Dozens of major national chains hire 16-year-olds, especially in fast food, retail, grocery, and entertainment. At 16, federal labor law opens up significantly more job options than younger teens have, and you can work unlimited hours outside of school time. Here’s where to look and what to know before you apply.
Fast Food and Restaurants
Fast food is the single largest category of jobs for 16-year-olds. These chains set their minimum hiring age at 16 across most locations:
- Chick-fil-A hires team members at 16 for counter service, drive-through, and kitchen prep.
- Taco Bell accepts applicants 16 and older for crew member roles.
- KFC requires a minimum age of 16.
- Domino’s hires at 16 for in-store roles like making pizzas and taking orders (delivery drivers must be 18).
- Sonic Drive-In hires carhops and crew members at 16.
- Firehouse Subs sets its minimum at 16.
- Waffle House hires teens starting at 16.
- Krispy Kreme hires at 16 for front-of-house and basic kitchen tasks.
Other restaurant chains with similar policies include Wendy’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Panera Bread, and Dairy Queen, though individual franchise owners sometimes set their own minimums. When you see a job listing, check whether the location is corporate-owned or a franchise, since the age requirement can differ.
Retail Stores
Retail is another strong option. Many stores hire 16-year-olds as cashiers, sales floor associates, and stock crew. Large retailers known to hire at 16 include Target, Kroger, Publix, Safeway, and other major grocery chains, plus clothing and shoe stores like SNIPES and Old Navy. Seasonal retailers like Spirit Halloween also actively recruit 16-year-olds for temporary positions.
Grocery stores are particularly worth targeting because they tend to have high turnover and consistent openings. Roles typically involve bagging, stocking shelves, running a register, and collecting carts. One restriction to keep in mind: federal law prohibits anyone under 18 from operating power-driven equipment like trash compactors, balers, and commercial meat slicers. So even if you work in a grocery deli, you won’t be allowed to use the meat slicer or clean its parts.
Entertainment and Recreation
If you want something more fun than a drive-through window, entertainment venues are a solid bet. AMC Theatres hires at 16 for roles like ticket taker, concession worker, and usher. Chuck E. Cheese sets its minimum hiring age at 16 as well. Movie theaters, bowling alleys, mini-golf courses, amusement parks, and water parks all commonly hire 16-year-olds for seasonal and year-round positions.
Local businesses in this category often don’t post on major job boards, so it’s worth walking in and asking. Pools and recreation centers also hire 16-year-old lifeguards if you have a current lifeguard certification.
Other Places Worth Checking
Beyond the big categories, 16-year-olds can find work at ice cream shops, car washes, tutoring centers, summer camps, landscaping companies (for non-hazardous tasks), and local businesses like bakeries, pet stores, and florists. Camp counselor and youth recreation aide positions often specifically target 16- and 17-year-olds.
If you want something less traditional, consider babysitting, lawn care, or freelance work like graphic design or social media help for small businesses. These aren’t covered by the same labor regulations as formal employment, but they can build experience and income while you’re still in school.
What Federal Law Says About Working at 16
Turning 16 is a meaningful threshold under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Unlike 14- and 15-year-olds, who face strict limits on when and how many hours they can work, 16-year-olds have no federal cap on the number of hours they can work per week. You can work evenings, weekends, and during school hours (though your school and your grades might have something to say about that).
Your state may add its own restrictions on top of the federal rules. Some states limit how late 16-year-olds can work on school nights or cap weekly hours during the school year. Check your state’s department of labor website for the specifics that apply to you.
Jobs You Can’t Do Until 18
Federal law bars anyone under 18 from a list of jobs the Department of Labor considers hazardous. The ones most likely to come up for a 16-year-old job seeker include:
- Operating meat slicers, even in a restaurant or deli setting
- Using trash compactors or balers, common in retail backrooms
- Driving for an employer, including delivery driving and working as a driver’s helper
- Operating forklifts or similar equipment in a warehouse
- Roofing, demolition, or logging work
- Operating power-driven bakery machines like commercial dough mixers
- Using power saws, woodchippers, or metal-working machines
This means that even at a job that hires 16-year-olds, certain tasks will be off-limits to you. A grocery store can put you on a register but not on the baler. A pizza shop can have you make pizzas but not drive them to customers. Employers are responsible for keeping you away from prohibited tasks, but knowing the rules yourself helps you spot problems.
Work Permits and Paperwork
Many states require minors to get a work permit or employment certificate before starting a job. The process varies widely. In some states, you get the permit through your school’s guidance office. In others, a parent signs an authorization form that the employer keeps on file. Some states don’t require a permit for 16-year-olds at all but do require proof of age, which can be a birth certificate, passport, or state ID.
The safest approach is to check your state’s labor department website before you accept a position. Most permits are free and take only a few days to process. Your employer may also walk you through the steps, since they’re required to have the paperwork on file before you start.
How to Find and Land the Job
Start with online job boards. Indeed, Snagajob, and company career pages all let you filter by age or search “16 year old jobs” plus your city. Many fast food and retail chains also let you apply directly through their websites or in-store kiosks.
For local businesses, walk in during a slow time, ask if they’re hiring, and be ready to fill out an application on the spot. Bring a parent’s contact info, your Social Security number, and a form of ID. Having your school schedule handy helps, since the manager will want to know your availability.
If you don’t have any work experience yet, that’s expected. Mention school activities, volunteer work, or skills that show reliability. Employers hiring 16-year-olds care most about whether you’ll show up on time, follow instructions, and treat customers well. A short, clean resume that lists those qualities can set you apart from other teen applicants who show up empty-handed.