10 Top-Paying Jobs for Teens That Also Teach Them Work Skills

Working from a young age teaches young people the value of a dollar. It can also build character and help teens ease into the post-school adult world. If you already have work experience before working a full-time job as an adult, you’ll probably be more accustomed to the workplace. Today, more than half of U.S. teens are already getting started.

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According to an August 20, 2024 press release from the U.S. Department of Labor , 54.5% of young people (those ages 16 to 24) were employed in July. This represents 21.3 million teens.

What’s more? Youth employment is on the rise: between April and July 2024, the number of employed youth increased by 1.4 million, or 6.9%.

You can easily do a mindless, entry-level job that doesn’t teach you much. If you’re a motivated teen looking to work and learn valuable skills at the same time, though, there are a number of decent-paying jobs that can help you achieve both.

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Here are 10 of the top-paying jobs for teens that also teach work skills based on highest hourly pay in ascending order, according to Resume Genius :

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1. Food Service Managers

• Median hourly wage: $30.32
• Number of teens employed: 27,000
• Key skills you’ll learn: Customer service, leadership, time management and problem-solving.

2. Carpenters

• Median hourly wage: $27.09
• Number of teens employed: 25,000
• Key skills you’ll learn: Safety awareness, blueprint reading, attention to detail and the ability to use tools.

3. Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers

• Median hourly wage: $23.14
• Number of teens employed: 45,000
• Key skills you’ll learn: Time management, safe driving skills, vehicle maintenance knowledge and navigation skills.

4. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

• Median hourly wage: $22.96
• Number of teens employed: 26,000
• Key skills you’ll learn: Problem-solving, mechanical aptitude, customer service and diagnostic skills.

5. First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

• Median hourly wage: $22.47
• Number of teens employed: 29,000
• Key skills you’ll learn: Customer service, leadership, communication and conflict resolution.

6. Construction Laborers

• Median hourly wage: $21.78
• Number of teens employed: 103,000
• Key skills you’ll learn: Safety awareness, physical strength and stamina, ability to follow instructions and teamwork.

7. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

• Median hourly wage: $21.29
• Number of teens employed: 22,000
• Key skills you’ll learn: Time management, written and verbal communication skills, computer proficiency and organizational skills.

8. Customer Service Representatives

• Median hourly wage: $19.08
• Number of teens employed: 244,000
• Key skills you’ll learn: Patience, communication skills, active listening and problem-solving.

9. First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

• Median hourly wage: $18.52
• Number of teens employed: 27,000
• Key skills you’ll learn: Food safety awareness, culinary knowledge, leadership and organizational skills.

10. Nursing Assistants

• Median hourly wage: $18.33
• Number of teens employed: 51,000
• Key skills you’ll learn: Ability to follow protocols, basic medical knowledge attention to detail, and empathy.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 10 Top-Paying Jobs for Teens That Also Teach Them Work Skills