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The Best Remote Jobs for High School Students

Co-authored by:
Indigo Research Team
Published:
June 24, 2024
Last Updated:
October 8, 2026
Person sitting alone in an auditorium reading sheet music among rows of empty beige and brown seats.

Have you ever wanted to get some extra money while you're still in high school? With the increasing popularity of working from home, some remote jobs for high school students around 14 to 18 could fit into your school schedule.

The knowledge and skills you'll get are among the many benefits of these remote jobs for high school graduates. You could always put the skill set you've learned during the time on your resume later. Plus, you get to do these jobs from the comfort of your home.  

Why Should You Get a Remote Job While Studying in High School?

Taking on freelance jobs for high school students while studying can teach you how to manage your time wisely and be responsible.

Moreover, this is one of the best ways to try out various professions and find what truly interests you as a student. And with the money earned, you can save it for college or that one thing you've had your eye on.

Before you start, you must be acquainted with child labor laws in your country. In the U.S., there are certain restrictions on jobs for school students aged 14 to 17 and their working hours, which you must follow.

Why is this important? Well, that's because some types of work may not match the age limit.

Remote Jobs for High School Students: At a Glance

Remote Jobs for Students
Remote Job Min. Age Platforms Skills Needed
Freelance Writing & Blogging 14+ Fiverr (parent account if under 18), ProBlogger, direct clients Writing, research, SEO basics
Graphic Design 14+ Fiverr (parent account if under 18), direct clients via Instagram/portfolio Design software (Canva, Adobe), creativity
Social Media Management 14+ Direct clients (local businesses, individuals) via LinkedIn, Instagram Creativity, content planning, analytics
Video Editing 14+ Direct clients (YouTube creators), Fiverr (parent account if under 18) Editing software (CapCut, DaVinci Resolve, Premiere)
Virtual Assistant 14+ Direct clients, Fancy Hands Organization, communication, scheduling
Online Tutoring 16+ Direct clients (school networks, Nextdoor, social media) — major platforms require 18+ Subject expertise, communication, patience
Transcription & Translation 16+ Fiverr (parent account if under 18), direct clients Typing speed, language skills, attention to detail
Programming & Web Dev 13+ Fiverr (parent account if under 18), direct clients, Stack Overflow for learning Coding skills (HTML, CSS, Python, JS)
Selling Digital Products 13+ Etsy (parent account if under 18), Gumroad (parent payment setup) Design or creative skills, product ideas
Data Entry 16+ Indeed, direct clients — most platforms require 18+ Attention to detail, typing speed, spreadsheets

Note: Fiverr allows students ages 13-17 to work through a parent or legal guardian's account (official Minors Policy, updated May 2025). Etsy allows ages 13-17 to sell through a parent-owned account. All other major freelance marketplaces (Upwork, Wyzant, UserTesting, Userlytics, Amazon Mechanical Turk, Clickworker) require users to be at least 18. Source: Fiverr community.fiverr.com/minors-policy; Etsy etsy.com/help/article/127.

Top Remote Jobs for High School Students 

There are several online jobs for students aged 14 to 18. But not all of them might be worth your time as a student. This is why we've curated a list of the best ones for high school students. 

1. Data Entry

Data entry is one of the best remote jobs for high school students who are at least 16 years of age and have an eye for detail. In this position, you will input information into databases or spreadsheets accurately and quickly.

Many companies outsource their data entry work, so there is an increasing need for remote workers, including students like yourself. 

This is an excellent opportunity if you're still in school and want flexible employment without much prior experience.

A site where you can find data entry jobs is Indeed

What you stand to benefit from:

  • Improve your computer literacy and attention to detail.
  • Work flexibly around your studies.
  • Earn extra money without needing much experience.

2. Programming

Do you possess technical skills and love to solve problems? If so, a career in programming could be right up your alley.

There are many online part-time jobs for high school students that don't require them to have a degree. Many of these involve coding or website development.

