Fifteen is a useful age for earning money. You are still covered by the rules for school-age children, but your hours open up noticeably compared with 14, and more local businesses are willing to take you on, especially for Saturdays and the summer holidays.
What changes at 15
- You can work up to 8 hours on a Saturday in term time, up from 5 at 14.
- In the school holidays you can work up to 8 hours a day on weekdays and Saturdays, and 35 hours a week, up from 25.
- Everything else stays the same: no work during school hours, before 7am or after 7pm, a maximum of 12 hours a week in term time, and up to 2 hours on a school day or Sunday.
The full breakdown by age is in the UK rules on working under 18.
Jobs for 15 year olds
Jobs with an employer
- Saturday work in independent shops, bakeries, newsagents and garden centres
- Front-of-house help in cafés, away from the kitchen
- Paper rounds and leaflet delivery
- Stables, kennels and catteries
- Helping at sports clubs, holiday clubs and leisure centres
- Helping out in a family member's business
Any business employing you will normally need a child employment permit from the council, which is free and is their job to sort out. See child work permits explained.
Jobs you run yourself
- Car washing, including a simple interior hoover
- Dog walking and pet sitting
- Gardening, weeding and lawn mowing with a push or electric mower
- Leaf clearing in autumn
- Tech help for older neighbours
- Tutoring younger students in subjects you are strong in
- Christmas wrapping and decorating
How to earn more at 15: stack your jobs
At 15 the most reliable way to earn decent money is not one big job, it is several small ones that repeat. A regular Saturday morning car wash for three neighbours, two weekday dog walks and a fortnightly garden tidy add up to steady weekly income, and regular customers save you the effort of finding new ones every week.
How much do 15 year olds get paid?
The National Minimum Wage does not apply until you are past the school leaving date, so pay is agreed between you and whoever hires you. Local businesses often pay a set hourly rate, while self-run jobs are usually priced per job. The teen price guide has fair starting points.
Getting ready for 16
The work you do at 15 is what gets you a better job at 16. Keep a note of every job, ask happy customers if they would give you a reference, and build reviews you can point to. When supermarkets and high street shops open up at 16, someone with a year of reliable local work stands out.
Find jobs near you
KidsHustle shows paid jobs posted by ID-verified adults near you, your parent approves each one before you apply, and every job you complete adds to a work record and reviews that are yours to keep. Download KidsHustle, or read about what changes at 16.