As high school students commit in academics, extracurricular activities and sports, many also begin exploring part-time jobs and managing their personal finances. For some, working is a way to build experience, while others aim to save for future plans like vacation or college.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment-population ratio of high school students was 22.5% in October 2023, indicating that nearly one in four high school students had a job.
“I had a job at Cox Farms,” said freshman Aarav Dhanani. “I decided to get a part-time job so I could build work experience for future job applications.”
Part-time jobs for high school students often fall into seasonal or retail categories. These positions are typically accessible to students and often offer flexible schedules.
“I worked in the fast food and retail industry,” said junior Ben Tran. “[The] most common job for a high school student would definitely be retail, like Walgreens.”
Balancing work and academics can be challenging. While earning money can be motivating, work schedules may reduce their time to work on their homework and study. Research from Walden University indicates that working more than 20 hours per week can negatively affect academic performance among high school students.
“Working did have some impact on my academic performance but not too badly,” Tran said. “For example, sometimes I would have lack of sleep because the amount of assignments I had which caused me to fall asleep in class.”
To manage academic responsibilities along with his job, Tran communicated with his teachers and planned his time carefully. Other students may choose to work primarily on weekends or during school breaks to avoid conflicts.
“Strategies that I used to [avoid] being burnt out was just by having a clean room and keeping all my folders, tabs for specific classes, and always keeping an sticky note about things that needs to be done that day,” Tran said.
Other students find that having a job can actually help them stay focused.
“Having a job helps me with my academics because I have to work around my work schedule, and it ensures that i don’t procrastinate,” said senior Drea Matteo.
How students spend their earnings varies but common expenses include food and entertainment.
“My biggest daily and weekly expenses as a student would most definitely be food,” Tran said. “I order tons of food when I’m studying or when I’m craving for something”
According to Lexington Law, teenagers in the U.S. spend an estimated $63 billion annually, with a significant portion under food and entertainment. While some students view spending on entertainment or food as a way to deal with stress, others prioritize saving.
“I allocate most of my money to my savings and keep a bit of spending money on hand for when I go out,” Matteo said. “[You should] get a savings account.”
Regardless of how the money is used, managing personal finances is often an early learning experience for high school workers.
“An advice I would give to other students about managing money would be always check your bank statement and keeping track of what you buy,” Tran said. “Also, keep in mind of your wants and needs.”
As more high school students take on part-time jobs, they continue to learn about time management, budgeting, and the responsibilities that come with financial independence.