You can find freelance programming work on Fiverr. If you're between 13 and 17, you can use Fiverr through an account that is owned and managed by a parent or legal guardian — the account must be in their name, and all payments go through them. This is a legitimate path: Fiverr's official Minors Policy (updated May 2025) specifically allows this arrangement for ages 13-17.

For beginners, Stack Overflow is a valuable learning and community resource (not a job marketplace), and GitHub is where you should build your portfolio — potential clients and future employers will look there before anywhere else.

What you stand to benefit from:

  • You'd gain good experience in the growing tech industry.
  • Get to improve your coding skills and build a strong portfolio.
  • Potentially earn a high hourly rate for your work.

3. Social Media Management

Many businesses and individuals are asking for aid when it comes to handling their presence on the internet.

Being a social media manager implies that you will have to create posts, schedule them, interact with followers, and track engagement. 

The most realistic path for a high school social media manager isn't a job board — it's direct outreach. Local businesses (restaurants, boutiques, fitness studios, salons) often manage their own social media poorly and are open to affordable help from someone who genuinely understands the platforms. Start with businesses you already visit, create a short proposal showing what you'd do differently on their accounts, and offer a one-month trial. Once you have one or two clients and results to show, word of mouth does the rest.

What you stand to benefit from:

  • You will get the experience of working in a changing environment of social media marketing.
  • Your communication and content creation skills will be improved.
  • You can cultivate a network of acquaintances within the digital marketing industry.

4. Virtual Assistant

If you are an organized high school student who loves helping others, becoming a virtual assistant (VA) might be right for you. You'll provide administrative, technical, or creative support as a virtual assistant.

Tasks vary widely. They may include anything from managing emails and scheduling appointments to creating presentations or even running someone's social media accounts on their behalf. 

Most VA platforms (Belay, Time Etc, Boldly) require applicants to be 18 or older. The realistic route for a high school VA is direct outreach to small business owners, entrepreneurs, or busy professionals — often found through local networks, LinkedIn, or your parents' professional connections. Services to offer include inbox management, calendar scheduling, travel research, data organization, and basic content creation. Starting with someone in your network who can vouch for your reliability makes the first client much easier to land.

How this benefits you:

  • You gain experience across different types of administrative and  business tasks
  • Flexible working hours, plus you can work from anywhere

5. Freelance Graphic Designer

Are you a high school student at least 14 years old with a talent for creating stunning designs? 

If that's you, have you ever thought about getting a remote job as a freelance graphic designer? Well, if you haven't, this is the perfect opportunity.   

You see, there are a lot of brands, businesses, and individuals who always need designs for their businesses. This could be logos, social media graphics, banners, website designs, and the list goes on. 

You don't have to have a degree before making decent money as a graphic designer.

Fiverr is a great place to find remote jobs for teenagers in this area. 

How this benefits you:

  • Let your creativity shine through while creating a portfolio of work that shows what you can do.
  • Get experience working with clients and meeting deadlines.
  • Build up your design skills as well as learn new software programs.

6. Freelance Writing and Blogging

Freelance writing and blogging are some of the most convenient remote jobs for high school students. 

You can manage your blog if you're at least 14 years old and have the skillset. It's a great fit if you love to express yourself in words or share your thoughts and ideas with others. 

There's always demand from websites or businesses that need writers to create blog posts, articles, and other website content. 

You don't have to worry about how to start or get these jobs because you can find freelance writing online jobs for high school graduates with no experience. 

You must learn a few things about writing or blogging on YouTube or other platforms, sign up on platforms like ProBlogger, and get started. It's the kind of remote job where you get to learn on the job every day.

Besides, we've also written a blog post on some top writing contests for high school students in 2024 that should catch your interest.   

How this benefits you:

  • Improve your writing skills while developing personal brand awareness.
  • Gain insight into content marketing strategies like SEO. 
  • Networking opportunities within publishing industry sectors. 

