Jobs for teens
Jobs for 16 year olds.
At 16 federal law drops the hour limits, so most first jobs open up. Here’s what you can do, what’s still off limits, and how to keep school first.
By Lokesh Pampatti, founder of Clarity Prep · Updated October 18, 2026
Jobs 16 year olds can get
| Job | How students find it |
|---|---|
| Restaurant and fast food crew | No federal hour limits at 16, but slicers, mixers and driving are still off limits. |
| Retail and grocery | Cashier, stocking, customer service. Holiday hiring starts in October. |
| Camp counselor | Summer, full time, and many camps hire at 16. |
| Lifeguard or swim instructor | Certification first; pools hire for summer starting in spring. |
| Movie theater, bowling alley or amusement park | Evening and weekend hours that work around school. |
| Tutoring | Online or in person; a strong SAT or AP score is a selling point. |
| Office, lab or research assistant | Rarer and worth more: try local businesses, labs and our internships list. |
No federal hour limits, but still some rules
At 16 and 17, federal law lets you work unlimited hours in any job that isn’t declared hazardous. Some states still limit hours on school nights or how late you can work, so check your state’s rules before you agree to a schedule.
Jobs that stay off limits until 18
- Driving as part of the job (17-year-olds have a narrow daytime exception)
- Forklifts and other power-driven hoisting equipment
- Meat slicers, saws and other power-driven meat processing machines
- Power-driven bakery machines like dough mixers
- Roofing and work on or near a roof
Keeping school first
Junior year is the last full year of grades most colleges see before deadlines, and work hours add up fast. A schedule that works for most students: a few weekday shifts or weekends during the school year, more hours in summer. If your grades slip, cut hours before you cut sleep.
Pay and paperwork
- Minimum wage: the federal minimum is $7.25 an hour. Employers may pay workers under 20 as little as $4.25 for their first 90 days, but many states and cities set a higher minimum that applies to teens.
- Work permits: federal law doesn’t require one, but many states do for workers under 16 or 18. Your school counselor usually knows the process.
- Taxes: you’ll fill out a W-4. Most teens earn little enough to get any federal income tax that was withheld back by filing a return.
How a job looks to colleges
Better than most students think. The Common App has its own Work (Paid) activity type, and a job you keep for a year shows responsibility, time management and that you can show up. Write down your hours, what you’re trusted with and anything you improved, because those details make a strong activity description later.
Questions
How many hours can a 16 year old work?
Federal law sets no hour limit at 16 or 17. Some states do limit hours on school nights, so check your state’s rules. Most students do best keeping school-week hours modest, around 10 to 15.
What jobs can’t a 16 year old do?
Jobs the Department of Labor calls hazardous, including driving as part of the job, forklifts, meat slicers, power-driven bakery machines and roofing. Everything else is open under federal law.
Does a job look good on college applications?
Yes. The Common App has a Work (Paid) activity type, and steady work shows responsibility and time management. Colleges understand that many students work instead of doing expensive activities.
Should I get a job or do an internship at 16?
Whichever you can actually get and keep. A real internship tied to your interests is rare and valuable; a steady paid job is common and also valuable. Our internships list shows which programs take high school students.
Fitting work into the bigger plan?
A Clarity Prep mentor helps you balance a job with classes and activities, and shows you how to write about work on college applications, with a weekly check-in until they’re in.