10+ Best Jobs For 11 Year Olds (Online & Offline Ideas!)
When I was growing up, I remember being fixated with trying different side hustles or money-making ideas.
I always wanted to invent stuff. And I even tried random ideas like selling clay figurines at school and starting a blog back in highschool.
Making money when you're a kid is great. However, the tough part is that many companies only hire kids when they're 14 or older.
However, you're not out of luck if you're willing to get a bit creative. In this post, I'm covering some of the best jobs for 11 year olds you can use to make extra money and also learn some valuable skills.
Let's get to it.
The Best Jobs For 11 Year Olds In 2023
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, you generally have to be 14 or older to be employed by a company. And for some jobs, like working on farms, you have to be at least 16. Plus, labor laws also set limits on how many hours kids can work.
These laws are good things and protect children. But if you want to find a job at 11 years old, it definitely makes things difficult.
However, between cash gigs and working online, there are still plenty of jobs for eleven year olds that you can try.
1. Yard Work
One of the most traditional jobs for eleven year olds is to do yard work for money. This could involve a range of tasks like:
- Raking leaves
- Pulling weeds
- Cutting the lawn
- Helping with general gardening work
If you have a large property, you could consider paying your kid an allowance in exchange for some lawn care duties. Alternatively, they can go door-to-door (with an older sibling perhaps) and offer to rake people's lawns or do some easy work for a bit of quick cash.
2. Blogger
I've been blogging at WebMonkey since 2018. And in 2021, WebMonkey earned $92,000.
But I actually started my first blog when I was around 11 years old and entering high school. It was a free blog hosted on BlogSpot called “According to Tom.”
The blog was basically a journal where I wrote about recipes I was trying (I liked to bake back then), books I was reading, and other random things that crossed my mind.
It never made money and barely had any readers. And honestly, I think most blogs run by 11 year olds won't make much money, at least at the start.
However, when I was in college, my previous blogging experience from way back when helped me land an internship at a digital marketing agency (I'm not joking, it's why I got the job.)
That internship went on to pay over $20,000 as a college side hustle and was also my first full-time job out of school.
So, even though blogging wasn't a huge success in terms of a job for 11 year olds, the skills it taught me were far more valuable than any paycheck would have been back then.
If your kid has a knack for writing or likes to tell stories, I think starting a blog is an incredible idea.
Plus, you can blog for free on WordPress, or try writing on Medium; you don't need to be super tech-savvy to get started.
3. Pet Sitter
If your 11 year old likes working with animals, you can always try starting a pet sitting or dog walking business with them.
This is another classic job for kids, and it's the sort of job that teaches responsibility and discipline as well.
As a parent, you can use gig apps like Rover to find pet sitting clients in your neighborhood. From there, you can work with your 11 year old to take care of dogs, cats, and even more exotic pets.
What's nice about Rover is that you set your availability and the types of pets you work with, plus the services you offer.
You can also try finding business the good old fashion way and go door-to-door or ask your friends.
4. Babysitter
Babysitting is another common job for 11 year olds, and it's a great way for your kid to make a bit of pocket change every once in a while.
To get started, have your kid complete a first aid and babysitting course from the Red Cross or another reputable organization.
This ensures they know first aid and how to properly do their job, which is obviously very important.
From there, you can ask people in your neighborhood or your friends or family to call you if they ever need babysitting help.
This is also one of the higher-paying jobs 11 year olds can do, and in many cities, babysitters earn $15 per hour or more!
It might take a bit of time to find your first clients, but this is the type of job that can last through high school and even into college.
5. YouTuber
I've been making money on YouTube since around 2020, and in my opinion, it's a great source of passive income and a very creative outlet.
But nothing stops you from starting a YouTube channel at 11 and working on growing your own following and even making money in the process.
In fact, one of the highest paid YouTubers in the world is Ryan Kaji, who makes millions of dollars with his toy review channel.
Granted, Ryan is younger than 11, and the channel is run by his parents and him.
But you get the idea; anyone can make money on YouTube, and a channel could be a fun project you and your 11 year old take on.
6. Sell Baked Goods
Another classic job for 11 year olds is to make and sell baked goods.
Schools often run bake sales or similar events to raise money. But nothing stops you from trying the exact same thing and selling baked goods to people you know or at local events.
At a farmer's market in my town, there's always a family-run stall that sells donuts and other baked goods like brownies and cake pops.
You could take this approach, or even try selling baked goods at city events or by going door-to-door.
Just research if your city or state requires any food permits and what the legal process is like.
