Teen Jobs

Chicago Park District Teen Jobs are paid summer jobs in Chicago's parks for teens ages 16 and older. The Chicago Park District offers four main summer roles for teens: Lifeguard, Recreation Leader, Special Recreation Leader, and Junior Laborer. Lifeguards watch over swimmers at the city's beaches and pools, and the district pays for their training and certification. Recreation Leaders run games and activities for children at Summer Day Camp. Special Recreation Leaders do similar work at camps serving kids and adults with intellectual disabilities. Junior Laborers help maintain park grounds outdoors and gain entry-level landscape maintenance experience. In 2026, Lifeguards earned $20.50 per hour and the other three roles paid $17.77 per hour. Recreation and Special Recreation Leader jobs in 2026 lasted about six weeks, from mid-June to early August, with evenings and weekends off. Junior Laborer jobs started in April, May, or June. The jobs are in person at Chicago parks, beaches, and pools.

Lifeguard, Recreation Leader, Special Recreation Leader, and Junior Laborer roles are all open to applicants 16 and up, and the district lists further summer positions for people 18 and older.