what is the highest paid job for a 16 year old?

[ramsamsam]

I can't afford to give my 16 year old DD nice things at the moment so she, very sensibly, wants to get a part time job to be able to buy herself things. She applied to Starbucks but you have to be 17 to work there apparently. I really don't want her working for 4 pounds an hour if at all possible. What is the highest paid job a 16 year old can get? She is smart and sensible. We live in London.

A 26 year old lad from our school does modelling and gets £3k for a weekend.

16 not 26

ControversialSuggestion Do you mean they do employ 16 year olds or they don't and you have to be 18? Sorry for being dim.

Y11 is hard. Babysitting could be good. Weekend or after school “mothers help”. Leaflet/menu distribution can be done in your own time

WhichWitchIsTheWitch I am not sure that sort of job is generally available sadly.

Waitressing in a fancy restaurant with a good tips policy. If they keep their own, brilliant, but even divided it can sometimes really boost their income.
Mine also sell on vinted, sometimes hunting for cool stuff at car boot sales etc to sell for a particular audience (hip young things like themselves). They model it , launder it nicely etc and do quite well. Others I know look for local tutoring centres where they help out with tutoring for 11+ etc.
Is she good at make up? Children’s entertainers often look for face painters/ assistants for big events in London, that pay well. It can be busy, fun work. Also functions waitressing for weddings etc.

The son of someone I used to work with worked for McD when he was doing his A levels, was shift manager after a short time and went to an Olympic games to work for them there, not London either, I think it was Atlanta, it was a long tome ago.
My granddaughter found that many places wouldn't employer her when she was still in Year 11.

Harder in Year 11 than Year 12 as lots of the bigger companies insist you have to be past statutory school leaving age.

Supermarket jobs here pay £10-£11 for 16 year olds, but you have to be past school leaving age (so no good for OP).

Think she's looking at more individual shops or restaurants. Could get up to £8 an hour here (plus tips if something like waitressing).

was going to say the cinema that’s where one of my first jobs was but now they do alcohol may need to be 18!

I do think that walking into smaller shops, restaurants and pubs with a cv in hand can prove a good idea. My two did this as adults when needing an extra job. More or less instant employment in some cases. One job was in a Thai takeaway place where she answered the phone and took orders. They needed someone with good communication skills and a friendly manner.

You can luck out with some businesses that will take 16 year olds, pay and treat them like older teenagers, and be reasonable to work for around school/college. But as mentioned above, if she has any specialist skills or knowledge that can be an easier way to get higher wages. Teaching an instrument, coaching in a sport or language, art, even something like climbing or knitting or cooking!

Tutoring generally can be a great one - yes a 16 year old isn't going to be teaching A level maths, but if she's got good grades and can explain a subject well, is mature, and good with younger children, then you may find people willing to try her on tutoring younger children for things like English/maths/languages. She'd have to charge much less than a qualified teacher but it's such an in-demand thing and so expensive usually, being a bargain option may get some takers.

Other services: dog walking, pet sitting, house sitting (in a checking in, watering plants etc kind of way).

My sixth former gets £9.50 ph as a lifeguard at a private gym. It's £9.90 ph at council leisure centre but location doesn't work for him.

It’s really hard op and I think a lot of parents right now are in your shoes.
Even the phone they all need is an expense (and in London I imagine you wouldn’t want her to be without this).
clothes, make up, a cpl of basic days out a month… it’s a killer. Even a Saturday maccies is a tenner down. School needs a laptop, dinner money is a fortune , school trips at this age are becoming insane (some on her recently offered have been 1000s for a few days?!). Travel expenses! All just things that add up and up and up, at the same time as being bombarded with images daily of Insta perfect lives , ‘hauls’ … omg it’s ENDLESS.

My 16YO got a good wage from Premier Inn as a housekeeper. I think it was £10+ and she worked there four days.

When I was this age I also picked jobs based on the perks. I always preferred shops to food related service. Shops like accessorise take on holiday staff and usually easy to stay on after

Library..if your LA takes on Saturday staff

Dd worked at M and S from 16, about 7 years ago. Got £10 an hour ( London). She also transferred to a store near University for 3 years.

Another McDonald's one here, pays well, free food a shift and have been very flexible, she does some weekend shifts and also 5-10 some evenings, it varies but they've been good if shes needed to change things etc. She's did say they won't take you until after gcses finished so June time (not sure if national policy or local)

You usually have different aged people working in their own sections. When I was 16 working in a restaurant I could serve food and non-alcoholic drinks only. The bar staff and older waiters had to serve the alcohol.

In cinemas I'd imagine you have cinema bar staff just to do that job!

Has your child looked into any jobs themself? When I was that age I went out and actively sought a job in a location and role I wanted. Employees like those that are independent and have their own initiative.

No point Mum telling her to go work for Waitrose which is the highest paid if she's going to be miserable there!

To be honest the better paid jobs tend to be more competitive and harder to secure when you have zero work experience. I'd remind her that a first job doesn't have to be forever or even for very long, but getting that experience on a CV along with a reference can lead to better opportunities. A job that works well around school, is supportive and easy to get to would be an ideal start.

The kids I teach seem to get trained up as lifeguards and earn well doing that. Not for everyone obviously, but it's a less obvious option

Mine’s yr 12 age 16 at McDonald’s pt and £8.25 an hour up north. It’s best paying of fast food restaurants in our area. Tends to work one 6 hour shift a week.
Babysitting can pay well.

For all of those people saying she should work for a pittance. What is the harm in doing a little research and trying to find a job she can apply for that pays better at entry level? Who specifically applies for low paying work when they don't have to?!
I earned £4 an hour at 15 - 16 years ago!!! I can't imagine a 16 year old working for that now 😳

My 16 year old is on £9.50 an hour at Boots (temp Christmas job)