Coding and programming have become in demand, thanks to the increasing digitalization of businesses and industries. Additionally, learning these skills is no longer difficult because of accessible and often free courses and tutorials available on the internet. Gone are the days when coding was associated with difficulty and highly technical.

The changes in technology have made coding accessible to everyone, including kids and teens. Kids may attend online classes or play video games to pick up the skill. Since this is a sought-after skill, you might wonder if teenagers like you can join in and make money from coding. The short answer is yes, and here’s everything you need to learn about it.

Why coding for teens is an asset

In a computer-centric world, applications of coding and programming appear almost everywhere. Usually, your teenage years are when you decide what you want to be. Although you don’t necessarily need to pursue the same career, it can help develop traits and skills that remain prized in different industries. A 2020 study showed that computer programming courses helped develop cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills in 4 to 5-year-old preschool kids.

Also, coding skills are versatile. Learning the basics of one programming language, such as logic, variables, and functions, makes learning other languages easy. Their structure and syntax may differ, but the fundamental ideas are usually the same.

In today’s world, there are a lot of practical applications for coding skills. You can develop games, apps, websites, databases, or even software for a particular use. Additionally, the skills are becoming more important in developing artificial intelligence tools–something important for a range of industrial and academic applications.

How to earn money from part-time coding

There are different ways to help you earn money from coding, even as a part-time job. Aside from gaining relevant experience in the development fields, it can help you start earning while studying and save up as a student. Although the options below are not your typical jobs for teens, they are becoming increasingly popular, and you can try them too.

1. Blog about coding

Blogging has become a way for teens to document the fun and exciting stuff in their everyday lives. There are blogs for reviewing toys, traveling, and coding. There’s always a space for programming bloggers, addressing the unique need for people the same age to learn the skill. Here are some of the ways to earn from blogging:

• Monetizing your content through ads and affiliate links
• Offering subscription-based premium content
• Providing your coding skills online

The great thing about blogging is that teenagers can do it whenever they’re free. You can start creating content as leisure. It also requires almost no capital to start since you probably have all you need–a PC or a smartphone and access to the internet.

2. Take on project-based, freelancing jobs

Admittedly, this option is quite difficult, although not entirely impossible. Depending on where you reside, there are age restrictions on formal job opportunities with companies. You might also need to show a portfolio of your work. Still, opportunities exist because, with the growth of the gig economy, companies are being more lenient with the educational requirements and are leaning more toward an applicant’s skill.

Another option to put your coding to profitable use is to ask around the neighborhood. Businesses everywhere are looking to enter the digital space, and there are increasing opportunities for digital design and web development. The entire industry is expected to grow by 13 percent in the decade leading up to 2030. You can check out neighborhood stores and see if they can use affordable web or app development services.

3. Develop apps

Developing your app and monetizing it is also a great option to put your coding skills to use. There’s an app for almost every application imaginable in today's market. You have video games, mobile wallets, and even apps for specialized plumbing, HVAC, and engineering applications. Additionally, some tools and platforms make it easier to build and sell your work.

For app development, you might want to try NativeScript, a free-to-use open-source framework for creating native apps on the Android and iOS environments. It also supports different languages such as TypeScript, Vue.js, JavaScript, and more. You can also check out Swift or Objective-C, which contains integrated development environments (IDE) optimized for iOS app development. They even allow you to launch your work on the Apple App Store.

Aside from the usual Google Play Store and Apple App Store, there are other platforms where you can sell your programs. Flippa lets you put your app or website on an auction or a classified listing. Meanwhile, Itch.io is a platform for independent video game creators that lets supporters pay them any amount they want to.

Final Word

If you’re passionate about learning to code, you can use it to earn extra money on the side. Being a teenager has its challenges as far as securing a part-time job goes. Still, the changing landscape presents unique opportunities just for people your age. The technology-savvy kids are better equipped to adapt in the Information Age.