Jobs for 16 and 17 Year Olds in the UK: Rules, Pay and Where to Apply

Published November 2, 2026 by Admin Staff

Getting your first job at 16 or 17 is a big step. It gives you money of your own, work experience for your CV and a taste of working life. But there are special rules for under-18s that cover how many hours you can work, when you can work, how much you must be paid and what you are allowed to do. This guide explains those rules in plain English, lists the best jobs for 16 and 17 year olds, and shows you how to apply safely.

Quick answer: Once you have reached school leaving age, you can work in most jobs. The legal minimum pay for 16 and 17 year olds is £8.00 an hour from April 2026. You can work up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, you must have breaks and rest, and you generally cannot work at night. Many supermarkets, shops, cafes and fast-food chains hire from 16.

Who counts as a young worker?

UK employment law divides people by age:

Children are under the school leaving age. In general, you can leave school on the last Friday in June of the school year in which you turn 16. Before that, strict limits on what work you can do apply, and local authority rules or work permits may be needed.
Young workers are over school leaving age but under 18. This is 16 and 17 year olds, and the rules in this guide apply to you.
Adult workers are 18 and over.

If you are still in Year 11 and 15 or 16, the rules are tighter, so ask your school or local council before taking a job. This guide is mainly for people who have left compulsory school age.

Do I have to stay in education or training until 18?

In England, young people must continue in education or training until their 18th birthday. That does not mean you cannot work. You can meet the requirement by:

Studying full time at school, sixth form or college
Doing an apprenticeship or traineeship
Working or volunteering for a set number of hours while doing part-time accredited study or training

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements. Check GOV.UK and your local authority for the rules where you live. If you are at college or sixth form, a part-time job needs to fit around your timetable.

How much must you be paid?

The National Minimum Wage for 16 and 17 year olds is £8.00 an hour from April 2026 (up from £7.55). The same £8.00 rate applies to apprentices under 19, and to those aged 19 or over in the first year of their apprenticeship. Some employers pay more.

Age	Minimum hourly pay from April 2026
Under 18	£8.00
18 to 20	£10.85
21 and over	£12.71

See our National Minimum Wage 2026 guide for the full details.

What you could earn

Hours a week	Pay at £8.00 an hour (before tax)
8 hours (a Saturday job)	£64 a week
12 hours	£96 a week
16 hours	£128 a week
20 hours	£160 a week
40 hours (full time)	£320 a week

Some employers pay above the minimum, especially for older teenagers, so check each advert. Under the planned reforms, you should also be paid for any time you are required to be at work, such as briefings or training.

How many hours can you work?

Young workers have extra protection to look after their health and education:

Maximum 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. Unlike adults, young workers cannot opt out of these limits.
A 30-minute break if your shift is longer than 4.5 hours.
At least 12 hours of rest between working days.
Two days off a week (a weekly rest period of 48 hours).
No night work in most jobs. In general you cannot work between 10pm and 6am, or between 11pm and 7am if your contract says so, and there are strict limits on working between midnight and 4am. Some sectors, such as hospitals, hospitality and retail, have limited exceptions, and your employer must follow special rules, including health assessments.
If you are in full-time education or training, you should not work during your school or college hours.

If an employer asks you to work more than this, it may be breaking the law. Keep a record of your hours and contact Acas.

What jobs can 16 and 17 year olds do?

At 16 or 17 you can work in most roles, though some jobs are restricted or have a higher minimum age set by the employer or by law. Common options are:

Sector	Typical jobs	Notes
Supermarkets and shops	Customer assistant, shelf stacker, till operator	Many large retailers hire from 16. See our guide to supermarket jobs
Hospitality and fast food	Waiter, kitchen assistant, crew member, barista	Popular first jobs. See our hospitality jobs guide
Leisure and entertainment	Cinema, leisure centre, theme park and holiday park staff	Often weekend and holiday work
Cleaning and housekeeping	Cleaner, hotel room attendant	See our cleaning jobs guide
Warehouse and delivery support	Picker, packer	Many roles are 18+ because of machinery and safety rules. See our guide to warehouse jobs
Apprenticeships	Hairdressing, business admin, construction, care, hospitality and many more	Earn while you learn. Check GOV.UK for current schemes
Tutoring, coaching and freelance work	Sports coaching, tutoring younger children	Check safeguarding and tax rules
Christmas and seasonal jobs	Shops, restaurants, events	See our guide to Christmas jobs in the UK 2026

