Community Corner

Best-Paying Summer Jobs

A list of eight best-paying summer jobs. Provided by Jobs at AOL.

The following story was provided by AOLJobs.com 

By David Schepp

Getting a summer job is a rite of passage for many young people. In addition to earning wages to help pay for tuition or make car payments, it's where many first-time employees learn the fundamentals of work -- showing up on time, teamwork, communicating effectively, managing workloads and more. But summer jobs can also be fun, giving teenagers an opportunity to bond and hang out with a group of people beyond their schools and neighborhoods.

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In recent years, because of the recession and subsequent slow recovery in the labor market, summer jobs have been hard to come by for many teenagers. This year, many economic indicators point to an improved job market, suggesting that high school and college students looking for work this summer may have an easier time of it.

If you’re looking for a summer job in Avon-Avon Lake, check out our jobs page here. 

To help with the search, AOL Jobs has compiled a list of eight best-paying summer jobs -- nearly all of which require little if any previous job experience. All of the jobs pay more than the current federal minimum wage -- $7.25 an hour (though, depending on where you live, the minimum wage may be higher).

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What's more, forecasts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest that many of these jobs are fast growing, meaning employers likely need to fill lots of positions. Take a look at the list, and then tell us what you think in the comments section below -- and offer suggestions of your own.

Food Server (take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments):

  • 2010 Median Pay: $18,330, or $8.81 an hour.*
  • Work Experience: None.
  • Education and Training: Less than high school; short-term on-the-job training.
  • Number of Jobs: 2.26 million.
  • Employment Change (through 2020): +195,900 jobs, or 9 percent growth (slower than average).

Find a job as a food server.

Lifeguard (ensures the safety of swimmers at pools, beaches and parks):

  • 2011 Median Pay: $18,900, or $9.09 an hour.**
  • Work Experience: None.
  • Education and Training: Less than high school; American Red Cross Lifeguard certification is required and can be taken at age 15.
  • Number of Jobs: 122,000.
  • Employment Change (through 2020): +23,180 jobs, or 19 percent growth (average).

Find a job as a lifeguard.

Babysitter (cares for basic needs of children, such as bathing and feeding; may help older children with homework):

  • 2010 Median Pay: $19,300, or $9.28 an hour.*
  • Work Experience: None.
  • Education and Training: Ranges from less than a high school diploma to early childhood education certification, depending on employer and locality.
  • Number of Jobs: 1.28 million.
  • Employment Change (through 2020): +262,000 jobs, or 20 percent growth (faster than average).

Find a job as a babysitter.

Housekeeper (perform general cleaning tasks, including making beds and vacuuming floors in private homes, hotels and other commercial establishments):

  • 2010 Median Pay: $19,300, or $9.28 an hour.*
  • Work Experience: None.
  • Education and Training: Less than high school; short-term on-the-job training.
  • Number of Jobs: 1.43 million.
  • Employment Change (through 2020): +111,600 jobs, or 8 percent growth (slower than average).

Find a job as a housekeeper.

Home Health or Personal Care Aide (helps older adults or people who are disabled, chronically ill or mentally impaired with activities such as bathing and dressing; performs light housekeeping):

  • 2010 Median Pay: $20,170, or $9.70 an hour.*
  • Work Experience: None.
  • Education and Training: Less than high school; short-term on-the-job training.
  • Number of Jobs: 1.88 million.
  • Employment Change (through 2020): +1.3 million jobs, or 70 percent growth (much faster than average).

Find a job as a home health or personal care aide.

Retail Sales Clerk (assists with store operations, helps consumers find products and processes customers' payments):

  • 2010 Median Pay: $20,990, or $10.09 an hour.*
  • Work Experience: None.
  • Education and Training: Less than high school; short- to moderate-term on-the-job training.
  • Number of Jobs: 4.47 million.
  • Employment Change (through 2020): +739,400 jobs, or 17 percent growth (average).

Find a job as a Retail Sales Clerk.

Product Merchandiser (stocks store shelves, takes inventory and hands out product samples to customers):

  • 2011 Median Pay: $23,110, or $11.11 an hour.**
  • Work Experience: None.
  • Education and Training: High school diploma; short-term on-the-job training.
  • Number of Jobs: 90,100.
  • Employment Change (through 2020): +15,800 jobs, or 18 percent growth (average).

Find a job as an product merchandiser.

Pharmacy Technician (assists licensed pharmacists in dispensing prescription medications):

  • 2010 Median Pay: $28,400, or $13.65 an hour.*
  • Work Experience: None.
  • Education and Training: High school diploma or equivalent; moderate-term on-the-job training.
  • Number of Jobs: 334,000.
  • Employment Change (through 2020): +108,300 jobs, or 32 percent growth (much faster than average).
If you’re looking for a summer job in Avon-Avon Lake, check out our jobs page here. 


*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

**Source: ONet OnLine


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