NE · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 16 year old do in Nebraska?
Quick answer for 16-year-olds in Nebraska — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Nebraska state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 16-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
Nebraska Employment Certificate
In Nebraska
Legal work hours
Nebraska 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
Nebraska 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. Nebraska adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Cooking and baking with grills and deep fryers
Distinctive Nebraska rule: NE has no state daily / weekly hour cap or time-of-day restriction for 16-17-year-olds beyond the federal HO list. The Employment Certificate is not required at 16-17.
- Lifeguard at any pool, water park, or beach (with certification)
- Cashier, sales associate, or stocker at any retail establishment (non-alcohol)
Distinctive Nebraska rule: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 53-180 prohibits anyone under 21 from selling, dispensing, or serving alcoholic beverages on licensed premises — well above the typical 18 floor in most states. 16-year-olds may stock and cashier non-alcohol retail but cannot work behind a bar or ring alcohol until 21.
- 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 Nebraska
- 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(Neb. Rev. Stat. §48-302)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 21(Neb. Rev. Stat. §53-180)
Related guides
Read the full Nebraska 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.