7. Flip Stuff For Cash
Retail arbitrage is the process of buying goods and then reselling them for profit. People do this all the time by buying popular goods from places like Walmart and Kohl's and then reselling them somewhere.
This is also a great side job you can start with your 11 year old to teach them some entrepreneurial skills.
To get started, you can buy popular goods like electronics, apparel, toys, and home goods on discount from big box stores like Walmart.
From there, you can use a variety of selling apps to try flipping your merchandise for profit.
Some popular selling platforms you can use include:
- Mercari: An excellent selling app where you can sell pretty much anything.
- OfferUp: Great for selling stuff locally and it's completely free to list.
- Facebook Marketplace: Another excellent way to sell stuff locally for cash.
- Poshmark: One of the best ways to sell clothing, shoes, and handbags online.
And even if you don't make thousands of dollars, the arbitrage lessons your kid learns along the way could be extremely valuable.
Extra Reading – The Best Sites & Apps Like Facebook Marketplace.
8. Snow Removal
One way I made money with friends when I was younger was to go door-to-door offering to shovel people's driveway.
I grew up in Canada, so we had plenty of snow many winters. And for $10 to $20 a driveway, people were more than happy to let me and some friends shovel their driveway before it froze over.
This is a fun, easy side hustle for 11 year olds, and all you need is a shovel and some hard work to get started.
9. Start A Car Wash Business
Like selling baked goods, car washes are another way schools and teams often raise money for charity. But you can also turn this into a business and offer to wash cars for $5 to $10 a pop to make some quick cash.
I've seen kids do this in my neighborhood once, and all you need is a water supply, some rags/towels, and car wash soap (and maybe some wax).
10. Paper Route
In many states and countries, you can be 11 years old and take on a paper route. This is another great job that teaches discipline since your kid has to stick to a schedule and assigned delivery route.
Kids I knew did this all the time when I grew up. Typically, you get paid a small amount of money per house, so a route of 75-100 houses or more can add up to a decent chunk of change.
I know many parents who started walking with their kids to show them how to do the job before giving them more independence. Overall, it's a classic job for kids, and it can pay a decent amount as well.
Extra Reading – The 40+ Best Summer Jobs For Students.
11. Start An Online Business
These days, there are so many different ways to make money online. However, one massive downside is that many online freelancing websites or ecommerce platforms require being at least 13 to start working.
But this doesn't mean you're completely out of luck. After all, if you're 11, you can always run an online business with an older sibling or your parents for a fun new side project.
There are also plenty of ideas to try, including popular ones like:
- Selling Etsy print on demand products
- Running an online Shopify store
- Selling your design with websites like Redbubble or Society6
Granted, getting an online business up and running and making money takes time.
But I truly think this is a great project to work on as a family, and there's no telling how much money you might make.
Extra Reading – The Best Paid Surveys For Teens.
12. Pool Cleaner
A classic seasonal job for 11 year olds is to work as a pool cleaner.
If your family has a pool, this task could be part of a monthly allowance. But you could also learn how to clean pools and even maintain the right PH levels and then offer this service to a neighbor or two.
Even More Job Ideas For 11 Year Olds
If you're still wondering what jobs are good for an 11 year old, some other classic ideas you can try include:
- Selling soda pops and cold water at sports games
- Setting up a lemonade stand
- Being someone's errand runner
- Being a shop cleaner (if your parents own some sort of shop or business)
- Getting into voice acting
- Entering competitions (writing competitions, sports, you name it)
I also think it's incredibly valuable to volunteer. Again, this doesn't pay you with cash directly, but the lessons you learn and the people you meet can be worth way more than making an extra $100 bucks.
Tips For Finding A Job
Now that you know some of the best jobs for 11 year olds, here are a few tips you can keep in mind when searching for work to make the process easier:
- Ask Friends & Family: One of the easiest ways for 11 year olds to find work is to find cash gigs with friends or family. So, put out some feelers to find your next babysitting gig, or to find a dog walking job.
- Set A Target: How much money do you want to make? Different gigs have different income potential, so pick one that makes sense and also have patience.
- Don't Neglect Grades: School is important, especially when you're younger. After all, building good study habits can help you in other areas of your life and can also help you win scholarships down the line to pay for school if you want to go.
Extra Reading – The Best Freebies For Students.
Final Thoughts
I hope this list of jobs for 11 year olds helps you find some extra work if you're 11 and you're reading this. And if you're a parent, I hope it helps you guide your child into finding some money-making opportunities.
There are so many creative ways for kids to make quick money. And you can even learn some incredibly valuable life lessons along the way that are way more valuable than a paycheck.
Best of luck!
Looking for other kid-friendly money-making ideas? Checkout:
