These chores for kids to earn money are 28 extra jobs, beyond the everyday ones, sorted by age from 5 to the teens: raking, washing the car, mowing. Each carries 1 to 3 points on the chart, and you set what a point pays.
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Extra chores by age
Ages 5 to 7 rake, weed, dust and sweep the porch. Ages 8 to 10 vacuum the stairs and help cook. Ages 11 to 12 wash the car, scrub the tub and change every bed. Teens mow with a push mower, shovel, spread mulch and clean up after a big meal. Each job follows the pediatricians' list for that age.
From list to paid chart
The chart opens on five jobs for one child. Type your child's name on the name line, then retype a job, remove it with its ×, or press Add a chore. The 28 chores are offered as you type. Points is already on, so the chart adds up a week. Print the chart gives one page.
Agree on the value of a point before the week starts, and pay on the same day each week.
Keep everyday jobs, like making the bed, off the paid chart.
Questions and answers
Should kids get paid for chores?
It is a family choice. The American Academy of Pediatrics puts honest praise first and names allowances and stickers as rewards some families tie to chores. Many pay only for extra jobs like these.
What chores can kids do for cash at 12?
Wash the car, clean the bathroom, change the beds and cook a simple meal with an adult near. At 12 the pediatricians also allow a walk-behind power mower; a riding mower waits until 16.
How much should I pay for chores to do for money?
No amount is set here: families differ, and so do prices. The chart counts points, 1 for a quick job and 3 for a big one, so you can pick what a point is worth.
28 chore ideas by age
Ages 5 to 7 8
Dust every windowsillA damp cloth, one room at a time.
Line up the books on every shelfTallest to shortest, spines facing out.
Match a basket of clean socksPairs rolled together, odd socks in one pile.
Pull the weeds along the pathPull from the root, and ask first about anything that flowers.
Rake the leaves in the front yardRake into one pile; a grown-up does the bagging.
Sweep the porch and front stepsSweep top to bottom and out into the yard.
Wash the plastic cups and bowlsWarm soapy water, then a rinse and the rack.
Water the houseplantsFeel the soil first: only the dry pots get water.
Ages 8 to 10 6
Fold and put away the family towelsFolded in thirds and stacked in the closet.
Help cook the family dinnerWash, measure and stir; the stove stays with an adult.
Take the dog on an extra walkA long walk on the leash, with a bag for cleanup.
Unpack a big grocery tripCold food in the fridge first, then the pantry.
Vacuum the stairsStart at the top and work down, one step at a time.
Vacuum under the couch cushionsCrumbs, coins and pens out first.
Show all 28 chores (14 more)
Ages 11 to 12 7
Change the sheets on every bedStrip them, wash them, and make each bed again.
Cook a simple lunch, adult nearbySandwiches, pasta or eggs, and clean up after.
Scrub the bathtub and showerSpray, wait, scrub, rinse, and open a window.
Wash the family carSoap from the top down, then rinse before it dries.
Wash, dry and fold a family loadSort, wash, dry and fold one full load.
Watch a younger sibling for an hourAn adult stays at home, as the pediatricians advise.
Wipe out the fridge shelvesOld food out, shelves wiped, food back in.
Teens 7
Bathe and brush the dogWarm water, dog shampoo, a towel and a brush.
Clean the kitchen after a big mealDishes, counters, stove top and the floor.
Mow the back lawn, push mowerHearing and eye protection, and shoes that cover the toes.
Shovel the drivewayPush the snow; lift small loads with the legs.
Spread mulch around the gardenOne bag at a time, a few inches from each stem.
Vacuum the car insideMats out, seats and floor, then mats back in.
Weed the vegetable gardenWeeds in a bucket, not on the path.
How this list was compiled: Chores and hint lines written for this page on 2026-09-24. They are the bigger or extra jobs from two American Academy of Pediatrics articles, read on 2026-09-24: Age-Appropriate Chores for Children at https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/communication-discipline/Pages/Chores-and-Responsibility.aspx (ages 5 to 7: weed and rake leaves, dust, neaten bookshelves, sweep floors, sort laundry, water flowers, wash plastic dishes; ages 8 to 10: vacuum, help make dinner, walk a pet, put away laundry and groceries; ages 11 to 12: clean the kitchen, change bedsheets, do and fold laundry, bathroom cleaning, car washing, supervised cooking of a simple meal, watch younger siblings with an adult present at home), which also names allowances and stickers as rewards some families tie to chores, and Household Chores for Teens at https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/Household-Chores-for-Adolescents.aspx (vacuuming, washing and vacuuming the car, mowing, spreading mulch, weeding, clearing snow, cleaning the kitchen after meal prep, pet feeding and grooming, helping with younger siblings). The same body's Lawn Mower Safety page at https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Lawnmower-Safety.aspx, read on 2026-09-24, gives 12 as the youngest age for a walk-behind power mower and 16 for a riding mower, asks for ear and eye protection plus sturdy closed-toe shoes, and notes that children often mow as a chore or as a way to earn money. The points (1 to 3) are ours, a rough measure of effort; no money amount is given, because what a point is worth is the family's choice. Licence: own work