Allowance by Age: How Much to Pay Kids for Chores

When my oldest was in first grade, they came home asking why a friend got ‘chore money’ and they didn’t. That one question sent me down a rabbit hole of charts, jars, and kitchen-table debates with my husband. If you’re trying to figure out allowance by age and how much to pay kids for chores, you’re in the right place.

In this guide, I’ll share a simple dollar-per-age chart, age-appropriate chore lists, and the system that finally worked for our family. The key was splitting paid chores from everyday ‘family jobs’ that nobody gets paid for. Use it as a starting point and tweak it to fit your budget and your kids.

Why Allowance by Age Works Better Than a Flat Rate

When we first started, I gave every kid the same amount. It seemed fair until my 11-year-old pointed out that they were mowing the lawn while their little brother was matching socks. They had a point.

Tying allowance to age makes sense for a few reasons:

• Older kids can do more. Their chores take more time, skill, and responsibility.
• Older kids have bigger expenses. A preschooler wants a pack of stickers. A teen wants to go to the movies with friends.
• It builds in a natural raise. Kids look forward to their birthday ‘pay bump,’ which keeps them motivated.
• It matches their money skills. A 5-year-old is learning to count coins. A 14-year-old can handle a budget and a debit card.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Money as You Grow resources break money lessons into age stages too, which helped me see allowance as a teaching tool rather than just a payout.

Family Jobs vs. Paid Chores: Where to Draw the Line

This was the game changer in our house. Before we made this split, every request turned into a negotiation. ‘How much will you pay me to put my shoes away?’ Sound familiar?

Now we have two categories, and the kids know exactly which is which.

Family Jobs (Unpaid)

These are the things everyone does simply because they live here. Mom and Dad don’t get paid to cook dinner, so kids don’t get paid to clear their plate. Family jobs usually include:

• Making your bed
• Putting dirty clothes in the hamper
• Clearing your own dishes
• Picking up your toys and belongings
• Helping unload groceries
• Keeping your backpack and school stuff organized

Paid Chores (Extra Effort)

Paid chores go beyond taking care of yourself. They help the whole household and take real time or effort. Think of them as a ‘job’ your child can choose to do well. Examples include:

• Vacuuming common areas
• Washing the car
• Weeding the garden
• Cleaning bathrooms
• Folding and putting away the family’s laundry
• Babysitting younger siblings for a set time

Here’s the rule we use: family jobs come first. If family jobs aren’t done, paid chores don’t count that day. It keeps the priorities clear without a lot of nagging.

Allowance by Age Chart: How Much Should a Kid Get?

A popular rule of thumb is $1 per week for each year of age. So a 6-year-old earns about $6 a week, and a 12-year-old earns about $12. It’s easy to remember, and kids love doing the math themselves.

That said, every family’s budget is different. Here’s the range we’ve found reasonable, along with what kids might be expected to cover with their own money.

A quick tip: the amount matters less than what you expect it to cover. If your teen is now buying their own snacks and movie tickets, a higher number makes sense. If you’re still paying for everything, keep it lower.

Kids Chores List by Age (Paid and Unpaid)

Below is the kids chores list by age we use, split into family jobs and paid chores. For even more ideas, check out our full guide to chores for kids by age.

Ages 3 to 5: Little Helpers

At this age, chores are really about building habits and feeling capable. Keep tasks short and celebrate effort over perfection.

Family jobs:

• Put toys back in bins
• Place dirty clothes in the hamper
• Help set napkins on the table
• Feed the pet with supervision

Paid chores ($1 to $3 a week total):

• Match socks from the laundry basket
• Wipe low cabinets with a damp cloth
• Water plants with a small watering can
• Dust baseboards with a sock on their hand

Preschoolers are just learning that money is something you trade for things. If you’re starting from scratch, these mom-tested money habits for ages 3 to 5 are a great place to begin.

Ages 6 to 8: Growing Independence

Kids this age can follow multi-step directions and usually want to prove how ‘big’ they are. Use that energy!

Family jobs:

• Make their bed
• Clear and rinse their dishes
• Pack their own backpack
• Put away clean laundry

Paid chores ($5 to $8 a week total):

• Unload the silverware from the dishwasher
• Sweep the kitchen floor
• Fold towels for the whole family
• Pull weeds in a small garden bed
• Help wash the car

Ages 9 to 12: Real Responsibility

This is the sweet spot. Tweens can handle chores that genuinely lighten your load, and they’re old enough to start budgeting for things they want.

Family jobs:

• Keep their bedroom tidy
• Load their own dishes in the dishwasher
• Take out their bedroom trash
• Help with dinner prep once a week

Paid chores ($7 to $12 a week total):

• Vacuum living areas
• Clean a bathroom sink and mirror
• Take out the household trash and recycling
• Do a full load of laundry start to finish
• Rake leaves or shovel the walkway

A note on lawn mowing: the American Academy of Pediatrics generally advises waiting until around age 12 for a push mower and 16 for a riding mower. You can find more child safety guidance on HealthyChildren.org. Always check with your pediatrician if you’re unsure what’s safe for your child.

