The Best Summer Jobs for Teens: Bowling Alleys Are at the Top of the List

The Best Summer Jobs for Teens: Bowling Alleys Are at the Top of the List
© Pavel Danilyuk

Summer gives teens an opportunity to earn some cash, and this summer, more teens are projected to be employed than any other summer since 2007. So what are the best summer jobs for teens? LendingTree study found that bowling alleys are at the top of the list.

The team analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages to find the best summer jobs for teens. LendingTree ranked industries across the following metrics: change in employment, weekly wages, and the percentage of roles occupied by teens ages 16 to 19. Here’s a quick look at the best summer jobs for teens:

  • Teens looking for the best summer jobs should roll into their nearest bowling alley. 20.0% of bowling center workers are 16 to 19 years old — the highest across any industry analyzed. Bowling centers also see the highest rate of wage growth (9.8%) between the spring and summer. Teens can expect to make $437 a week working at their local bowling alley.
  • The second-best industry for teens in the summer might surprise you: footwear manufacturing. While teens ages 16 to 19 account for only 3.4% of workers in the industry, wage-related metrics push footwear manufacturing higher. The industry saw the third-highest rate of wage growth (6.9%) between the spring and summer, only behind bowling centers and fiber, yarn and thread mills. Weekly wages for teens in the footwear manufacturing industry average $998.
  • The third-best industry for teens looking for summer jobs is more common — landscaping services. A higher rate of this industry’s jobs — 5.1% — are held by teens ages 16 to 19. If teens can bear the heat, they can expect to rake in $847 a week.

You can view the full study here.

With a projected 32.8% of teens ages 16 to 19 likely being employed this summer, LendingTree study highlights the best summer jobs for teens.