RI · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 16 year old do in Rhode Island?
Quick answer for 16-year-olds in Rhode Island — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Rhode Island state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 16-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
Special Limited Permit
In Rhode Island
Legal work hours
Rhode Island sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.
During the school year
- Hours per day
- 9 hr
- Hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 23:30
Daily cap of 9 hours, weekly cap of 48 hours. Up to 11:30 PM on nights not preceding a school day. Maximum 6 days per week.
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- 9 hr
- Hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 00:30
Up to 12:30 AM during the summer.
Common allowed jobs for a 16-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Rhode Island adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Cooking and baking with grills and deep fryers
Distinctive Rhode Island rule: 16-17-year-olds do not need the Special Limited Permit (only 14-15 do). RI caps 16-17-year-olds at 9 hrs per day and 48 hrs per week under R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-3-9; not after 11:30 PM on school nights or 1:30 AM on non-school nights — stricter than the federal floor.
- Lifeguard at any pool, water park, or beach (with certification)
- Cashier, sales associate, or stocker at any retail establishment (non-alcohol)
Distinctive Rhode Island rule: R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-3-1 publishes a state hazardous-occupations list that layers on top of the federal HO list, including a state-specific ban on under-18 work in industrial laundries, power-driven woodworking machines beyond the federal HO-5 carve-out, and certain construction trades. R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-7-22 sets the alcohol-server age at 18 (typical floor). 16-year-olds may cashier and stock 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 (no industrial laundries)
- Hotel and hospitality front-of-house roles (no alcohol service)
Restricted in Rhode Island
- 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(RI Gen Laws §28-3-1)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18(RI Gen Laws §3-8-11.1)
Related guides
Read the full Rhode Island 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.