Commonly reported employers that hire at 16 include large supermarkets, high street retailers and chains such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons, Waitrose, Primark, Boots, McDonald’s, Costa and Greggs. Policies change and vary by store and role, so always check the individual job advert.

Jobs and tasks that may be restricted

Work with dangerous machinery or certain equipment, which may be limited for under-18s because of health and safety rules
Selling or serving alcohol, which is allowed in some settings with supervision but is restricted in others, and varies by country
Betting shops, bars and some venues, where age rules differ
Driving roles, which usually need a full licence and higher minimum ages for insurance reasons
Heavy manual work or hazardous environments, which require a specific risk assessment for young workers

Employers must carry out a risk assessment for young workers, and give training and supervision. If you are asked to do something that feels unsafe, speak to a supervisor or contact Acas or the Health and Safety Executive.

Your rights as a young worker

Minimum wage and payslips. You must receive at least £8.00 an hour and a payslip. See our guide to payslips, tax codes and National Insurance.
Holiday pay. You build up paid holiday, even on part-time or casual contracts. See our guide to holiday entitlement and holiday pay.
Sick pay. Since April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is payable from the first day for eligible employees. See our guide to Statutory Sick Pay 2026.
Breaks and rest. As above, and these cannot be waived.
Safe working. Your employer must keep you safe and give you training. You can raise concerns without being punished.
Protection from discrimination and harassment. This includes harassment from customers. The rules on employers’ duties are getting stronger from 30 October 2026. See our guide to the Employment Rights Act 2025.
A written statement of your terms. Ask for your contract. See our guide to understanding your employment contract.
Zero-hours contracts. Many first jobs are on zero hours. Read our guide to zero-hours contracts.

If you have a problem, you can contact Acas for free, or ask a parent, carer, teacher or union.

Tax, National Insurance and your first payslip

Income Tax. The personal allowance is £12,570 in 2026/27, so most 16 and 17 year olds with part-time jobs pay no Income Tax.
National Insurance number. You normally receive it by letter before your 16th birthday. If you have not received it, apply through GOV.UK. You can usually start a job while you wait.
National Insurance contributions. Employees start paying from 16 on earnings above about £242 a week, so a small part-time job usually means none.
Emergency tax. If you start a job and your employer does not have your details, you may be put on an emergency tax code. Check your payslip and contact HMRC if you think you have overpaid. Our payslip guide explains how.
Bank account. You will need an account in your own name to be paid. Many banks offer accounts for under-18s.

Student loan repayments do not usually apply at this age.

Do you need your parents’ permission?

Once you are over school leaving age, you do not normally need your parent or carer’s permission to take a job, but it is a good idea to talk to them, especially about hours, travel and safety. Some employers ask for a parent’s contact details as a precaution, and some training providers require consent.

How to get a job at 16 or 17: step by step

Decide what you want. Think about what suits your timetable, interests and travel: weekends, evenings or holidays.
Write a simple CV. Include your school or college, your qualifications and predicted grades, volunteering, sport, clubs, babysitting, and skills such as teamwork and communication. See our guide to writing a UK CV with no experience. A short cover letter can help too: see our guide to writing a cover letter in the UK.
Ask for a reference. A teacher, tutor, coach or volunteer leader can usually act as a referee.
Look in the right places. Check employers’ own careers pages, our UK jobs board, your school or college careers service and local shops and cafes. Many small businesses still hire by handing in a CV in person.
Apply to several jobs, and keep a list of where and when.
Prepare for the interview. Practise common questions and have two or three examples from school or activities. Our guides to customer assistant interview questions and answers and common interview questions and answers in the UK will help.
Gather your documents. You will usually need proof of your right to work in the UK, such as your passport or a share code if you have an eVisa. See our guide to right to work checks in the UK.
Check the details before you accept. Confirm your hours, pay, breaks and start date in writing.

