“The Highest-Paying High School Job” 

Job opportunities for teenagers can pay thousands of dollars an hour–and you don’t even have to leave your bedroom! 

Many high school students know they want to attend college, trade, or vocational school to kickstart their careers. Teenagers can offset the cost of further education by getting a job, working art-time during the school year and full-time in the summer. 

However, it can be challenging for students to balance work and academics, and some might even drop extracurricular activities because a job consumes too much time to manage both. There is, however, another way to fund your education—one that offers more flexibility in deciding when and how much you work. Scholarships are financial aid awarded based on academic merit or other criteria the scholarship provider sets. Unlike loans, scholarship recipients do not need to repay the award. It’s a gift! 

Countless scholarships are available to high school students, ranging from a hundred dollars to covering the entire cost of education. From local scholarships like the Friends of the Winnebago Public Library to national opportunities such as the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, which attracts over 100,000 applicants annually, there are scholarships of every amount tailored to almost any educational pathway. Applying for scholarships often involves writing essays explaining why you believe you are a strong candidate. Common topics include community involvement, religion, financial need, and future goals or plans. After applications are submitted, the scholarship provider reviews them and selects the recipients. 

Scholarship providers typically assess academic and extracurricular achievements as well as community involvement. Therefore, strong candidates engage in academics, sports, clubs, and community organizations. I was always busy with school activities, so I didn’t hold a job in high school. Nonetheless, I gained valuable life lessons and skills through my commitment to school and extracurriculars. Later, I applied for various scholarships and was awarded a few. Had I been less involved with my academics, extracurriculars, and community, I would have been less likely to receive them. 

Completing a scholarship application can take as little as an hour, and you can apply for as many as you like. A student might secure a $10,000 scholarship in just a few hours of work, which would otherwise require hundreds of hours at a minimum-wage job! High school guidance counselors and community organizations often share scholarship information with students. The internet is another resource for finding opportunities. 

Scholarships are financial aid awards that high school students eager to further their education can apply for. They are offered for nearly every educational route, and the application process generally involves essays that emphasize academic, extracurricular, and community involvement, rewarding students for exploring diverse opportunities. Students should weigh the benefits of pursuing scholarships against those of traditional employment. 

Samuel Kaap

 Winnebago Public Library 

Teen Advisory Board Blog Post

 1 June 2025