FL · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 16 year old do in Florida?
Quick answer for 16-year-olds in Florida — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Florida state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 16-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Florida
Legal work hours
Florida sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.
During the school year
- Hours per day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 30 hr
- Time window
- 06:30 – 23:00
As of July 2024 (HB 49), a parent or school superintendent can waive the 30-hour weekly cap and the 23:00 curfew for 16-17-year-olds during the school year.
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- No state limit
- Hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
No state hour limit on 16-17-year-olds when school is out; federal FLSA also has no hour limit for this age group in non-hazardous work.
Common allowed jobs for a 16-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Florida adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Cooking and baking with grills and deep fryers
Permitted at 16+ in food-service. Florida relaxes hours for 16-17-year-olds: 8 hrs per school day, 30 hrs per school week, until 11 PM on school nights.
- Lifeguard at any pool, water park, or beach (with certification)
- Cashier, sales associate, or stocker at any retail establishment
Still no Florida state permit needed; employer keeps proof of age.
- Office assistant, receptionist, or data-entry clerk
- Park, recreation, and camp staff
- Warehouse jobs without power-driven hoists (HO-7) or forklifts
- Hotel, hospitality, and tourism-industry front-of-house roles
Florida's tourism sector is one of the largest 16+ employment markets in the country; food-service in restaurants without on-premises alcohol service is fully open.
Restricted in Florida
- All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17(29 CFR Part 570)
- Roofing operations and work on or about a roof(HO-16)
- Operating power-driven hoists(HO-7)
- Excavation operations(HO-17)
- Door-to-door sales without adult supervision(FL Stat §450.061)
Related guides
Read the full Florida rules
This page summarizes the rules for 16-year-olds. For all ages, age-band breakdown, statute citation, and DOL references, see the full state page.