Should you pay kids for chores? Three approaches that work

There is no single right answer

Few parenting questions start as many debates as this one. Some parents feel chores are simply part of living in a family and should never be paid. Others see chores as a child’s first job and a natural way to learn that work earns money. Both have a point.

What matters most is that your approach is clear, consistent and matches what you want your kids to learn. Most families end up with one of three setups.

Approach 1: Allowance with no strings attached

Kids get a fixed amount every week regardless of chores. Chores are expected because everyone in the family helps. Money and chores are kept separate on purpose.

• Good for: teaching budgeting and saving without mixing in work.
• Watch out for: chores can slip if there is no clear expectation or follow-through.

This works best when the allowance has a clear job, for example covering snacks, small toys or gifts for friends, so kids practise making real choices with it.

Approach 2: Pay for every chore

Each chore has a price, and kids earn only what they do. It mirrors a paid job and makes the link between effort and money very direct.

• Good for: motivating kids who are saving for something specific.
• Watch out for: “What will you pay me?” for everything, and kids opting out of chores when they don’t need money.

Approach 3: The hybrid most families land on

Everyday chores, like making the bed, clearing your plate and keeping your room tidy, are unpaid because they are part of being in the family. Extra jobs, like washing the car or raking leaves, earn money. Some families add a small base allowance on top.

The hybrid keeps the “we all pitch in” message while still teaching that extra effort can earn extra money. It also gives kids a way to reach a savings goal faster, which is very motivating.

How much should you pay?

There’s no standard rate, but two rules of thumb are common: a weekly allowance of about one dollar per year of age, or half that. Start with an amount that fits your budget and what you expect the money to cover, and adjust as your child grows.

Our allowance calculator turns those rules into a weekly amount, a monthly total and a suggested split between spending, saving and giving.

What to do when they refuse

Whichever approach you choose, decide in advance what happens when a chore does not get done, and keep it calm and predictable. For unpaid everyday chores, that might mean the chore gets done before screen time. For paid jobs, it simply means no pay for that job.

Avoid taking away money that has already been earned. It muddies the lesson and makes the system feel unfair.

Choosing what fits your family

1. 1Decide what you most want your kids to learn: helping out, managing money, or earning through effort.
2. 2Choose the approach that teaches that most directly.
3. 3Write the rules down together and put them somewhere visible.
4. 4Review after a month and adjust.

Tasklio supports all three: routines that earn points only, chores that pay allowance into a child’s wallet, and savings goals kids can track. It is free to use.