TX · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 16 year old do in Texas?
Quick answer for 16-year-olds in Texas — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Texas state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 16-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Texas
Legal work hours
Texas 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
Texas does not impose state-level hour limits on 16- and 17-year-olds; federal FLSA also has no hour limit for this age group in non-hazardous work.
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. Texas 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. Texas has no state permit requirement at any age.
- Lifeguard at any pool, water park, or beach (with certification)
- Cashier, sales associate, or stocker at any retail establishment
No state permit needed; employer keeps proof of age on file.
- 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
- Door-to-door sales with a bonded supervisor
Texas Health & Safety Code § 51 requires a bonded adult supervisor for any door-to-door sales involving a minor.
Restricted in Texas
- All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17(29 CFR Part 570)
- Door-to-door sales for minors under 18 without bonded supervisor(TX Labor Code §51.014)
- Sexually oriented businesses (any minor)(TX Labor Code §51.016)
- Operating power-driven hoists(HO-7)
- Operating power-driven meat-processing machines(HO-10)
Related guides
Read the full Texas 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.