MS · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 16 year old do in Mississippi?
Quick answer for 16-year-olds in Mississippi — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Mississippi state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 16-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Mississippi
Legal work hours
Mississippi 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
- No state limit
Mississippi imposes no state hour or time-of-day restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds; federal FLSA also has no hour cap for this age group in non-hazardous work.
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- No state limit
- Hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
Common allowed jobs for a 16-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Mississippi adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Cooking and baking with grills and deep fryers
Distinctive Mississippi rule: Mississippi has no state daily / weekly hour cap or time-of-day restriction for 16-17-year-olds beyond the federal HO list — among the most permissive in the South.
- Lifeguard at any pool, water park, or beach (with certification)
- Cashier, sales associate, or stocker at any retail establishment
Mississippi sets the alcohol sale and service age at 18 under Miss. Code § 67-3-67 — typical floor. 16-year-olds may stock and cashier non-alcohol items but cannot ring or pour alcohol until 18.
- 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 Mississippi
- 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)
- Mill, cannery, workshop, factory, or manufacturing for minors under 14(Miss. Code §71-1-19)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18(Miss. Code §67-3-53)
Related guides
Read the full Mississippi 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.