NH · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 16 year old do in New Hampshire?
Quick answer for 16-year-olds in New Hampshire — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from New Hampshire state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 16-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 12+
New Hampshire Youth Employment Certificate
In New Hampshire
Legal work hours
New Hampshire sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.
During the school year
- Hours per school day
- 8 hr
- Hours per non-school day
- 10 hr
- Hours per week
- 30 hr
- Time window
- 05:30 – 00:00
School-week cap of 30 hours (under 2024 amendment HB 1115). Up to 8 hours on a school day, 10 on a non-school day. Up to 6 days/week.
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- 10 hr
- Hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 05:30 – 00:00
Summer cap of 48 hours per week with 10-hour daily ceiling.
Common allowed jobs for a 16-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. New Hampshire adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Cooking and baking with grills and deep fryers
Distinctive New Hampshire rule: NH caps 16-17-year-olds at 30 hrs per school week and 6 days per week under RSA 276-A:14 — stricter than the federal floor (no cap at 16-17). Hours during the school year: not before 6 AM, not after 10 PM school nights. The parent's written permission is still required (RSA 276-A:4-a).
- Lifeguard at any pool, water park, or beach (with certification)
- Cashier, sales associate, or stocker at any retail establishment (non-alcohol)
New Hampshire follows the typical state alcohol-server-age of 18 under RSA 179:23 for beer / wine service in licensed restaurants. 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 New Hampshire
- 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(RSA 276-A:4)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18(RSA 179:23)
Related guides
Read the full New Hampshire 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.