How to Make Money in Your 20s? Top 10 Jobs for Young People

I'm in my late twenties, and I spent much of the past decade looking for quick ways to make money. I went for jobs that are flexible and don't require experience or a car. That sounds like a big ask, but I found a lot of great opportunities along the way.

I now have a more traditional job. I still think these ideas are worth checking out if you're in your twenties and want to make money.

Try Temp Work

Being young means you probably have more energy and a higher tolerance for instability. These are advantages in the job market, and they make you well suited to temp work.

Temp work has a bad reputation, since it often means working irregular hours in a stretched system. It also has some real advantages.

• You're not held to long-term expectations, which removes a lot of the stress full-time employees deal with.
• The pay is usually competitive, and it often pays more than full-time roles for the same work.
• You meet new people and experience different types of work, which helps you avoid boredom.

Think about the kind of work you want to do, then look for an agency. EPIC focuses on hospitality, while Eastridge specializes in office roles.

Manage Social Media Accounts

As a 20-year-old jobseeker, there are only a few fields where your age works in your favor. Social media management is one of them.

Older generations expect young people to be savvier with social media and to know what works in that space, and they're usually right. People in their 20s grew up with social media, which is why they dominate the industry.

You'll have a better chance of finding higher-paid work with experience, or even your own channels. Plenty of part-time social media roles are available as a starting point.

Tutor High School Students

If you're in your twenties, you can probably still remember high school. You're likely familiar with the kinds of exams students in your area are studying for.

Becoming a tutor for high school students is a strong option. Pick a subject you're comfortable with and prepare for every lesson by studying the curriculum.

You can advertise locally on NextDoor, or build a profile on a platform like Wyzant.

If you want older students, teaching your native language is a good route.

Complete Online Surveys

Market research companies are always looking for people to share feedback on new products and give opinions on major brands. Dozens of online survey sites connect you with paid opportunities like this, offering a comfortable way to make money from home.

For most users, surveys provide tens or possibly hundreds a month. Staying consistent can get you up to $500.

Pairing surveys with another earning method, like paid gaming, works well since gaming can also be done from your phone and tends to pay more.

Create Online Content

Making content online and turning it into income takes hard work and a good amount of luck, but some paths are easier than others. Starting in your twenties helps too, since that's where most of the audience is.

You could start a faceless YouTube channel built around Top 10 lists or compilation videos. I did this with just a mic and free video editing software, DaVinci Resolve, and I earn about $300 a month from my channel while spending one day a week on it.

Content creation has been rewarding for me beyond the income. It's pushed me to go deeper into my own hobbies.

Try Child Care

This kind of work is easier to land if you present as female, but if that applies to you, it can be a great job in your twenties. Children can be difficult, but the pay is good and the work is steady.

If you want to find work locally, try Care, a platform for babysitting and childminding jobs.

If you want to travel and experience life in a new city, look into becoming an au pair. This usually means living with a host family as a nanny while taking local language lessons. The pay is low, but accommodation is covered.

Try Food Delivery

I worked as a food delivery rider for several years in my twenties, and it's still one of my favorite jobs I've had.

The pay is close to minimum wage and the hours can be unsociable. Still, you get to know your city better than a cab driver would, get hours of exercise built into the job, and barely have to interact with customers, which leaves plenty of time for podcasts.

This kind of work is also easy to get into, with companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats always looking for more riders.

Take On Manual Labor

If you're in your twenties, there's a good chance you're fit enough for manual labor. It's a solid way to make decent money completing small individual jobs and getting paid cash in hand.

The best place to look for this kind of work is on odd job platforms like TaskRabbit and Airtasker.

You don't need any construction skills for most of this work. Plenty of contractors just need an extra pair of hands to move materials, and older individuals often need help with basic tasks.

If you do have relevant skills already, you'll find more and better-paid work available.

Try Paid Gaming

Like online surveys, the appeal of paid gaming in your twenties is straightforward. You can start in five minutes and work from home, or even from bed, by playing games and earning money along the way.

You get paid for completing individual tasks, like reaching a certain level or beating a specific boss. Once you've built up enough funds, you can cash out in plenty of ways, from PayPal to crypto.

Paid gaming ranks this high because it tends to pay better than similar online work like surveys. Players on platforms like Freecash can earn up to $1,000.00 a month.

If you try paid gaming, take time to explore the titles on offer before settling on one. You'll likely spend hundreds of hours playing whichever game you pick.

Offer Pet Care Services

My favorite suggestion for casual work in your twenties is pet care. Almost anyone can do it, the work is relaxing, and the pay can be decent.

You can advertise locally on NextDoor, or connect directly with clients through platforms like Rover and Wag!.

Start with lower rates to build up good reviews, then raise your per-hour price over time. Pricing too aggressively can backfire, since this is a competitive space.

Never accept a dog walking job or drop-in visit before meeting the animal. A badly behaved pet isn't worth the trouble.