lumped a few jobs on this list into this but a content creator is simply someone who creates content and gets paid for it!
This is a great job for a 18 year old and you can make a lot of money doing this but it does take patience and dedication to make money as a content creator.
The different types of content include blogs, podcasts, and videos.
Start A Business
As a 18 year old, you have time on your side so it’s a great opportunity to start a business if that’s something that you want to do.
A business is great because you get to work for yourself and you are in total control of how much money you can make!
Some great and simple businesses you can start are candle making, woodworking, and locksmithing. You can also start an SEO agency providing link building services where people can buy backlinks from you.
These are a few great ways to make money as a 18 year old, now let’s get into the complete list…
Delivery Drivers
Being a delivery driver is one of the best jobs for 18 year olds since you can make good money and there are not many requirements needed!
You will usually need a car for delivery jobs but in some cities, you can even use a bicycle or walk if you don’t have a car.
Let’s check out the two platforms I recommend using to make money as an 18 year old…
Doordash
An awesome platform that I recommend using is DoorDash which is a huge platform that you can use to make money easily!
To become a Dasher you will need to be at least 18 years old, pass a background check, have a car and driver’s license (if walking or biking is not available in your city), have the Doordash driver app, etc…
DoorDash is currently available in the U.S and Canada and they are continuing to expand to other markets.
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a Doordash delivery driver is $15 but there is an opportunity to make much more.
You can make more money by completing more deliveries and providing great customer service to earn tips.
On Doordash you get to keep 100% of the tips you make!
I highly recommend checking out Doordash since you can work on your own time and can make good tips! It’s one of the best jobs for 18 year olds.
UberEats
The other great platform that I recommend checking out for delivery drivers is UberEats.
UberEats is a huge delivery platform, obviously owned by Uber and they recently acquired Postmates to expand.
You can sign up to UberEats in just a few minutes, they will then approve your application and then you can start working immediately!
There are a few requirements for working for UberEats such as you must be 18 years old, have a car and driver’s license if driving, pass a background check, etc…
If you choose to use a scooter for deliveries, you will have to be 19 years old so if you are 18 then your choices are using a car, bicycle, or walk on foot.
Your city might have different requirements so definitely check out which requirements are needed to work for UberEats in your city.
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for an UberEats delivery driver is $14.
However, you can make more by completing more deliveries and making tips, you get to get 100% of the tips you make.
Check out UberEats to work when you want and get paid!
Become A Website Tester
An awesome way to make money as an 18 year old is to become a website tester.
A website tester is simply someone who tests websites and provides feedback to the owner on how easy the website is to use, your experience using the site, etc…
You will get paid for doing this and you get to work from home!
Being a website tester can be lucrative because websites are a very crucial part of a business so owners will pay testers a lot of money to provide valuable feedback.
Plus, there are no specific requirements needed to become a website tester so you can start working right now to make money fast!
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a website tester is $61,581 a year which equates to about $32 an hour.
If you want to become a website tester check out platforms like TaskRabbit, UpWork, Fiverr, etc…
Market Researcher
Another job that you can do to make money as a high school teenager that is similar to being a website tester is a market researcher.
A market researcher is simply someone who helps businesses improve their products or services by answering surveys.
I know that surveys are known as a low-paying money-making method but some surveys actually pay a lot of money.
Plus, you get to complete surveys on your own time wherever you want as long as you have an internet connection!
It’s a really easy way to make money so if you are interested then I recommend checking out Survey Junkie, Respondent, and Pinecone Research.
Get A Babysitting Job
A great way for teenagers to make some extra money is to babysit.
You can babysit for family, friends, or people in your neighborhood to get some easy money!
However, babysitting is a job that is usually best fitted for females so just keep this in mind.
Being a babysitter is a great job for an 18 year old since it’s pretty easy, there aren’t any specific requirements and you will get paid in cash!
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a babysitter is $40,418 per year which equates to around $21 an hour.
If you want to become a babysitter then I recommend checking out Care.com, Sittercity, and Urbansitter.
Construction Worker
If you don’t mind manual labor and like to build things then consider becoming a construction worker.
You already know what a construction worker does and you know it’s a lot of work but you can make a lot of money too!
There aren’t any specific requirements needed to become a construction worker since you will get on-the-job training but you should know how to use basic construction tools.
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a construction worker is $38,844 which equates to around $20 an hour.
However, as you gain more experience and advance in your career you can make a lot more money which is why this is one of the best jobs for 18 year olds.
Make Money As A Dropshipper
If you are looking for a great business that you can start at 18 years old to make money then check out dropshipping.
A dropshipper is someone who plays the middleman when someone purchases a product.
Let me explain…
You will find products that sell well on another site and then you will create a site that lists the product for a higher price and when someone purchases the product from your site you will purchase it from the site you found it on and then ship it directly to the customer.
