Is it common for Americans to start working right after high school?
Posted by Intelligent_Chef9950@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 95 comments
Where I live, going to a 4-year university is basically the default path for almost every high school graduate. I’m really curious how it works in the US.
Different_Cherry8326@reddit
Everyone on Reddit has worked 60 hours a week since they were two years old, apparently.
qu33nof5pad35@reddit
Yes
Potential-Use-1565@reddit
After? I was working during high school
giraflor@reddit
I think they mean full time, which few high schoolers manage to do regardless of their plans for life after graduation.
PlaysWithSquirrels7@reddit
I was working more than 40 hrs/week all through high school and college. It was often a combination of multiple jobs but always more than 40 hrs. College was expensive and I needed money (no parental support and I couldn't get student loans).
Original_Staff_4961@reddit
^ this person is full of shit.
1.) explain your high school schedule where you had time to work more than 40 hours.
2.) what job did you have, and did it pay under the table? Because this is outright illegal.
PlaysWithSquirrels7@reddit
It's really not bullshit. I went to school until 230pm. Band practice til 5pm. Work 530pm-11pm 3 of the 4 weekdays (Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs). I had Friday nights off if it was football season (because band) but if it wasn't football season I worked 530pm-11pm. I'd work 12 hrs Saturday and 12 hrs Sunday (open to close both days). I worked at a movie theatre. This was my schedule junior and senior years of high school. I worked less hours my sophomore year though because I was 16
Original_Staff_4961@reddit
Was this in 1899?
Still calling outright BS and exaggeration.
Sounds to me like you worked maybe 30 hours on a good week but it makes your point much stronger if you say ‘more than 40’.
ComparisonOk8602@reddit
Manage? We have pretty good child-protection laws to shield kids from exploitative and excessive labor. The only way a minor can work full time is if they're doing it under the table.
ThePolemicist@reddit
It depends on the state. In Iowa, they just repealed most child labor laws. Kids who are 14 and 15 are restricted to 28 hours a week, but 16 and 17 year olds can work full time.
bearsnchairs@reddit
That seems to only be during summer. During the school year hours are restricted.
https://dial.iowa.gov/hearings/wage-and-child-labor/child-labor
PlaysWithSquirrels7@reddit
Also depends where they work. I worked at a movie theatre in Louisiana in high school. Which is "entertainment" and exempt from a lot of labor laws because of that (or used to be anyway in the 2000s). So once I was working age and because I worked there the only hold up was age related driving restrictions
Big__If_True@reddit
Not federally we don’t. Louisiana does but Texas is the Wild West
7eregrine@reddit
Came to type exactly this.
Montessori_Maven@reddit
I was thinking middle school
PlaysWithSquirrels7@reddit
Same. I've been working at least 1 job since age 15. I had multiple jobs simultaneously all through college so I could pay for it (in the 2000s).
Hwy_Witch@reddit
I worked while I was in high school
dildozer10@reddit
I was working before I graduated. My grandfather paid me to help on his farm, plus I started cutting grass for money when I was 14. I was working full time and taking college courses at night as soon as I graduated high school.
old-town-guy@reddit
In the US, about 45% of high school graduates enroll in four-year universities. Another 17% go to two-year schools. A little over 2% go directly into active duty military service. The remainder enter the workforce, enroll in trades education/apprenticeship, become unemployed/un utilized, etc.
ChunkyHabeneroSalsa@reddit
I think the majority go straight to college (62% according to a quick search). Others will go to work or join the military. But you are free to do whatever you want
Many of us worked in high school and in college too
Fappy_as_a_Clam@reddit
Only about 45% go to a 4 year university though, the remainder go to 2 year and technical colleges.
Fappy_as_a_Clam@reddit
What country is a 4 year university the default path?
Reagalan@reddit
It's worse than that. It's common for American teenagers to be immediately made homeless and destitute on their 18th birthday; the age at which they legally become an adult and their parents won't face legal consequences for evicting them. For obvious reasons, many will drop out in their final years of high school just to survive.
freeski919@reddit
I think your own perspective is skewed. Canada is the only country where more people have a university degree than not, and even then it's just a touch over 50%. Every other country in the world, less than half of adults have a college degree.
