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

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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

SEE ALSO:
THE BIG LIST OF CHORES FOR 6-7 YEAR OLDS
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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.

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