MN · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 16 year old do in Minnesota?
Quick answer for 16-year-olds in Minnesota — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Minnesota state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 16-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Minnesota
Legal work hours
Minnesota sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.
During the school year
- Hours per day
- No state limit
- Hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- 05:00 – 23:00
No state weekly hour cap. 16-17-year-olds may not work after 11:00 PM on a night preceding a school day, nor before 5:00 AM on a school day, without written parental consent (which may extend to 11:30 PM and 4:30 AM).
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- No state limit
- Hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
Time-of-day restrictions lift on non-school nights; federal FLSA has no cap for this age group.
Common allowed jobs for a 16-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Minnesota adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Cooking and baking with grills and deep fryers
Minnesota imposes no state weekly hour cap on 16-17-year-olds, but bars work after 11 PM on a night preceding a school day and before 5 AM on a school day (written parental consent extends those to 11:30 PM / 4:30 AM).
- Lifeguard at any pool, water park, or beach (with certification)
- Cashier, sales associate, or stocker at a retail establishment (not working alone after 8 PM)
Distinctive Minnesota rule: minors under 18 may not work alone in a retail store between 8 PM and 6 AM (Minn. Stat. § 181A.04). A scheduled co-worker present in the store satisfies the rule.
- 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 Minnesota
- All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17(29 CFR Part 570)
- Operating power-driven meat-processing machines(HO-10)
- Roofing operations and work on or about a roof(HO-16)
- Door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision(Minn. Stat. §181A.04)
- Working alone in a retail store between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM (under 18)(Minn. Stat. §181A.04)
Related guides
Read the full Minnesota 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.