The Best Chores for Kids to Earn Money

Finding ways for your kids to earn their own money is a great way to help them learn about financial responsibility.

But since kids don’t have many options for earning extra spending cash, you sometimes have to get creative in helping them find ways to make money.

When it comes to earning an income, chores for kids are one of the easiest ways to make money fast.

With the help of these chores for kids to earn money, children of any age can find jobs to do around the house to help them fill up their piggy bank.

Child holding and counting dollar bills.

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How Much Should a Child Get Paid for Chores?

Giving your child money for completing their chores is a popular reward method among parents.

(Note: Doing chores for money, to me, means once regular chores have been completed, there are some “extra” chores kids can do that they can earn a reward for going above and beyond for. But for parents that choose to pay their kids for regular chores, this is a good list to get you started.)

They’ll be learning how to take initiative around the house and being rewarded for it.

In addition to teaching kids how to take on more responsibility, earning money for chores can also improve your child’s financial literacy.

Getting paid for completing extra chores will teach your child a variety of valuable lessons about money, along with a ton of other great benefits, like:

Understanding how to manage their own money
Learning how to create a budget
The relationship between work and pay
Motivation to complete their chores each week
Learning about the save, spend, and share concept
Earning more spending money to purchase the things they want
Learning the cost of the things they want to buy
Figuring out how to save for the things they want

If you’re convinced that using chores for kids to earn money is a good idea, you might be wondering how the process works.

When it comes to paying your child for chores, there are three basic methods that can be used:

Weekly allowance. With a weekly allowance, your child will be assigned a list of regular chores they must complete each week. If they complete those chores by the end of the week, they get paid. When deciding how much to pay your kids for their chores, the general rule of thumb for an allowance is $1 for each year of age on a weekly basis.
Pay-per-chore. When paying per chore, you will set a dollar amount for each chore your child can complete. They can be assigned a set list of tasks they have to do or you can allow them to pick the jobs they want to take on. When coming up with a pay rate for their chores, think about the chore’s difficulty and time commitment. Harder jobs that take more time will earn more pay than quick and simple tasks.
Allowance and pay-per-chore combination. Another option for paying your kids for chores is a mix of both the weekly allowance and pay-per-chore methods. With this method, you give your kids an allowance on a weekly basis for doing basic chores around the house. After those chores are done, they can earn additional money for doing extra, more involved chores, like raking the leaves in the fall or babysitting their siblings. (I’m not a fan of this method since it pays kids for their regular chores, but some parents do like it)

Chores for an Allowance by Age

If you do decide to tie your child’s chores to an allowance, then you’ll need to find some chores for your kids to do on a regular basis to start earning money.

The key to picking the right chores for your children is to use their age and ability as a starting point.

These age-based chores for kids are great options for getting them started earning money for helping out around the house:

Preschoolers & Kindergarteners

Pick up toys
Fold small towels, wash clothes, and blankets
Clean up small messes with a damp towel
Match socks
Carry laundry to its designated room
Sort laundry by color before washing
Put their dirty clothes in the hamper
Put silverware and plastic dishes away
Pick up pillows and blankets
Straighten their bed
Feed pets
Water indoor plants
Clean door knobs
Wipe off light switches
Pick up sticks in the yard
Wipe off cabinet doors

Elementary Schoolers

Make their bed
Keep their room clean and organized
Feed the pets
Clean up clutter
Do laundry, fold clothes, and/or put clean clothes away
Bring in the mail
Wipe the kitchen counters and cabinets
Put away groceries
Dust
Sweep the floors
Vacuum the carpets
Wash dishes
Take out the trash
Help make dinner
Set and clear the table for dinner
Clean their bathroom (with assistance)
Water plants and flowers (indoors and/or outside)
Keep backseat and floor of car clean

Middle Schoolers

Make their bed
Keep their room neat and organized
Basic cleaning tasks
- Sweeping/vacuuming
- Mopping
- Cleaning bathroom/kitchen counters and sink
- Wiping cabinets
- Dusting
- Cleaning mirrors
Sort their own laundry, wash it, put it in the dryer, fold it, and put it away
Take the pets out for walks, feed them, and give them water
Take the trashcans to the curb on garbage day
Prepare their lunch for school

Mother and young girl doing chores by carrying and putting away stacks of laundry.

Preteens

Make their bed and change their own bedding each week and launder as needed
All cleaning tasks
- Sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping all floors
- Wiping down sinks, countertops, and toilets
- Cleaning cabinet doors and shelves
- Dusting surfaces and knick-knacks on top
- Cleaning showers and bathtubs
Load and unload the dishwasher and put all dishes away
Sort, wash, and dry all laundry and put everyone’s laundry away
Prepare simple meals without the need for supervision
Mow the lawn
Sweep the driveway, sidewalks, and porch

Teenagers

Keep their bedroom clean and organized, including regular cleaning each week
Go grocery shopping
Make meals
Wash, clean, and maintain their own vehicle, including oil changes
Help with all cleaning and laundry tasks throughout the house
Outdoor maintenance, including mow the lawn, use the weed eater, and trim the bushes

REALTED: THE BEST CHORES FOR TEENS

Pay Per Chore Ideas

If you plan on using a combination of an allowance and pay per chore methods, you’ll need to find extra chores for your child to do around the house.

These pay-per-chore ideas are perfect chores for kids to have a chance to earn some extra money in addition to their weekly allowance.

Rake leaves in the fall and shovel snow in the winter
Weed the garden
Plant seeds or plants in the garden
Spread mulch
Harvest the garden
Wash and/or clean out the family car
Clean out the garage
Help with spring cleaning
Wash the windows (inside and outside)
Declutter and reorganize a room in the house
Clean out the kitchen cabinets or pantry
Clean out the refrigerator and freezer
Clean the oven and stovetop
Clean the microwave
Babysit younger siblings
Paint inside or outside the house
Assist with odd jobs and repairs around the house
Complete tech updates and repairs
Deep clean the bathrooms
Deep clean the kitchen
Trim hedges
Clean out the basement
Pick up yard debris
Scrub baseboard
Clean the porch
Clean the exterior of the house
Reorganize the entryway or mudroom
Declutter and donate their toys
Help set up a yard sale
Give the pets a bath
Tutor younger siblings
Clean out the outdoor trash cans
Deep cleaning the rugs and/or carpets
Scrub the toilets
Empty litter box and clean it out
Move out furniture and clean underneath
Remove cushions from couch and chairs to vacuum
Clean light fixtures
Clean the pool

All-in-all, whether you choose to pay your child a weekly allowance, pay them per chore that they complete, or a combination of both ideas, this list of chores for kids to earn money is a good place to help them get started.

I’d also encourage you to talk to your child and get them involved in the process. Ask them what they think would help them keep with their chores and motivate them the most.

By talking to your child, they’ll feel like a valued member of the family and want to take more responsibility for the decisions that they help to make.