7. Online Tutoring

Online tutoring is about sharing your knowledge on a particular subject or area with others. If you're a high schooler at least 16 years old and excellent at math, french, English, coding, or whatever the case, you can become an online tutor.  

You'd get paid for sharing your deep understanding with others. It's an opportunity to help other students who are struggling in these areas. 

Most major tutoring platforms (Wyzant, TutorMe, Tutor.com) require tutors to be 18 or older. The realistic route for high school students is direct outreach: post on your school's bulletin board, ask teachers to refer struggling students, post on Nextdoor, or let parents in your neighborhood know you're available. Subjects like math, science, SAT/ACT prep, and foreign languages are always in demand. Rates of $20-40/hour are common for peer tutoring, paid directly in cash or through Venmo/Zelle (set up in a parent's account if you're under 18).

How this benefits you:

  • You'd learn a lot on the job.
  • You get to Improve your communication skills.
  • Flexible working  hours 

8. Transcription and Translation

Would you call yourself someone who is a good listener and deeply understands one or two in-demand languages? 

Transcription or translation are also excellent remote jobs for high school students. While transcriptionists convert audio or video recordings into written documents, translators convert written text from one language to another. 

You'd find easy jobs for high schoolers on platforms like Fiverr and Indeed.  

How this benefits you:

  • Improve your language skills and knowledge about different cultures.
  • Get some work experience in an industry that needs skilled workers.
  • Flexible work schedules

9. Research Assistant

Paid research assistant positions posted on platforms like Upwork and Indeed almost universally require applicants to be 18 or older, have a college degree or enrollment, and have documented research experience. These are not realistic options for current high school students.

What IS accessible for high schoolers who want research experience: formal programs like MIT PRIMES, RSI (Research Science Institute), or university summer research programs place students alongside actual researchers — and several are paid or offer stipends. Indigo Research's own IRIS program is another route to conducting and publishing original research while in high school. These programs are more competitive than a gig on Upwork, but the experience they provide is far more substantial and far more meaningful on a college application.

If you're interested in research as a career direction, the path is through structured programs, not freelance platforms. See our article on research opportunities for high school students for a full breakdown.

You might also want to look at our blog on some of the top research opportunities for high schoolers like yourself. 

How this benefits you:

  • Be exposed to various industries and methods of conducting research.
  • Sharpen your analytical and research skills further.
  • Create professional networks within this area of interest.

How to Find Clients Without a Platform (The Real Strategy for Under-18s)

Most lists of remote jobs for high school students point you to platforms like Upwork and UserTesting. Here's the problem: most of those platforms require you to be 18. If you're 15, 16, or 17, the freelance marketplace route is largely closed to you — unless you're working through a parent's account on Fiverr or Etsy.

The good news: the platform isn't the job. You can do freelance writing, graphic design, social media management, video editing, or tutoring without any platform at all. What you need instead is a client — and here's how to find one.

Start with people who already trust you

Your first client will almost never be a stranger. Think about the adults around you who run small businesses or organizations: a parent's colleague who owns a restaurant, a neighbor with a local shop, a teacher who runs a side project, a family friend who just started a business. These people already know you're responsible. A short conversation — "I've been learning graphic design and I'd love to help you with your social media" — is far more likely to land work than a cold pitch to a stranger.

Build a portfolio before you have clients

The most common reason high school freelancers don't get hired isn't age — it's not having anything to show. Before you pitch anyone, build three to five samples of your best work. For a writer, that means three polished blog posts on different topics. For a graphic designer, it means a fake logo, a set of social media graphics, and a poster. For a video editor, it means a one-minute edit of footage you shot yourself or found online. These don't need to be paid work — they need to demonstrate what you can do.

Put your samples on a simple free site (Canva, Google Sites, or Behance all work) and share that link whenever you reach out to potential clients.

