For many teenagers growing up in the 1970s, getting a first job was an important event. Long before online applications and remote jobs, teens usually found work by walking into a local store or hearing about an opening from a neighbor or friend. The pay was modest, but earning a few dollars of their own gave young people a new sense of independence.
These jobs were often simple. Teenagers delivered newspapers before school, stocked grocery shelves, washed dishes, and babysat. Some of these jobs still exist today, but the experience of doing them in the 1970s felt totally different. Here are 15 first jobs that were familiar to a lot of teenagers during the decade.
1. Newspaper Delivery
Being a newspaper carrier was one of the classic teenage jobs of the 1970s. Young people often woke up before sunrise, picked up newspapers, and delivered them by bicycle or on foot before heading to school.
2. Babysitting
Babysitting was a common first job for teenage girls, although boys sometimes did it as well. Parents relied on neighborhood teenagers when they wanted to go out for dinner, attend a party, or spend an evening away from home. There were no text-message updates or video baby monitors.
3. Grocery Store Bagger
Local supermarkets employed plenty of teenagers to bag groceries at checkout counters. Bags were usually made of paper, and learning how to pack them properly was part of the job. Baggers might also carry groceries to customers’ cars or help stock shelves.
4. Gas Station Attendant
Full-service gas stations were much more common in the 1970s, which created another entry-level job for young workers. Teen attendants pumped gasoline while customers remained inside their vehicles.
5. Fast-Food Worker
The rapid growth of fast-food restaurants during the 1960s and 1970s created thousands of jobs for teenagers. Young workers took orders, prepared burgers and fries, cleaned tables, and operated cash registers. Friday nights and weekends could be hectic.
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6. Lawn Mowing
Teenagers who wanted to make money without having a formal employer often went door to door offering to mow lawns. A teen with access to a lawn mower could build a small group of regular customers around the neighborhood. Payment was usually made in cash.
7. Dishwasher
Restaurants, diners, and cafés hired teenagers to wash dishes. It was rarely glamorous work. Shifts could involve standing for hours beside hot water and keeping up with a constant stream of dirty cookware. Still, dishwashing was an accessible first job because it generally required little previous experience.
8. Retail Store Clerk
Department stores, clothing shops, and other neighborhood businesses employed teenagers as part-time clerks. Their responsibilities included arranging merchandise, cleaning displays, carrying stock from storage rooms, or helping customers locate products.
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9. Movie Theater Usher
Working at a movie theater had obvious appeal for teenagers who loved films. Ushers checked tickets, cleaned auditoriums, and picked up the popcorn and candy wrappers. The job could be especially busy on weekend evenings, when theaters became popular gathering places for young people.
10. Farmhand
In rural communities, agricultural work was a normal part of teenage life. Young workers helped farmers during planting and harvest seasons, cared for animals, moved hay, or performed whatever physical work. Summer farm jobs could involve long days in the heat.
11. Car Washer
Some teens found jobs at local car washes, while others created their own informal car-washing businesses. At commercial car washes, workers might vacuum interiors, dry cars by hand, and clean windows. It was simple work that required energy rather than experience.
12. Ice Cream Shop Worker
Working at an ice cream shop or local soda fountain was a popular warm-weather job. Employees became surprisingly skilled at producing perfectly rounded scoops during a busy summer evening.
13. Lifeguard
For teenagers who were strong swimmers, lifeguarding was one of the more desirable summer jobs. Public swimming pools, beaches, and summer camps needed trained workers to supervise swimmers. Teenagers needed swimming ability and safety training for this job.
14. Construction Helper
Some older teenagers spent their summers helping relatives, neighbors, or local contractors on construction projects. They carried materials, painted surfaces, moved tools, and performed other basic tasks. The job could be exhausting, particularly during hot weather, but the pay was attractive.
15. Busboy or Busgirl
Restaurants often hired teenagers to clear and reset tables after customers finished eating. Bussers collected dishes, refilled water glasses, replaced utensils, and helped servers keep the dining room organized. During busy dinner hours, the job required speed and coordination. For many teenagers, it was their introduction to the restaurant industry.
Curious how work has changed over time?
Check out 16 Part-Time Jobs That Pay Surprisingly Well for flexible gigs that beat a typical hourly wage, then take a step back in time with 14 Jobs Our Grandparents Had That Still Exist Today to see which trades never went out of style. And if you’re wondering where the next generation is headed, 15 Reasons Blue Collar Jobs Are Growing Among Teens breaks down why more young workers are picking up tools.
