Chores for 13-Year-Olds

teen

Thirteen-year-olds can hold a multi-month savings goal, manage a small bank account, and reason about percentages and interest. They can also start a real micro-business (tutoring, lawn care, pet sitting) for neighbors.

Pay context for age 13

$12-25 weekly is typical at age 13. Federal labor law allows informal work (babysitting, lawn care, casual neighbor jobs) so this is when many kids start earning outside the household.

12 age-appropriate chores

Each chore below shows a typical pay range, time estimate, and how much parent supervision it still needs. Use these as a starting point — the right number of chores is the one your kid can sustain for at least four weeks straight without nagging.

Kitchen

Cook a full family meal independently

$6–$12

⏱ 1 hr 30 min·weekly·Independent

Outdoor

Maintain car interior (vacuum, wipe down)

$5–$10

⏱ 45 min·weekly·Independent

Mow lawn with gas mower (after training)

$10–$20

⏱ 1 hr 30 min·weekly·Independent

Shovel snow for elderly neighbor

$10–$25

⏱ 45 min·as-needed·Independent

Care for plants and outdoor maintenance

$4–$10

⏱ 30 min·weekly·Independent

Family help

Babysit younger siblings solo (4+ hours)

$12–$30

⏱ 4 hr·as-needed·Independent

Run errands within walking/biking distance

$3–$6

⏱ 30 min·as-needed·Independent

Tutor younger kids in academic subject

$6–$15

⏱ 45 min·weekly·Independent

Manage household trash and recycling routine

$2–$4

⏱ 20 min·weekly·Independent

Pets

Pet-sit for neighbor (drop-in visits)

$5–$15

⏱ 30 min·as-needed·Independent

Cleaning

Deep clean kitchen (degrease, organize)

$8–$15

⏱ 1 hr 30 min·monthly·Independent

Laundry

Lead family laundry (multiple loads)

$6–$12

⏱ 2 hr·weekly·Independent

How to keep it running

Thirteen-year-olds can take ownership of an entire household domain — "you run the laundry," "you run the lawn." That ownership produces better quality than per-task pay.

When they refuse: At 13, refusals often come from time pressure (homework, friends, sports). Be flexible on timing but firm on completion. Move the weekly chore to Sunday night if needed.

The parent angle

Thirteen is when the savings story becomes future-focused — first car, college fund, first apartment after graduation. Help them set a long-term goal alongside the short-term one. The dual-track planning is real adult money management.

Frequently asked

Should a 13-year-old have their own checking account?

A custodial checking account or a teen-focused account (with parent oversight) is great at this age. Combined with a debit card, it teaches transaction-by-transaction tracking — a habit that scales.

Can a 13-year-old work outside the house legally?

In the US, federal law permits "casual" work (babysitting, lawn care, newspaper delivery) at any age. Formal employment with a paystub usually starts at 14 with a work permit, depending on state.

How much should I pay for babysitting at 13?

Inside the family, $5-10/hour is common. Outside the family (neighbors), $8-15/hour is typical depending on number of kids and time of day.