One of 14 paths
A paycheck right away, including jobs that help pay for school.
You earn now, and a job teaches you fast what you like and can stand.
It fits if you want income, or you're not ready for more school.
Watch for: a first job with no rung above it can become a dead end.
Each scale shows its level and the reason, and "our read" marks a judgment call.
Level: Paid a wage, 3 of 5 on the getting-paid side
A job pays you instead of costing you, and some jobs help pay for school.
Dollar signs to the left of the middle mean you're paid while you do it, and dollar signs to the right mean you pay. More of them means more money either way. The mark in the middle means free.
Level: A year or less, 1 of 5
You can start right away, with training on the job.
Level: Lower to Middle, 1 to 3 of 5
Entry jobs often pay lower, and sales and construction jobs can reach the middle.
This varies a lot with the specific job, the place, and experience.
Middle means the middle pay across all jobs.
Level: Open to most, 1 of 5
Jobs are widely open to diploma-holders, and federal law lets 16 and 17 year olds work most entry jobs.
Level: Easy, 1 of 5
You can change jobs as you learn what you like and can stand.
Level: Some new, 2 of 5
You'll get a routine, a boss, and coworkers, usually near home.
Many entry jobs run on shifts, and schedules can include evenings, weekends, and holidays. Expect to be on your feet, and some jobs are hard physical work. You usually learn on the job, in a few days to a few months. Part-time work is common.
Jobs are widely open to anyone with a diploma, and federal law lets 16 and 17 year olds work most entry jobs. Some machine and driving roles want 18 to 21, and rideshare apps often want 21 or older. At 16 and 17, federal law lets you work unlimited hours, except in jobs the law calls hazardous, like running a forklift. Your state adds its own rules, and many states require a work permit for minors. Jobs like cashier and hand laborer need no formal education, and you learn on the job. A real estate license has its own minimum age in each state.
In retail, you can move up to supervisor or manager. Customer service reps with experience can become supervisors. Some retail employers prefer a bachelor's degree for managers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects fewer cashier jobs over the next ten years, though openings continue as people leave. At 18, the federal limits on young workers, including the hazardous-jobs list, no longer apply to you.
You've been paid for the work you did, and you can switch jobs as you learn what you like. A Labor Department tool called mySkills myFuture lists jobs that ask for skills like your last job's. A past employer is the strongest reference, if you ask them before you give their name.
Pick one to try this month. Trying a thing isn't choosing it.
Put these to an employer, a manager, or someone who works there.
Chris Pratt left college after less than a semester and worked minimum-wage jobs, including waiting tables. While he was waiting tables, Rae Dawn Chong came in. He spoke up about his high school acting, and she cast him in a movie.
A story like this can't tell you what's likely for you.
Pay, hours, and age rules differ by job and by state, so check them at the source.
These three paths are close to this one, and their pages use the same scales.
It fits if you want training and support, and do well with structure and help finding work.
It fits if you want one in-demand skill fast and can stay disciplined without a campus.
It fits if you're unsure of a major, want options open, or plan to transfer later.