How many hours can a 16 year old work at the weekend?

Once you reach minimum school-leaving age and are under 18: normally up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, in both term time and holidays, including if you continue in sixth form or college. Count hours across all jobs; these limits cannot normally be averaged or opted out of. At 15–16, while still below minimum school-leaving age: up to 12 hours a week in term time (2 on school days and Sundays; 8 on Saturdays), or 35 hours in school holidays (8 on weekdays/Saturdays; 2 on Sundays). No work during school hours or before 7am or after 7pm. Local council rules and permits may add restrictions. The dividing line is minimum school-leaving age, not whether you still attend school, sixth form or college. School-leaving dates differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England you must still stay in education or training until 18; fit work around your course and attendance requirements.

What weekend jobs pay the most at 16?

Tutoring younger pupils pays the most (£10–£20/hour, self-set). Among employed roles, hospitality chains and larger supermarkets often pay £8–£11/hour — above the £8.00 minimum for 16–17 year olds. Refereeing youth sport pays £15–£25 per match once qualified.

Can I get a weekend job with no experience?

Yes — almost all weekend jobs for 16 year olds assume no experience. Supermarkets, fast food, cafés and cinemas train you from scratch. What gets you hired is reliability: say exactly which days you can work, apply in person where possible, and follow up a few days later.

Do I need my parents' permission to work at 16?

No formal parental consent is required in the UK once you're of compulsory school leaving age, but some employers ask for it anyway. You do need a National Insurance number (sent automatically before your 16th birthday) and a bank account for your wages.

Where should I look for weekend jobs near me?

Start with the big recruiters of under-18s: supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Lidl), fast food (McDonald's, KFC), high-street chains (Primark, Boots, JD Sports), cinemas and leisure centres. Shine lists live vacancies open to under-18s near you, filtered by travel time.

Weekend & part-time work

Weekend jobs for 16 year olds

The roles that actually hire under-18s for Saturdays and Sundays, what they pay, how many hours you're allowed to work — and the five steps that get you hired with zero experience.

Browse live weekend roles

What weekend jobs can you get at 16?

At 16 you can work weekends in supermarkets, cafés, fast food, cinemas, leisure centres and as a tutor or sports referee, earning at least £8.00 an hour (April 2026 rate). After minimum school-leaving age, the normal under-18 limits are 8 hours/day and 40/week, even in college. At 15–16 below that age, limits are 12/week in term time and 35/week in holidays. Most roles need no experience — Shine lists live weekend vacancies open to under-18s near you.

Last reviewed 21 October 2026 by the Shine careers team.

The weekend jobs most likely to hire at 16

Supermarket assistant

£8.00–£11/hr

The single biggest employer of 16 year olds at weekends. Checkout, shelf stacking, trolley shifts. Predictable rotas.

Retail & shop assistant

From £8.00/hr

Clothes shops, high-street chains, pharmacies and local stores. Saturday shifts on the till, shop floor or stockroom. Ask in store or apply online.

Hospitality & fast food

£8.00–£12/hr + tips

McDonald's, KFC, Nando's and local restaurants recruit under-18s heavily for weekend shifts. Free food is common.

Café & coffee shop

£8.00–£10/hr

Barista and counter roles. Great people skills for your CV, and independent cafés often hire by walk-in.

Cinema & leisure

£8.00–£10/hr

Usher, ticket desk, leisure centre assistant. Perks like free films; busy weekend trade means more shifts.

Sport & refereeing

£15–£25/match

Referee youth football (FA course from 14+), lifeguard at 16+ with NPLQ, or coach younger age groups.

Flexible & self-employed

£10–£20/hr

Tutoring younger pupils, dog walking, babysitting for neighbours. You set your own rates and hours.

Looking for shop work? See live retail and weekend roles open to 16 year olds.

How many hours can you actually work?