So, you are actually not selling anything! You will just broker the deal and keep the difference!
This is a really simple and quick overview of dropshipping but you can make a lot of money as a dropshipper so it’s worth checking out.
The great thing about becoming a dropshipper is that you can start right now without any experience but there is a lot of competition so I recommend checking out this course.
This is an awesome course that will teach you all the tips and tricks successful dropshippers use so it’s definitely worth it!
Drop Servicing
Another job you can do to make money that was derived from dropshipping is drop servicing.
You now know that dropshipping is the act of playing the middle man between buyers and sellers of products, well drop servicing is pretty much the same the only difference is that you will be selling services.
So, you will find a service on a place like Fiverr or Upwork and then market that service at a higher price.
Then when someone purchases the service from you, you just purchase it from the original seller for a cheaper price and let them complete all the work while you keep the profit!
For example, you can find a graphic design gig on Upwork for $15, you can drop service that service for $20 to make a $5 profit every time you make a sale.
And… you don’t have to do any work other than marketing the service!
It’s easier than dropshipping since you are not dealing with any products but you still need to know certain strategies to succeed.
That’s why I recommend checking out this awesome course.
This course will teach you exactly how to become a successful drop servicer so definitely check it out!
Start A Blogging Business
Adding this to the list might be a little favoritism but it’s only because I know how awesome blogging is.
If you really want to find a high-paying job as an 18-year-old then definitely consider blogging!
Blogging is one of the best businesses to start as a teenager because it costs very little to start and you don’t need any experience.
Many people are making six to even seven figures by simply blogging and you can too!
However, I don’t want to make it seem like it’s all sunshine and rainbows…
Blogging is a lot of work and it does take a while to make money, so if you are looking for money right now, this is probably not right for you, but it can be a great side hustle.
If you are interested in blogging then I recommend checking out my ultimate blogging for beginners guide.
Podcaster
Another form of content creation you can do to make money is to become a podcaster.
As a podcaster, you will simply use your voice to make money!
You will have to create interesting content that people want to listen to and you will make money from ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.
It’s a great way for teens to make extra cash but like blogging, it does require a lot of work and patience.
If you are interested in becoming a podcaster then I recommend checking out this in-depth course.
This course will teach you exactly how to become a successful podcaster so I highly recommend checking it out.
YouTuber
Yet another form of content creation you can do if blogging or podcasting is not right for you is becoming a YouTuber.
YouTube is a huge platform and many YouTubers are multi-millionaires so it’s definitely possible to make money on YouTube!
Like blogging and podcasting, making money on YouTube requires a lot of work and time so you definitely have to be patient and persistent if you want to become a YouTuber.
Also, since YouTube is such a big platform, there is a lot of competition so you will need to find strategies and methods to stand out amongst the competition.
This is why I recommend taking this awesome course that will teach you how to become a successful YouTuber.
The course is taught by Adam Payne who is a video marketing expert and he will share all his tips and tricks on how to grow a YouTube Channel with you!
Become A Tutor
As an 18 year old, a great job you can do to make some extra cash is to tutor people.
If you are knowledgeable in a certain subject then you can help others get better in the subject and you will get paid!
This is a great job for young people because the only experience you need is the knowledge you already have so you can start taking jobs right away.
Check out if your high school or college needs tutors or you can also ask family or friends, or check online for jobs.
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a tutor is $50,951 per year which equates to around $26 an hour!
Website Designer
If you have some computer skills or would like to work with computers then you should consider becoming a website designer.
As a website designer you will create custom websites for clients to ensure that the website is functional, looks good, loads fast, etc…
You should have knowledge of programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and PHP but you definitely don’t need to be an expert in these languages and if you don’t have any experience then you can learn online for free.
The great thing about being a website designer is that you get to work from home and you can work whenever you want as long as you complete your projects by the deadline.
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a web designer is $57,529 which equates to around $29 per hour!
Ebook Designer
If you are looking for an easy job for 18 year olds that pays well then I recommend becoming an ebook designer.
An ebook designer is simply someone who designs ebooks for authors to create a book cover, page layout, images if needed, etc…
I know, this sounds like a lot of work, and what if you don’t really have any design skills?
Well… this is Sqribble steps in which is a program that does all the work for you!
With Sqribble, you can design ebooks in just a few minutes with just a few clicks.
So, this means that you can take more ebook designing gigs because Sqribble will do all the work quickly.
I highly recommend checking out Sqribble if you want to make easy money designing ebooks!
Freelance Writer
We talked about becoming a blogger earlier but I mentioned that it’s a lot of work and takes a lot of time, so if you still want to write for money without becoming a blogger then consider becoming a freelance writer.