Interview tips for teenagers

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, and dress smartly.
Smile, make eye contact and speak clearly.
Say what you like about the shop or business, and why you want the job.
Be honest about your availability, including school or college hours and exams.
Give examples of reliability, such as good attendance, helping at home or looking after a younger sibling.
Ask one or two questions, such as what training you will get.

Balancing work and study

Put school or college first. Check your timetable, coursework deadlines and exam dates before agreeing to shifts.
Be honest about when you can work, and tell your employer well in advance about exams.
Look after your wellbeing. Do not let long hours hurt your sleep, grades or mood. If it is not working, talk to your employer, school or parents.
Use the holidays. You can usually work more hours in the summer and at Christmas, within the 8-hour and 40-hour limits.

If you are planning ahead for university, see our guide to part-time jobs for students in the UK.

Apprenticeships at 16 and 17

An apprenticeship is a real job with training, where you earn a wage and work towards a qualification. They are available in many fields, from business and care to construction and engineering. Apprentices under 19 are entitled to at least £8.00 an hour, and many employers pay more. Look at GOV.UK’s apprenticeship search, your school or college careers adviser and employers’ own sites. Apprenticeships can lead to higher qualifications and permanent jobs.

Scams and safety: what to watch for

Young job seekers are often targeted by scammers, and some of the biggest risks are on social media. Watch for:

Offers on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat or WhatsApp for easy money, brand ambassador roles, modelling or “working from your phone”
Jobs that ask you to pay a fee, for training, a uniform or registration
Requests to use your bank account to receive and pass on money, which can make you part of a crime (these are called money mule scams)
Requests for your passport, bank details or a copy of your ID before you have a real job offer
Anyone who asks you to keep the job secret from your parents, or who pressures you to meet alone or send photos
Fake adverts for popular brands that copy real companies

If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Talk to a parent, carer or teacher before you reply. Apply only through employers’ own websites and trusted job sites. Read our guides to how to spot a fake job advert in the UK and work from home jobs in the UK.

If you have been targeted by a scam or feel unsafe, tell a trusted adult, report it to the police or Report Fraud, and contact your bank if you have sent money or details.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage for a 16 year old in 2026? £8.00 an hour from April 2026. The same rate applies to 17 year olds.

How many hours can a 16 or 17 year old work? Up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, with a 30-minute break after 4.5 hours, 12 hours of rest between working days and two days off a week.

Can a 16 year old work at night? Generally not between 10pm and 6am, with limited exceptions in some sectors and strict rules on work between midnight and 4am.

What jobs can I get at 16? Retail, hospitality, fast food, cafes, cinemas, leisure centres, cleaning, tutoring, apprenticeships and seasonal work, though some employers set a higher minimum age.

Do I need a National Insurance number to work at 16? You should receive one before your 16th birthday. You can usually start work while you wait for it, and your employer cannot make you pay.

Do 16 year olds pay tax? Most do not, because the personal allowance is £12,570 a year in 2026/27. If you earn less than that, you should pay no Income Tax.

Do I need my parents’ permission to get a job? Not normally once you are over school leaving age, but it is a good idea to discuss it with them.

Can I work and be at school or college? Yes. You must stay in education or training until 18 in England, but part-time work around your studies is allowed.

Can I do an apprenticeship at 16? Yes. Apprenticeships are open to 16 and 17 year olds and are paid at least £8.00 an hour.

Final thoughts

A first job is a great way to build skills and earn money, as long as you know your rights, protect your studies and avoid scams. Prepare a simple CV, apply to a few places and ask questions before you say yes. When you are ready, browse the latest vacancies on our jobs board and apply directly with employers.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules for young workers are detailed and can differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Check GOV.UK and Acas for the latest guidance, and speak to a parent, carer, teacher or adviser about your own situation.