What to say when you reach out

Keep it short and specific. Don't say "I'm looking for work as a social media manager." Say: "I noticed your Instagram hasn't posted in three weeks and your last few posts didn't have captions. I put together three sample post ideas for you — would it be okay to send them over?" That's a message that shows you did your homework and leads with value, not with a request.

Most high schoolers who land their first freelance client do it through a warm connection and a specific pitch, not through a job board. Once you have one client and results to show, the next one is much easier.

The Tax and Legal Basics No One Tells You About

If you earn money from freelance work, you're running a small business — and a few practical things follow from that.

You'll probably owe self-employment tax

When you work a regular job, your employer withholds taxes from your paycheck. When you freelance, no one does that for you. If you earn more than $400 in a year from freelance work, you technically owe self-employment tax (15.3% in the US) on that income, plus federal and state income tax on amounts above the standard deduction.

The practical implication: don't spend every dollar you earn. Setting aside 20-25% of your freelance income for taxes is a reasonable rule of thumb if you expect to earn more than a few hundred dollars. Talk to a parent or guardian about this — it's something they can help you track.

Clients paying you $600 or more in a year may send you a 1099

If a single client pays you $600 or more in a year, they're required to send you a 1099-NEC form for tax purposes (and a W-9 may be required before they pay you). If you're under 18 and working through a parent's account or business, this paperwork goes to them. Either way, keep a simple record of every payment you receive and who it came from.

Below $13,850 in total income, you likely owe no federal income tax

For 2023 and 2024, the standard deduction for a single filer was $13,850 (it adjusts slightly each year). If your total income — freelance plus any other job — stays below that, you likely owe no federal income tax, just self-employment tax on the freelance portion. Most high school freelancers earning a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars per year will owe very little in practice.

Payment accounts for under-18s

PayPal and Venmo require users to be 18 to create an account independently. If you're under 18, the most common workaround is receiving payment through a parent's account. Zelle (linked to a parent's bank account), cash, or check also work for clients who prefer a simple arrangement. Be upfront with clients about how payment works — most don't mind, and trying to hide your age or use a fake account creates problems that aren't worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where can I find an online summer job for high school students?

For under-18 students, the most realistic options are Fiverr (through a parent or guardian's account), Etsy (through a parent account, for digital products), direct client outreach via LinkedIn and Instagram, and local community boards like Nextdoor. Indeed sometimes lists remote summer jobs open to minors, but always verify age requirements before applying. Most major freelance platforms (Upwork, Clickworker, Amazon Mechanical Turk) require users to be 18 or older.

What are some of the remote jobs under 18  

You can do some remote jobs under the age of 18. Freelancing as a graphic designer or bloging are viable options for individuals in your age bracket.

Are there really any remote jobs for 15-year-olds with no experience? 

Yes, there certainly are. Although roles like data entry and social media management typically require some prior experience, they are often minimal. It should not deter anyone who wishes to explore such opportunities. However, please observe child labor laws applicable in the country when considering any offer of employment like this one.

Conclusion

We said quite a lot, but if you missed anything, here's a quick takeaway from what we've said up to this point. 

Remote jobs are tasks or jobs you can do while you're still schooling. The great thing is that some remote jobs don't need much experience.

You're probably wondering if that is really true. Yes, it is. 

For example, freelance writing or graphic design for direct clients doesn't require years of experience — a strong portfolio of a few sample pieces and a clear proposal is often enough to land a first client.

Remember to look up the child labor laws applicable within your jurisdiction so you don't run afoul of these legislations while vetting potential employers against them, too! 

Alright, we've come to the end of this blog post. We hope you've found this helpful and insightful. 

Remote jobs can help high school students build real-world skills, earn income, and gain experience while working around school schedules.

At Indigo Research, students can take their interests a step further through one-on-one mentorship with expert mentors from leading universities. Discover how Indigo Research can help turn your interests into meaningful research and a stronger academic profile.

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