A freelance writer is someone who writes for other bloggers or media sites and gets paid for it!
You can work from home, on your own time, and get $1,000’s! It can be done full-time or part-time.
Freelance writing is a great job to have as a teenager since you can make a lot of money and still have a lot of freedom.
If you are interested in becoming a freelance writer then I recommend checking out this freelance writing course.
This course is taught by a very successful freelance writer and you will get all the strategies needed to make a lot of money in freelance writing so I highly recommend checking it out!
Landscaping
If you don’t mind some manual labor then consider becoming a landscaper to make money as a teen.
All you need is a lawnmower, weed wacker, and leaf blower then you can start getting jobs to get some extra cash.
However, depending on where you live, landscaping might be a seasonal job so it’s best to pair this up with another job on this list.
It’s an easy way to get some extra income so definitely consider it!
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a landscaper is $32,965 which equates to around $17 an hour.
Administrative Assistant
If you want to get your foot in the door of the corporate world then a great job to get is an administrative assistant.
As an administrative assistant, you will assist managers by preparing reports, scheduling meetings, responding to emails, etc…
It’s not a very glamorous job but it’s a great way to get started in a company and eventually you can work your way up.
Assistant jobs are pretty easy to land which makes them one of the best jobs for 18 year olds to do full time or part-time.
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for administrative assistants is $41,040 which equates to around $21 an hour!
Virtual Assistant Career
While being an administrative assistant is great, you have to still commute to work which can be a drag, so the alternative is being a virtual assistant.
A virtual assistant does pretty much the same work as administrative assistants but this does depend on who you work for.
The keyword in this job is “virtual” which means you get to work 100% from home which is awesome!
Plus the pay is pretty good and you can even have multiple jobs to make more money if time permits.
If you are interested in becoming a virtual assistant then I recommend taking this virtual assistant course.
This awesome course will teach you all you need to know about becoming a virtual assistant and how to find high-paying jobs so definitely check it out!
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a virtual assistant is $35,917 per year which equates to about $18 an hour.
However, if you invest in the virtual assistant course you can make much more!
Data Entry
A really easy job that you can do as a teen to make cash is data entry.
Data entry is pretty much taking the information given to you and inputting the data into a program or spreadsheet.
It’s definitely not a fun job but you can make some decent money so don’t count it out.
Plus, you don’t need any prior experience for data entry jobs and there are a lot of jobs available so you’ll most likely be able to find a job quickly.
Another great thing about data entry jobs is that you will get to work from home, full-time or part-time!
It’s one of the easiest jobs for 18 year olds to make some extra cash so check it out.
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for data entry jobs is $32,112 per year which equates to around $16 an hour.
Transcriptionist
Another job similar to data entry that you can do as a teenager is being a transcriptionist.
A transcriptionist is someone who listens to audio files and converts them to written text.
That’s pretty much it! Like data entry, it’s not a fun job but the pay is decent, there are many jobs available, and you get to work from home.
If you want to find easy and high-paying transcriptionist jobs then I recommend checking out this free transcriptionist course.
This free course will teach you the basics of becoming a transcriptionist and how to find good jobs.
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average pay for a transcriptionist is $51,465 per year which equates to around $26 per hour.
Sales Associate
A great paying job for 18 year olds to get is a sales associate.
I’m sure you already know what a sales associate is but if you don’t, they are people that sell products for a company and usually earn a commission per sale made.
It’s a great job for teens because you will get sales experience which is good if you ever want to go into a business-related career or start your own business.
Plus, with some sales jobs, you can even work from home selling products over the phone!
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a sales associate is $34,250 per year which equates to around $17 an hour.
But keep in mind that most sales jobs offer commissions so you can make much more if you are good at making sales!
Candle Making Business
If you are a teenager looking to start your own business then a candle business is a great business to start.
As a candle maker, all you need to do is make candles and then sell them!
It’s a pretty simple process but you do need to know how to make candles properly and that’s why I recommend checking out the Candle Making 4 You course.
This course will teach you everything you need to know about making candles and starting a successful candle business so I highly recommend checking it out!
Become A Woodworker
Another great business you can start as an 18 year old is a woodworking business.
As a woodworker, you will simply create items out of wood and then sell them for some sweet cash!
It does require some manual labor but with the right tools and as you gain experience it will be pretty easy to make items to sell.
If you want to start a woodworking business then I recommend checking out the Woodworkers Treasure Chest course.
This woodworking course is awesome and you will learn how to become an expert woodworker, plus you will get access to 1,000’s of pre-designed plans.
Locksmith
A great business you can start as a teen is a locksmith business.
As a locksmith, you will install locks, repair locks, assist people with being locked out of their homes or car, etc…
All you need to become a locksmith is the skills that you can learn easily, tools, and a van if you choose to become a mobile locksmith.