So no, where you're from it isn't the "default" path. It is just that you have a certain level of privilege in which your peer group has that as the norm.
bearsnchairs@reddit
That is true for the overall population, but there are a lot of countries over 50% in the 25-34 range., including the US. That data is more indicative of recent trends.
See figure 4. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cac/intl-ed-attainment
Former-Fig-9686@reddit
There are many people who work while they're in high school.
Professional-Pungo@reddit
well you either have the option to go to 4 year college, community college, trade school, or work.
most still consider college the "best" option, statistic wise.
although I'd also say it's fairly common to work while in high school, so working after high school and in college is also common
GreenDavidA@reddit
Some also go into the armed services, but yeah, that’s pretty much it.
Professional-Pungo@reddit
I would call that work.
the only reason I split out the schools is cause OP specifically mentioned a 4 year college.
AbiWil1996@reddit
It’s usually either work, college, trade school, or work AND college/trade school.
CtForrestEye@reddit
Most people went onto college. About 30% went onto trades, military, family business.
FivebyFive@reddit
I worked during highschool and had a full time job during college.
It's not uncommon at all.
BreadfruitRegular631@reddit
Working and going to college are not mutually exclusive, Many do both right after HS, often the work is only in the summer though. Many who join the military eventually go to college too. About 60% of HS grads go to college according to my google search.
Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit
working in high school is normal
Engine_Sweet@reddit
The country with the highest college attendance rate is Canada with approximately 60% of adults holding a degree, followed by Japan at 55%.
The US and Britain are the only others with rates over 50%
I'm not finding a national default here.
Maybe it's a local perception among an affluent minority?
ThePolemicist@reddit
Most people get a job during high school. Is that what you're asking? For example, my husband and I each started working when we were 15. Our oldest child is 16 and got his first job.
First jobs, though, don't really pay well. It's usually a customer service job like at a burger place or coffee shop or whatever.
Beneficial-Band-3074@reddit
Most people I know had part time jobs in high school (usually age 16 and up). Everyone was expected to work part time through a 4-year degree or go into full-time work. There were usually two options for students at my high school: either you prep to go to college or you leave high school for a trade school. The trade school was designed to prep you to enter the workforce full-time right after graduation.
As far as ratios go, most of my classmates entered the trade school or enlisted in the military, and a minority went to college, but I’m from a poorer area in the Midwest
Pale_Row1166@reddit
My high school had 100% matriculation to four year universities, but one girl decided she was going to attend a public city college, so they listed her as “Undecided” on the graduation program.
HorseFeathersFur@reddit
I started working when I was in high school.
Various_Summer_1536@reddit
I worked while I was in high school.
ITrCool@reddit
Usually, we’ll even start work DURING high school at age 16, to start saving money for college if we desire to go.
Unless we’re of a rich family who likely pays our way through college, or we are lucky to win a full-ride scholarship where everything is covered, then we are likely to pick up a job during our junior year year in high school and through college too, to help pay for everything and build up savings, buy a car, etc.
Psyko_sissy23@reddit
Some work, some work part time and go to college, few go to college without working.
Pale_Row1166@reddit
I think it depends on the school. I went to a private school that’s known for its pampered students and there were very few kids that worked. I had high paid internships over the summers and I would just bank that for the school year. I never worked during the school year, and I didn’t really know anyone who did except for the staff of the on campus bar. That was seen as a super fun job and I knew several kids who worked there who were on scholarships, and a few that didn’t need the money at all, but enjoyed it.
Klutzy-Comment6897@reddit
This. I don’t know the statistics but I’d say the overwhelming majority will be working in some capacity to help pay the bills.
Sure there are some who’s parents have money to cover all expenses, or those who manage to get a full ride scholarship, and those few who take on insane debt to get by… But Id say most do either part time work full time school or full time work part time school.
ButtholeSurfur@reddit
You usually start working in high school. I worked 45+ hours a week while going to college.
emotions1026@reddit
Where do you live? I highly doubt there’s a country where everyone goes to 4 year university
the_elderchild@reddit
Most are working during high school itself I myself did when was in middle school
MrLongWalk@reddit
Work or college are the 2 norms, yes
rhino369@reddit
Compared to other advanced economies, the US is higher than average for college education.
