With the economy in the gutter, many Chicago teens may believe that summer jobs are not available. However, with a little patience, there are still many summer jobs available for teens in Chicago. Some are entry level, some require some entrepreneurship, and others require some professional certification. I am to highlight some common Chicago full time and part time summer jobs for teens.
Probably the best known and best paying summer jobs for teen for Chicago area is that of lifeguarding. There are many opportunities for teens with a lifeguarding certificate from either the Chicago Park District or the American Red Cross who are also 16 or older. The Chicago Public schools, private athletic clubs, and the Chicago Park District hire life guards at higher than minimum wage, with Chicago Park District jobs starting at $12.70 as listed on its website. Teens do not need experience to apply, but they do need a lifeguarding certificate. To earn that certificate, they need to be a competent swimmer and certified in first aid and CPR for starters. You can find out where and how to certify here. This job is great for those who want to work part time and also work outside, since most lifeguarding jobs are at Lake Michigan.
Never fear! If you can’t swim, you can still find one of many jobs for teens in Chicago or in your area. The first place to look is in your neighborhood. Fast food restaurants, sit-down restaurants, and retail stores are all looking for part-time workers. A Chicago teen should begin to look in late April or in early May to be the first to secure a job. You actually need no previous experience or certification in order to work in food service. Expect to begin a food service job at minimum wage, or less than minimum wage if you are a restaurant waiter. If you want to earn more than minimum wage, look for jobs in coffee shops where you will receive minimum wage in addition to tips. Retail stores typically start their employees at minimum wage, but you will also get an employee discount of around 10-20% or more. This may be the ideal job for you if you can land a job at a clothing store. However, you may need to purchase the store’s clothes to serve as your work uniform. Those purchases can seriously subtract from your summer earnings. Retail jobs may be more likely to offer full-time work, but mostly it will be part-time work.
The previously mentioned summer jobs for teens in Chicago require teens to be at least 16. If you are younger than 16, you can find work if you are creative. One of the most common jobs is lawn mowing. All you need is a lawnmower, rake, and some hustle. You can earn between $10-$20 per lawn, depending upon the weather. For those who don’t have equipment at hand, house sitting for friends is an option. People typically pay by the week, and you could demand $25-$50 per week for mail collecting and cat feeding. Overall, this is not a bad rate if you are to young to work a regular job.
