MT · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 16 year old do in Montana?
Quick answer for 16-year-olds in Montana — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Montana state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 16-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Montana
Legal work hours
Montana 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
Montana imposes no state hour or time-of-day restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds.
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. Montana adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Cooking and baking with grills and deep fryers
Distinctive Montana rule: 16-17-year-olds do not need the MT Employment Certificate (only 14-15 do under MCA § 41-2-103). Montana has no state daily / weekly hour cap or time-of-day restriction for 16-17-year-olds beyond the federal HO list.
- Lifeguard at any pool, water park, or beach (with certification)
- Cashier, sales associate, or stocker at any retail establishment (non-alcohol)
Distinctive Montana rule: MCA § 16-3-301 sets the alcohol-server age at 18 (typical floor) but requires direct 21+ supervision for 18-20-year-old servers in licensed restaurants; tending bar in an alcohol-licensed establishment requires 21+. 16-year-olds may stock and cashier non-alcohol retail but cannot sell or serve 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 (no alcohol service)
Restricted in Montana
- 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)
- Mining and quarrying for minors under 18(MCA §41-2-110)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18(MCA §16-3-301)
Related guides
Read the full Montana 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.