Yes, a 16-year-old can work full time under federal law, which sets no limit on daily or weekly hours for workers aged 16 or 17. Whether a 16-year-old can actually work full time in practice depends on two things the federal rules leave to the states: hour caps in the state labor code and compulsory school attendance laws. Summer is usually straightforward. The school year is where full-time schedules run into trouble.
What Federal Law Allows at Sixteen
The Fair Labor Standards Act treats 16 as the age at which hour restrictions drop away. Workers aged 14 and 15 face strict federal caps, including no more than 40 hours in a non-school week and a work window that generally closes at 7 p.m.1eCFR. 29 CFR 570.35 – Hours of Work and Conditions of Employment Permitted for Minors 14 and 15 Years of Age None of those limits carry over to 16-year-olds. The Department of Labor states the federal youth employment provisions “do not restrict the number of hours or times of day that workers 16 years of age and older may be employed, though many States do.”2U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet 43 – Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act for Nonagricultural Occupations
So at the federal level, a 50-hour week with overnight shifts is legal for a 16-year-old. Whether it’s legal where you live is a different question.
State Hour Caps and Curfews
Most states impose their own limits for 16- and 17-year-olds, and when a state rule is more protective than federal law, the state rule controls.3U.S. Department of Labor. Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-Farm Employment Because federal law imposes nothing at this age, the state cap is almost always the binding one.
Common patterns you’ll see:
- Daily and weekly caps of 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week during non-school periods. Michigan, for example, allows up to 10 hours in a day but requires the weekly average to stay at 8 hours per day.4Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 409.111 – Minor 16 Years or Older; Days and Hours of Employment
- Sharply reduced hours when school is in session. Caps of 24 to 30 hours per school week are typical, and some states limit school-day hours to 4.
- Nighttime curfews on evenings before a school day, usually between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., loosening on weekends and school vacations.3U.S. Department of Labor. Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-Farm Employment
A few states impose no hour or curfew restrictions on 16- and 17-year-olds at all, matching the federal position. The Department of Labor publishes a state-by-state comparison chart with the specific caps for each jurisdiction, and checking your state’s entry before accepting a job is worth the two minutes.3U.S. Department of Labor. Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-Farm Employment
School Attendance Is the Real Obstacle
Compulsory education is the biggest practical barrier to full-time work at 16 during the school year. The common belief that every state requires attendance through 18 isn’t right. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, roughly half the states end compulsory attendance at 16 or 17; the other half require attendance through 18, and Texas pushes to 19.5National Center for Education Statistics. Compulsory School Attendance Laws, Minimum and Maximum Age Limits for Required Free Education, by State States where the requirement ends at 16 include Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, and New York, among others.
A 16-year-old in a state with a lower cutoff who has met any additional conditions (some states require completing a specific grade or obtaining parental consent to leave) may be legally free to work a full-time schedule year-round. In a state that requires attendance to 18, a 16-year-old who hasn’t graduated or earned an equivalent credential must be in school during school hours, which rules out a traditional daytime schedule. Summer and school-break periods still open the door to full-time hours in those states, subject to whatever weekly cap the state sets.
Skipping school without a valid exemption creates problems beyond education. Truancy can lead to fines, court appearances, and in some jurisdictions the revocation of an existing work permit.
When Full Time Is Actually Realistic
The clearest path to full-time work at 16 is summer break in a state that either follows the federal no-limit approach or caps hours at 48 per week. During the school year, full time works only if you’ve cleared your state’s compulsory education requirement, whether by reaching the cutoff age, earning a diploma, or obtaining a valid exemption. Even then, state weekly caps and school-night curfews shape what “full time” can look like on your schedule.
Before accepting a full-time offer, confirm three things: the state allows the hours being offered, the job isn’t on a federal hazardous occupation list, and any required work permit is in hand.
Work Permits Before You Start
Many states require a work permit, sometimes called an employment certificate, before a 16-year-old can start a job. The process is state-specific but generally follows the same sequence: the teen gets a job offer, picks up an application form from school, the employer completes the section describing the job and schedule, a parent signs, and the completed form goes back to the school for review and issuance.6Labor Commissioner’s Office. Information on Minors and Employment
The employer must keep the permit on file and available for inspection by school and labor officials throughout the employment.7Department of Industrial Relations. Complying With Child Labor Laws – Information for Employers Some states waive the requirement once a minor turns 16 or 17; others require it for all workers under 18. Your school’s guidance office or state labor department can confirm what applies.
Jobs That Stay Off-Limits
Hours aren’t the only limit. Federal law bars anyone under 18 from 17 categories of hazardous work in non-agricultural industries, including jobs involving explosives, coal mining, logging, roofing, demolition, power-driven woodworking or metalworking machines, heavy hoisting equipment, slaughtering and meat processing, excavation, and exposure to radioactive materials.8U.S. Department of Labor. Frequently Asked Questions About Youth Employment (Non-Agricultural) Parental consent doesn’t override these prohibitions. Employers who put minors in hazardous jobs face civil penalties of up to $16,035 per violation, rising to $72,876 if a minor is seriously injured or killed.9eCFR. 29 CFR Part 579 – Child Labor Violations, Civil Money Penalties
One prohibition catches teens off guard. Under Hazardous Occupation Order No. 2, no employee under 17 may drive a motor vehicle on public roads as part of their job. Even 17-year-olds face tight restrictions, limited to daytime and occasional driving with specific vehicle requirements.10U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet 34 – Hazardous Occupations Order No. 2, Youth Employment Provision and Driving Automobiles and Trucks A 16-year-old can legally drive to work with a state license, but cannot drive as part of the work itself. Riding outside the cab to assist with deliveries is prohibited at any age under 18.
Agriculture works differently. The Department of Labor defines 11 hazardous agricultural occupations that restrict workers under 16, but once a worker turns 16, all agricultural hazardous occupation restrictions lift and any farm job becomes available.11U.S. Department of Labor. Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor – Hazardous Occupations in Agriculture
Minimum Wage and Overtime at Sixteen
The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour applies to 16-year-olds, and many states set higher floors. One exception: employers may pay a youth subminimum of $4.25 per hour during the first 90 calendar days of employment for any worker under 20.12U.S. Department of Labor. Subminimum Wage After 90 days, the regular minimum applies.
Overtime rules apply the same way they do to adults. Under the FLSA, any non-exempt employee working more than 40 hours in a workweek must receive time-and-a-half for the extra hours.13U.S. Department of Labor. Overtime Pay There’s no age-based exception. If a state permits a 16-year-old to work 48 hours in a week, the employer owes overtime for the final 8.