Some Northern European and Asian countries are higher. But southern European counties are lower.
szayl@reddit
Or military
MrLongWalk@reddit
So where I’m from the military is considered work, in that its labor you’re paid for
Pezdrake@reddit
Or both.
No-Lunch4249@reddit
Seriously lol. I had multiple part time jobs when I did my undergrad. I guess some people may be fortunate enough to not need to work but most people I knew in college had some way of bringing in a little beer money at least
Pezdrake@reddit
In college I had to work on campus as a part of my scholarship but also had a job delivering pizza, then working at a grocery store, working at a sock store then working in a group home for disabled adults which is what led to a field in social work and here I am 30 years later.
mattinglys-moustache@reddit
There are basically 3 options for HS graduates - college, full time work or military. For pretty obvious reasons, the majority go to some sort of college or trade school - around 70% with another 5% or so joining the military. So the remaining 25% are getting full time jobs which are typically not very good jobs. Some of those will end up going to college later on.
A lot of people who go to college out of HS also work part time or even full time while they’re working toward their degree.
mtweiner@reddit
Yes, sometimes in high school, sometimes after a gap year, sometimes during college, sometimes after.
If you’re within 2 years of graduating on either end, you’re looking for work.
Available-Egg-2380@reddit
Started working when I was 13, never really stopped. Even before that my sister and I would pet sit, mow lawns, and rake leaves for money.
Ok_Aardvark2195@reddit
What country are you from?
Intelligent_Chef9950@reddit (OP)
I'm sorry, I can't talk about it. I'm afraid of being discriminated against.
Dazzling-Climate-318@reddit
It’s common for Americans to work before High School, during it and while at University. I started working at 13 part time and mostly except for periods of illness or vacations. I worked continuously for the following 45 years. I was unemployed once for 3 months when I was young.
InsertNovelAnswer@reddit
It depends. A lot of kids do have summer jobs. My oldest is 14 and has a summer paid internship at a local playhouse. A couple of his friends have part time work at restaurants and family grocery stores.
You can usually get a work permit at 14. You cant work during school hours and you have a work curfew of 9PM and stuff like that though.
Grouchy-Stand-4570@reddit
I was working at 12 babysitting, then at 14. Everyone is different
TeacherOfFew@reddit
Approximately 50% of adults in the United States have a college degree. It is definitely the norm in a lot of places and not at all in others.
I_Shot_A_Sheriff@reddit
I really envy the American work ethics, here in India 95% of the companies don't employee part-time jobs. Unless you grow up in a poverty you don't work until your are 20+ or a college graduate.
Think-Rush8206@reddit
A rich man goes to college. A poor man goes to work. The middle class will go to college and work part time.
riotmanful@reddit
My grandad came home one day and handed me the keys to a 1999 ford Taurus and said “now you gotta work” when I was in my last semester of junior year in high school. Been working ever since
Plus_Carpenter_5579@reddit
It's common to begin working BEFORE high school graduation.
Racine262@reddit
I was expecting the comments to be filled with "I've been working two jobs and going to college since I was a toddler", folks didn't disappoint.
Financial_Creme420@reddit
Is it the default path in your country though? I think a lot of Americans, especially middle and upper class would say the same, but only 35-40% of Americans have a university degree. Some obviously go and don’t finish, but the majority of people don’t go to university. It can feel like the opposite because you are probably in a school/social circle where it is expected.
zwalker91@reddit
If you don't go to college then yes you would work but a lot of people work during college for extra money and if none of those then the military
duckbrick@reddit
It really depends. Lots of people go to university right after high school, lots of people start working, lots of people work and then go to university, lots of people go 2-year programs, lots of people join the military in order to afford university (fucked up, I know).
FunTricky903@reddit
https://imgur.com/a/8kYQqGC
giraflor@reddit
Work in full time is seen as one of three options. The other two are college/trade school and military service.
Quite often people will do a combination of work and higher ed, especially because tuition and housing are so expensive here.
Colloquially speaking, it’s not usual for people to say that someone started working right after to high school even if that person worked part-time right after high school.
These days, there aren’t many entry level jobs that require any special knowledge or skills related to finishing high school rather than just finishing eighth grade. A high school diploma is viewed largely as a sign that someone has self-discipline.