Which rules apply? The dividing line is minimum school-leaving age, not whether you still attend school, sixth form or college. School-leaving dates differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England you must still stay in education or training until 18; fit work around your course and attendance requirements.
Once you reach minimum school-leaving age and are under 18: normally up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, in both term time and holidays, including if you continue in sixth form or college. Count hours across all jobs; these limits cannot normally be averaged or opted out of.
Young workers above school-leaving age normally get a 30-minute break when working more than 4.5 hours, 12 hours' daily rest and 48 hours' weekly rest. Young workers normally cannot work between 10pm and 6am (or 11pm and 7am if the contract allows). Limited exceptions have conditions, not blanket permission for a whole sector; check GOV.UK before accepting a late shift. Work between midnight and 4am is prohibited.
At 15–16, while still below minimum school-leaving age: up to 12 hours a week in term time (2 on school days and Sundays; 8 on Saturdays), or 35 hours in school holidays (8 on weekdays/Saturdays; 2 on Sundays). No work during school hours or before 7am or after 7pm. Local council rules and permits may add restrictions.
Children below school-leaving age must have a 60-minute break after no more than 4 hours of work and at least 2 consecutive weeks without work during school holidays each calendar year.
Hours checked 21 October 2026. Sources: GOV.UK child employment; Acas young workers; GOV.UK rest breaks; GOV.UK school-leaving age; GOV.UK night work.
• Pay: minimum £8.00/hour for 16–17 year olds (April 2026 rate). Many weekend employers pay more.

How to get hired, step by step

1
Decide your availability
Write down exactly which weekend hours you can commit to — employers hire 16 year olds for reliability above everything else.
2
Make a one-page CV
List your school, subjects, hobbies, any volunteering and two references (a teacher works). Shine's free CV builder has a first-job template.
3
Apply in person and online
Big chains recruit online; independent cafés and shops respond best to walking in with a CV and asking for the manager. Do both.
4
Follow up after three days
A polite call or visit asking if your application was received doubles your callback rate — almost nobody at 16 does it.
5
Sort NI number and bank account
Your National Insurance number arrives before your 16th birthday. Open a bank account if you don't have one so payroll can pay you.

FAQs

How many hours can a 16 year old work at the weekend?: Once you reach minimum school-leaving age and are under 18: normally up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, in both term time and holidays, including if you continue in sixth form or college. Count hours across all jobs; these limits cannot normally be averaged or opted out of. At 15–16, while still below minimum school-leaving age: up to 12 hours a week in term time (2 on school days and Sundays; 8 on Saturdays), or 35 hours in school holidays (8 on weekdays/Saturdays; 2 on Sundays). No work during school hours or before 7am or after 7pm. Local council rules and permits may add restrictions. The dividing line is minimum school-leaving age, not whether you still attend school, sixth form or college. School-leaving dates differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England you must still stay in education or training until 18; fit work around your course and attendance requirements.
What weekend jobs pay the most at 16?: Tutoring younger pupils pays the most (£10–£20/hour, self-set). Among employed roles, hospitality chains and larger supermarkets often pay £8–£11/hour — above the £8.00 minimum for 16–17 year olds. Refereeing youth sport pays £15–£25 per match once qualified.
Can I get a weekend job with no experience?: Yes — almost all weekend jobs for 16 year olds assume no experience. Supermarkets, fast food, cafés and cinemas train you from scratch. What gets you hired is reliability: say exactly which days you can work, apply in person where possible, and follow up a few days later.
Do I need my parents' permission to work at 16?: No formal parental consent is required in the UK once you're of compulsory school leaving age, but some employers ask for it anyway. You do need a National Insurance number (sent automatically before your 16th birthday) and a bank account for your wages.
Where should I look for weekend jobs near me?: Start with the big recruiters of under-18s: supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Lidl), fast food (McDonald's, KFC), high-street chains (Primark, Boots, JD Sports), cinemas and leisure centres. Shine lists live vacancies open to under-18s near you, filtered by travel time.

Part of Shine's apprenticeship guide series, plain-English answers, updated regularly.

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