Ways for 10-year-olds to earn money
tweenTen is when the entrepreneurial range opens up. Pet sitting, lawn mowing for multiple neighbors, tutoring, a real Etsy-via-parent shop — all viable. Most 10-year-olds can clear $20-40/week with intention.
Labor law for age 10
Informal work continues. Newspaper delivery is the first formally-permitted job at any age in most states, but few delivery routes still exist for kids.
11 ideas
Each idea below shows realistic pay, time commitment, and how much parent help is needed. Pay ranges are starting points — adjust to your local cost of living and your kid\'s experience level.
Neighbor / community
Pet sitting (multi-day, drop-in)
$10–$30/jobBabysitting (parent home, short window)
$5–$10/hourCar washing service
$8–$20/jobBirthday party assistant
$10–$30/jobPhysical / outdoor
Lawn mowing (push mower, neighbor)
$15–$30/jobSnow shoveling (small driveway)
$10–$25/jobYard cleanup / leaf raking
$10–$30/jobTutoring & teaching
Tutoring younger kids in a subject
$8–$15/hourOnline
Etsy/Marketplace shop via parent
$5–$30/jobYouTube / TikTok creator (with parent account)
$0–$100/weekMost kids earn $0-5 for a long time; expect this to be a hobby with a tiny income tail.
Creative
Selling baked goods to family/neighbors
$10–$40/jobPricing tip
At 10, write down a price list. "Lawn mowing $20, snow shoveling $15, dog walk $5/15min." Stick it on the fridge. When they get a request, point to the list — saves the awkward "uh, I dunno, ten dollars?" moment.
Tax note
Still well under tax filing thresholds. If they're hitting $400+/month consistently in a single category (rare but happens), look at custodial Roth IRA opportunities.
The parent angle
Ten is the age "save for a real goal" pairs naturally with "earn outside the household." If they want a $300 console, helping them schedule 15 lawn mowings is a more powerful lesson than 30 weeks of allowance saving.
Frequently asked
How much can a 10-year-old realistically earn per week?
$10-50 with focus. A kid mowing 2 lawns per week ($40) plus pet sitting one weekend ($20) clears $60. Most earn far less; the realistic baseline for casual effort is $5-15/week.
Can a 10-year-old run a real business?
Within informal limits, yes. The line is: any business that requires a license, paid employees, or formal taxes is too much. Lawn care, tutoring, pet sitting, craft sales — totally fine.
Should a 10-year-old open a savings account from earnings?
Yes — a custodial savings account at this age is a great parallel track. Some banks (Capital One Kids Savings, Chase First) have explicit kid options.