Ages 13 to 17: Teen Money Managers

Teens can do nearly any household task an adult can. At this stage, I treat paid chores more like a part-time job, with clear expectations and quality checks.

Family jobs:

• Do their own laundry
• Clean their room and bathroom
• Cook one simple family meal a week
• Help younger siblings with homework

Paid chores ($12 to $25 a week total):

• Mow the lawn (when age-appropriate)
• Deep clean the kitchen or bathrooms
• Wash and vacuum the family car
• Babysit younger siblings for a date night
• Run errands once they’re driving

How to Set Up a Chore Chart With Allowance

A chore chart with allowance keeps everyone honest, including me. When it’s written down, there’s no arguing about who did what or how much is owed.

Step 1: List Family Jobs Separately

Put family jobs at the top of the chart with simple checkboxes. No dollar amounts. This shows kids these tasks are non-negotiable.

Step 2: Assign a Value to Each Paid Chore

Instead of one lump sum, we give each paid chore a price. Vacuuming might be $2, while cleaning a bathroom is $3. Kids can see exactly how they earn their weekly total.

Step 3: Pick a Payday

We pay every Sunday evening. Consistency matters more than the day you choose. If payday slides, kids lose trust in the system fast.

Step 4: Set Quality Standards

Show your child what ‘done’ looks like. A bathroom isn’t clean if the toothpaste is still in the sink. I learned to do a quick walkthrough together the first few times.

Step 5: Make It Visible

Hang the chart on the fridge or use a simple whiteboard. Younger kids love stickers or magnets. Older kids may prefer a shared family app or a note on their phone.

Spend, Save, Share: What Kids Do With Their Money

Earning money is only half the lesson. What kids do with it is where the real learning happens.

In our house, every payday gets split three ways:

• Spend: About half goes here for small wants.
• Save: Around 40% goes toward a bigger goal, like a bike or video game.
• Share: The rest is for giving, whether it’s a donation, a classmate’s birthday gift, or a family charity project.

The ‘share’ jar has been one of my favorite parts. It ties right into how we teach kids to be grateful for what they have.

For older kids, this is also a great time to open a youth savings account. The government site MyMoney.gov has free resources on saving, budgeting, and talking with kids about money.

Allowance Mistakes We Made (So You Don’t Have To)

I’ll be honest: our first few attempts flopped. Here’s what I’d do differently.

• Paying for everything. Kids started asking to be paid for brushing their teeth. Separating family jobs fixed this.
• Forgetting payday. Missing a week or two sent the message that the deal didn’t really matter.
• Bailing them out. When my son blew his savings on a toy and then wanted something else, I almost covered it. Letting him wait was a better lesson.
• Using allowance as punishment. Docking pay for a bad attitude muddied the lesson. Now, money is only tied to chores.
• Never giving raises. Kids grow fast. Revisit the amounts each birthday or school year.

Adjusting Allowance by Age as Kids Grow

The beauty of allowance by age is that it grows right along with your kids. We do a quick ‘review’ every birthday where we talk about new chores, new expenses, and a new weekly amount.

As kids get older, consider shifting more responsibility to them. A 15-year-old might cover their own school lunches out or part of their phone plan. That’s real-world budgeting practice with low stakes.

Bonus jobs are another way to let motivated kids earn more. School breaks are perfect for this. Between bigger projects like cleaning out the garage, we fill the rest of the week with free spring break activities so it doesn’t feel like all work and no play.

Finally, remember that no system is perfect. Some weeks the chart falls apart, and that’s okay. What matters is coming back to it and keeping the conversation about money open.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much allowance should a kid get per week?

A popular starting point is $1 per week for every year of age, so a 7-year-old would get about $7. That’s a rule of thumb, not a requirement. Adjust it based on your budget, what you expect your child to buy themselves, and how many paid chores they handle each week.

Should kids get paid for every chore?

In our house, no. Everyday tasks like making beds, clearing plates, and tidying toys are family jobs everyone does because they live here. Allowance is tied to extra chores that go beyond the basics. This split teaches kids that contributing is expected while still letting them earn money through real effort.

What age should you start giving allowance?

Many families start around age 4 or 5, once kids can count coins and understand that money buys things. Starting small, even a dollar or two a week, works well. The goal at this stage is learning, not earning, so focus on saving jars and simple choices rather than the amount itself.

Should I take away allowance as a punishment?

I’d avoid it when possible. If allowance is earned through paid chores, the fairest consequence for skipping a chore is simply not earning that money. Docking pay for unrelated behavior blurs the lesson. Keep discipline and money separate so kids clearly connect effort with earnings, just like a real job.

Final Thoughts

Figuring out allowance by age doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with the $1-per-year guideline, separate family jobs from paid chores, and pick a payday you can stick to. Then adjust as your kids grow and take on more.

Your turn: sit down with your kids this week, pick two or three paid chores from the lists above, and make your first chore chart together. Then come back and tell me in the comments how it went. I’d love to hear what works for your family!