Jobs for 16 and 17 year olds: what teens actually do, and what stays off-limits.
The jobs 16- to 19-year-olds actually held in 2025 (BLS), the 17 hazardous-occupation orders that apply until 18, and hour limits by state.
At 16 and 17 you can work any job and any number of hours under federal law, except the jobs its 17 hazardous-occupation orders reserve for adults, such as driving most motor vehicles, operating power-driven meat slicers, bakery machines and saws, roofing and excavation; some states limit hours. In 2025, 5.55 million people aged 16 to 19 were employed (BLS); the largest jobs were cashiers (619 thousand), fast food and counter workers (335 thousand), waiters and waitresses (331 thousand).
The largest jobs for 16- to 19-year-olds, 2025
BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, in thousands. BLS reports 16 to 19 as one age group, so 18- and 19-year-olds are included. Share = teens as a share of everyone in that job.
| Occupation | Employed, 16 to 19 (thousands) | Share of the occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cashiers | 619 | 24.9% |
| Fast food and counter workers | 335 | 34.9% |
| Waiters and waitresses | 331 | 18.9% |
| Cooks | 283 | 13.5% |
| Retail salespersons | 279 | 10.5% |
| Customer service representatives | 219 | 8.4% |
| Food preparation workers | 180 | 19.4% |
| Stockers and order fillers | 174 | 10.3% |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | 171 | 7.8% |
| Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop | 145 | 44.5% |
| Childcare workers | 119 | 10.8% |
| Other protective service workers | 117 | 60.3% |
| Janitors and building cleaners | 98 | 4.2% |
| Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers | 75 | 29.3% |
| Receptionists and information clerks | 74 | 5.9% |
The 17 hazardous-occupation orders
29 CFR 570.51 to 570.68; Order 6 is no longer in force (its section is reserved). Some orders have narrow exemptions for apprentices and student-learners.
- Occupations in or about plants or establishments manufacturing or storing explosives or articles containing explosive components (Order 1). (§ 570.51)
- Occupations of motor-vehicle driver and outside helper (Order 2). (§ 570.52)
- Coal-mine occupations (Order 3). (§ 570.53)
- Forest fire fighting and forest fire prevention occupations, timber tract occupations, forestry service occupations, logging occupations, and occupations in the operation of any sawmill, lath mill, shingle mill, or cooperage stock mill (Order 4). (§ 570.54)
- Occupations involved in the operation of power-driven woodworking machines (Order 5). (§ 570.55)
- Exposure to radioactive substances and to ionizing radiations (Order 6). (§ 570.57)
- Occupations involved in the operation of power-driven hoisting apparatus (Order 7). (§ 570.58)
- Occupations involved in the operation of power-driven metal forming, punching, and shearing machines (Order 8). (§ 570.59)
- Occupations in connection with mining, other than coal (Order 9). (§ 570.60)
- Occupations in the operation of power-driven meat-processing machines and occupations involving slaughtering, meat and poultry packing, processing, or rendering (Order 10). (§ 570.61)
- Occupations involved in the operation of bakery machines (Order 11). (§ 570.62)
- Occupations involved in the operation of balers, compactors, and paper-products machines (Order 12). (§ 570.63)
- Occupations involved in the manufacture of brick, tile, and kindred products (Order 13). (§ 570.64)
- Occupations involving the operation of circular saws, band saws, guillotine shears, chain saws, reciprocating saws, wood chippers, and abrasive cutting discs (Order 14). (§ 570.65)
- Occupations involved in wrecking, demolition, and shipbreaking operations (Order 15). (§ 570.66)
- Occupations in roofing operations and on or about a roof (Order 16). (§ 570.67)
- Occupations in excavation operations (Order 17). (§ 570.68)
Driving: 17-year-olds may drive cars or small trucks on public roads only under the narrow conditions in 29 CFR 570.52; 16-year-olds may not drive on public roads as part of a job.
How many hours 16- and 17-year-olds can work
Federal law sets no daily or weekly hours limit for 16- and 17-year-olds. Some states do, and many states set late-night limits on school nights. See teen work hours by state for your state.
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Everything on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Questions people ask
What jobs can a 16 year old get?
How many hours can a 16 year old work?
Can a 16 year old drive for work?
How this page is built
Rules come from 29 CFR part 570 as published in the eCFR (up to date as of Nov 2, 2026); job counts from the BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages. Read Nov 4, 2026.
- Your situation: work permits, school-year rules, and exceptions for graduates, family businesses, farm work, acting and work-study programs vary; this page is a summary, not legal advice.
- Stricter rule: where federal and state law differ, the employer must follow the stricter one; some employers are not covered by the federal law, and then state law alone applies.
- Questions: the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (1-866-487-9243) answers federal questions; your state labor office answers state ones.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Table 11b, Employed people by detailed occupation and age, 2025 annual averages.
- 29 CFR § 570.2, § 570.52, § 570.129, eCFR, up to date as of Nov 2, 2026.
- 29 CFR 570.51–570.68 (Hazardous Occupations Orders), eCFR, up to date as of Nov 2, 2026.