Parasitoid@reddit
I worked during highschool and college. Started working in 8th grade actually. Paper delivery
idiot_sauvage@reddit
Or during
jess3jim@reddit
My daughter works 30-40 hours a week and is a “full time” student…. I honestly think that a lot of her and her peers are able to work so much is because all but one class is online.
GrassChew@reddit
I am 29
I was born in the 90's and I was working as soon as I was 15 and haven't not had a full-time job since 2015 I am extremely tired and have no live savings and don't own anything or have anything besides a 50k 401k
GaiaIsaHarshMistress@reddit
About 25% do.
herpafilter@reddit
It's common for Americans to start work while in high school. It'll be part time work during the school year, and up to full time during the summer. I had my first part time job at 14 and held it through college. Summer internships late in college are also typical.
I'm not sure what the percentage split between college and full time work after high school is. It'll depend a lot on region and socio-economic status.
It's also not un-common for high school graduates to take a 'gap year' between schools. They'll use that time to work, travel, train in a sport or instrument or have a long term internship. This is becoming more and more common, and I think it ought to be the default path for college bound students.
FunTricky903@reddit
I worked during and after high school, and honestly, I’m glad I did. You can always tell those people who went through all four years of college without even once having to run straight from class to go wash dishes at Chilis for 8 hours.
DogsBikesAndMovies@reddit
I've been working since I was ten years old.
Emergency-Salamander@reddit
It's pretty common for kids to go to college. But not all do. The US has a relatively large number attend school after high school. There are some numbers at this link
https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cac/intl-ed-attainment
Not_Sure__Camacho@reddit
I started working when I was 15.
DocLego@reddit
I think it depends a lot on what part of the country. In some places, going to college is an expectation. In others, not so much. (I mean, most people will be working at that point regardless, but I assume you mean full time)
Some people will go into college/university/trade school, some will join the military, some will get a full time job, some will have rich parents...
MoosePsychological42@reddit
Most people, as soon as they graduate, start working, if they don't go to college. Some work while in college. It really depends.
xmodemlol@reddit
If you live in a wealthier area of the USA, yes basically all students go to a 4 year university after. If you live in a poorer area, it's relatively uncommon, although a decent amount will continue on to two year colleges and from there might get a 4 year degree.
Google says Canada is tops for 4 year degrees - 52%. US is 43%. So it's probably not too different from the country you live in.
machagogo@reddit
If you count my paper route I started working when I was 11.
I had a part time job (cashier at fast food restaraunt, then stock person at retail store, then delivering pizza, intern at US Attorney's Office, intern at my future fulm time employer) starting at 16 through college.
First real full time job immediately upon graduating my 4 year university.
My son worked part time starting at 16, tried college and it was not for him amd he is now full time employed at 19
GroundbreakingTip276@reddit
Most people from my school didn't go to college right after. I graduated in 2008 so maybe that economic crisis had something to do with it. For me college has always been prohibitively expensive.
KellyAnn3106@reddit
I was babysitting at 11 and had my first W-2 job at 15. I've always had some sort of job while I was in school. (Restaurant, retail, etc). After college graduation, I shifted to a corporate office job but I've been continuously employed since I was a teen.
JaimanV2@reddit
Common to start working while in school, doing part-time work at like grocery stores, fast food restaurants or other basic entry level jobs allowed by law for minors.
locwriss@reddit
Its expected for you to get a job when you're 16 and work through highschool, then go to uni, but also still have a job.
Automatic-Arm-532@reddit
For me and my friends it was common to start working during high-school. You'll still have a tone of student loan debt, but working through school can help alleviate some of it.
chinacatsf@reddit
I had my first job at 15 when I could legally work.. worked ever since
Ok_Concentrate4461@reddit
Depends on area. In many middle to upper class suburbs, it is default for kids to go to college. Due to costs, community college is becoming a more respected first step as well. And then in other areas trade schools are very common, like for plumbers and electricians. But in a lot of poorer areas, yeah, it’s common to go straight to work
Wooden-Audience5475@reddit
A lot, maybe most, American college students still work while they're going to school. Internships, campus jobs, grocery stores/restaurants, etc. So you'll still have a ton of kids who are simultaneously working and doing classes, usually to help pay off student loans.
As for those who don't go to school and just start working, it's pretty common. Especially with trades, given that they're becoming more popular and arguably higher paying than a lot of jobs you can get with a four year degree.