IL · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 16 year old do in Illinois?
Quick answer for 16-year-olds in Illinois — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Illinois state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 16-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
Employment Certificate
In Illinois
Legal work hours
Illinois sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.
During the school year
- Hours per day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 22:00
No more than 6 consecutive days of work. Up to 11:00 PM with written parental consent on non-school nights.
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 00:00
Up to midnight when school is not in session.
Common allowed jobs for a 16-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Illinois adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Cooking and baking with grills and deep fryers
Illinois Child Labor Law of 2024 dropped the state Employment Certificate for 16-17-year-olds; the employer keeps proof of age on file instead.
- Lifeguard at any pool, water park, or beach (with certification)
- Cashier, sales associate, or stocker at any retail establishment
- Office assistant, receptionist, or data-entry clerk
- Park, recreation, and camp staff
- Warehouse jobs without power-driven hoists (HO-7) or forklifts
- Hotel and hospitality front-of-house roles
Restricted in Illinois
- All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17(29 CFR Part 570)
- Operating power-driven meat-processing machines(HO-10)
- Door-to-door sales for minors under 16(820 ILCS 205/2.1)
- Roofing operations and work on or about a roof(HO-16)
- Excavation operations(HO-17)
Related guides
Read the full Illinois 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.