How many hours can a 16 year old work in North Carolina during summer?

During summer or school breaks, a 16-year-old in North Carolina can work up to No state limit per day and No state limit per week, time window No state limit.

Does a 16 year old need a work permit in North Carolina?

Yes. North Carolina requires a work permit for 16-year-olds. The minor and a parent or guardian apply online through the NC Department of Labor's youth-employment portal. The certificate is electronic, free, and reissued for each new employer. The employer must keep a copy on file.

NC · age-by-state job guide

What jobs can a 16 year old do in North Carolina?

Q: What jobs can a 16 year old do in North Carolina?

Yes — a 16-year-old can work in North Carolina with the following limits during the school year: No state limit per school day, No state limit per week, time window 05:00 – 23:00. Work permit required.

Quick answer for 16-year-olds in North Carolina — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from North Carolina state labor code.

Updated: 2026-05-26

Quick answer

Can a 16-year-old work?: Yes
Work permit: Required
Minimum work age: 14+

Legal work hours

North Carolina 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 hour cap, but 16-17-year-olds may not work between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM when a school day follows. Parent and principal may waive the time-of-day restriction in writing.

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 when no school day follows; federal FLSA has no hour cap for this age group.

Common allowed jobs for a 16-year-old

General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. North Carolina adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.

Cooking and baking with grills and deep fryers
Permitted at 16+ in food-service. NC Youth Employment Certificate still required for every minor under 18; reissued online per new employer.
Lifeguard at any pool, water park, or beach (with certification)
Cashier, sales associate, or stocker at any retail establishment
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
Tobacco-harvesting age limits per NC General Statutes still apply — additional age thresholds layer on top of the federal Ag-HO floor for fields and tobacco curing.

Restricted in North Carolina

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)
Tobacco harvesting for minors under 14(NC Gen Stat §95-25.5(j))
Door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision(NC Gen Stat §95-25.5(h))

Other ages in North Carolina

Same age, other states

Read the full North Carolina 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.

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