You can make $1,000’s locksmithing so if you want to try out locksmithing then I recommend checking out this locksmith course.
In this course, you will learn exactly how to become a successful locksmith so I highly recommend checking it out!
Bank Teller
A great paying job you can get as a teenager that will help you get experience in the corporate world is a bank teller.
As a bank teller, you will pretty much be the face of the bank and one of the first employees to interact with the customer.
You will be in charge of tasks like assisting customers with deposits, withdrawals, and transactions, as well as assisting customers with any questions or concerns they may have.
To get a job as a bank teller you have to be 18 years old and have a high school diploma but a college degree is preferable.
A bank teller is a great job to get as an 18 year old, either full-time or part-time, so check it out!
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a bank teller is $29,850 per year which equates to $15 an hour.
However, you can make more depending on where you live and you will get more pay as you get more experience!
Instacart Shopper
If you want a well-paying job where you can work whenever you want then consider becoming an Instacart shopper.
An Instacart shopper is someone who purchases items for people and then gets paid for it, it’s that easy!
There are two types of shoppers, one that just shops for the items in the store, and the other shops and delivers the items.
For the latter, you will need a car to deliver the items but you will make more money!
It’s a really easy way to make some extra income so definitely check out Instacart.
Pay:
According to Glassdoor, the average pay for an Instacart shopper is $14 an hour.
But remember that you can make more if you complete more gigs and you can also earn tips!
Freelancer
Last but not least, some of the highest paying jobs for 18 year olds can be found on freelancing websites.
You can become a freelancer and work in your own time to make money!
There are freelance opportunities in pretty much anything so if you have experience and knowledge on a certain topic then you can start getting gigs.
For example, if you are drawing skills you can create logos for businesses or custom artwork for people.
There are many opportunities out there to make money as a freelancer, you just have to find them and some of the best places to look are on Fiverr, TaskRabbit, Upwork, and Freelancer.
Bonus
Now that we went over a lot of high paying jobs you can do as an 18 year old, it’s time to go over some bonus items that will help you make even more money!
Let’s check them out…
Go To College/Trade School
If you really want to advance in your career then you should definitely consider going to college or trade school.
Those who have a degree or certification for a job are more likely to get the position and have higher pay!
If college is not an option for you then I highly recommend going to trade school to get certified in a skill that you can use to make money.
A high school diploma will only get you so far in today’s world, so I highly recommend furthering your education.
Master A Skill
This tip ties into the tip above but you don’t need to go to college or trade school to master a skill.
While college or trade school is a great way to master a skill you can also be self-taught and master a skill to make money from it.
For example, if you want to become a blogger then learn as much as you can about blogging strategies and methods to become a master and if you do this you can make a lot of money.
What I’m saying is that you shouldn’t jump around different types of jobs to make money, you should find something you enjoy doing and then master it to become an expert.
Invest Your Money
The last tip that I would give to you as an 18 year old and a tip I would give to my 18 year old self is to use your money to invest.
As you make money from a job one of the best things you can do with your money is to make more money and you can do this by investing your money!
You can invest in stocks, cryptocurrencies, and real estate to grow your wealth and if you start at 18 years old, you will be very well off in the future.
To invest in stocks I recommend checking out brokerages like Vanguard, Fidelity, Wealthfront, Webull, and Robinhood.
For cryptocurrencies, you have to be very careful because there are a lot of scams out there and you should only invest what you can afford to lose. I recommend checking out Coinbase to invest in cryptocurrencies.
To invest in real estate you can either buy physical properties to rent out or flip or you can invest in real estate ETF’s which are a fund of stocks that pretty much tracks the real estate market.
So, even though you can find high paying jobs for 18 year olds, you should definitely invest your money to let it grow over time!
Conclusion
I’m going to be honest with you, as an 18 year old it is very unlikely that you will make six figures or seven figures a year but with these jobs on this list, you can make a good income.
If you do choose to start your own business then remember that it takes time to make money so you will have to be patient and dedicated but there is no guarantee that you will make money.
I recommend getting a job as an assistant, tutor, website tester, transcriptionist, etc… or freelance with platforms like Doordash and Instacart and then start your business on the side.
If you liked this post then I recommend checking out my posts on 47 Awesome Ways For Teens To Make Money Now and 22 Best Paid Surveys For Teens To Make Some Extra Cash!
Have any other jobs to add to this list? Have you tried any of these jobs before? Let me know in the comments below!
If you really want to make some money or get your name on the top of a job list you should get your Commercial Drivers license. You can obtain your license with little or no money out of your pocket. There’s alot of schools that will teach you how to get your license. I got my training done at a school and the government paid for it with a job training program. Driver’s are in very high demand everywhere today.
Thanks for reading and sharing this great tip Bobby!