Lifestyle / Work

17 Odd Jobs Teenagers Took in the 1960s

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A split image: Left, a woman in a patterned dress puts on a boot as two smiling children playfully help her. Right, a woman in a uniform serves a customer in a classic convertible at a drive-in restaurant. Both images are black and white.

These gigs weren’t glamorous, but they gave young people a taste of independence, responsibility, and sometimes a few wild stories to tell later in life. While some of these jobs have faded into history, others offer a nostalgic peek into the gritty, hands-on world of mid-century teen life. Here are 17 odd jobs teens would take in the 1960s.

1. Milk Bottle Collector

A milkman stands by his truck, holding a basket of milk bottles, smiling as six children gather around him, all looking up at him and smiling. The image is black and white.
drewman141/via reddit.com

2. Drive-In Theater Attendant

A woman in a uniform and shorts stands beside a vintage convertible, handing a box to a man sitting in the driver's seat at a drive-in restaurant. The scene looks to be from the mid-20th century.
storydove/via reddit.com

3. Record Store Clerk

People browse and examine records in a vintage record store, with albums displayed on shelves and counters. A man in a red jacket assists a woman in pink, while others look through the vinyl selection.
kwils/via reddit.com

4. Newspaper Person

Two people ride a bicycle; one pedals while the other balances on a tall stack of newspapers on the back, reading a newspaper. The scene takes place on a city street in front of a building.
mohiemen/via reddit.com

5. Gas Station Window Washer

A person cleans a car window from the outside using a green sponge, with soap and water creating swirls on the glass. The image is taken from inside the car, showing part of the door and interior.
via pexels.com

Trending on The Scroller

6. Junkyard Part Puller

A pile of crushed and damaged cars stacked haphazardly at a junkyard, including trucks and sedans in various colors, with some parts like doors and hoods bent or open. The ground is muddy and scattered with debris.
wikimedia commons

7. Movie Theater Usher

A smiling waiter in a white shirt and black bow tie holds a tray with several glasses of yellow drink, standing in a well-lit hotel lobby with marble floors and a reception desk in the background.
ilopictures/via flickr.com

8. Roller Rink DJ

A roller skating rink with blurred skaters in motion, a shiny wooden floor, and a booth labeled “Northland Roller Rink” in the background. People are gathered near the wall under bright lights.
macq/via flickr.com

9. Grease Monkey Assistant

A young man in work overalls discusses machinery with a uniformed military officer in a workshop. Other men, some in military attire and others in suits, stand in the background observing the conversation.
via picryl.com

10. Shoe Shine Stand Worker

A woman in a patterned dress and knee-high boots stands on a sidewalk with her foot on a kneeling boy. Another boy, both dressed in scout uniforms, wraps a scarf around her leg, all three smiling and appearing playful.
gagator43/via reddit.com

11. Miniature Golf Ball Retriever

A hand holding three white golf balls on a sandy beach, with the ocean, rocks, seaweed, and a pier in the background under a clear blue sky.
via loe.org

12. Cemetery Flower Arranger

A decorated grave in a cemetery with vibrant flower arrangements, candles, and lanterns placed on and around the tombstone. White, yellow, and red flowers and several red and white votive candles are visible.
timelessmoon/via getarchive.net

13. Bingo Card Checker

A woman sits at a table covered with multiple bingo cards, marking numbers with a bingo chip. The table has other objects like snacks and drinks, and the scene suggests an intense game in progress.
garystockbridge617/via getarchive.net

14. Coin Roller

Several paper-wrapped rolls of coins, labeled for pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, are stacked on a white surface. The wrappers are color-coded: red, blue, green, and brown.
via flickr.com

15. Highway Litter Picker

Two people wearing safety vests pick up trash and place it into large garbage bags while cleaning up a sidewalk in a residential neighborhood.
via medium.com

16. Used Bottle Collector

A person gestures while standing between large piles of plastic bags filled with cans and bottles in an alley, with a brick building and graffiti-covered walls in the background.
rhododendrites/via wikimedia commons

17. Laundry Sorter

A person in a uniform loads or unloads a large industrial dryer with clothing or linens in a laundry facility.
itoldya/via getarchive.net

Want to see more 1960s content?

Check out 25 Vintage Photos of How People Hung Out Before The Internet (1960s), or take a look at 35 Vintage Photos of the Early to the Mid-1960s. Finally, if you want to see why life was different in the ’60s, check out 20 Reasons Life Was Different In The 1960s.

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Meet the Writer


Patrick Nichols

Patrick is a writer based in upstate New York, where he grew up and still calls home. Over the past year, he’s been diving deep into storytelling, especially tales rooted in history, the Wild West, lost treasures, and ancient artifacts. He’s also drawn to unsolved mysteries and whatever the internet can’t stop talking about.

Whether it’s a centuries-old legend or a bizarre internet rabbit hole, Patrick is always chasing the threads of a compelling story. When he’s not chasing stories, Pat’s probably hiking mountain trails with his dog, exploring new corners of the U.S., or doom-scrolling between hangouts with friends and family. He finds inspiration in nature, forgotten places, and random conversations—anything that sparks curiosity. Whether it’s city streets or backcountry paths, Patrick’s always on the lookout for the next great story.



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