What is the youngest age you can legally work in the UK?

13 is the youngest age you can legally take on paid part-time work in most of the UK, and you will need a work permit issued by your local council. There are strict limits on the type of work, the hours and when you can do them. Some activities - babysitting, dog walking, tutoring or your own online side hustle - do not count as formal employment and are allowed earlier.

How many hours can a 14 year old work in the UK?

During term-time, 13 and 14 year olds can work a maximum of 12 hours per week - up to 2 hours on a school day and Sunday, and up to 5 hours on a Saturday. During school holidays the limit is 25 hours per week (5 hours per day). You must have at least 2 weeks of the summer completely work-free.

How many hours can a 15 or 16 year old work in the UK?

15 and 16 year olds of compulsory school age can work up to 12 hours per week in term time (up to 2 hours on a school day/Sunday, up to 8 hours on a Saturday) and up to 35 hours per week in the holidays (up to 8 hours per day). Once you have finished Year 11 you are no longer of compulsory school age and adult working rules apply.

Do teenagers pay tax in the UK?

Everyone in the UK - including under-18s - gets a personal tax-free allowance of £12,570 per year (2025-26). Almost no teenager earns more than that from part-time work, so most pay zero income tax. National Insurance kicks in only if you earn over £242 in a single week. Self-employed teens must register with HMRC once profit exceeds £1,000 in a tax year.

What is the minimum wage for teenagers in the UK?

From April 2026 the UK National Minimum Wage for under-18s (school leaving age up to 17) is £7.55 per hour. 16 and 17 year olds are entitled to this rate. Under 16 there is no legal minimum; part-time work at 13-15 is usually paid £4-£7 per hour depending on the job.

What jobs can a 13 year old do in the UK?

Common legal jobs for 13 year olds in the UK include: paper rounds and leaflet delivery, dog walking, car washing, gardening, babysitting siblings, tutoring, market stall helper, farm work with restrictions, and their own online side hustle - selling art, prints, digital downloads, baked goods or crafts.

What jobs can a 16 year old do in the UK?

At 16 you can do most jobs an adult can. Popular UK options include supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Lidl), fashion and beauty retail (Primark, Boots, JD Sports), hospitality (McDonald's, Costa, Greggs, Nando's), cinemas, leisure centres, warehouse work, delivery and apprenticeships. Some sectors - alcohol service, betting, dangerous machinery - remain restricted until 18.

What if I can't get a job? Can I earn money on my own?

Yes - often faster than a Saturday job. UK teens are increasingly using micro-side-hustles: MyPocketSkill for 13-18s, reselling on Vinted or Depop, tutoring locally, or building a small product to sell. This is enterprise activity, not employment, so the strict work permit rules don't apply in the same way. We Can Be's free tools help you find and price your first idea in an afternoon.

Jobs for Teenagers UK: Legal Work for 13, 14, 15 & 16 Year Olds (2026)

By Kim Loudon · 3 July 2026 · 14 min read · Category: For Teens

In the UK, 13 is the youngest age you can legally take on paid part-time work, and a council-issued work permit is required. Hours are capped at 12/week in term time and 25-35/week in the holidays depending on age. At 16, the National Minimum Wage of £7.55/hr (April 2026) kicks in and most restrictions relax. If you cannot find a formal job, you can start earning through your own side hustle at almost any age.

The UK law in plain English

Under 13: no paid employment. 13-15: light work only, with a free local-council work permit arranged by the employer. 16-17: most jobs open, NMW applies, but you must remain in some form of education or training until 18. Always banned under 18: alcohol sales, betting, dangerous machinery, working past 10pm.

Hours, pay and permits

Term-time: max 12 hours a week (2 on a school day/Sunday, 5 Sat for 13-14, 8 Sat for 15-16). Holidays: 25/week (13-14) or 35/week (15-16). Pay: under 16 typically £4-£7/hr, 16-17 NMW £7.55/hr. All teens get the £12,570 tax-free personal allowance so most pay zero income tax.

Jobs by age

13: paper round, dog walking, babysitting, car washing, gardening, own online mini-business. 14: add market stall, tutoring, back-of-house café. 15: shop assistant, sports coaching assistant, farm work, serious online business. 16: supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi), fashion retail (Primark, Boots), hospitality (McDonald's, Costa, Greggs), cinemas, warehouse, apprenticeships, freelance.

Where to find UK teen jobs

Local first (13-16): Nextdoor, community Facebook groups, walk-in independents. Teen-specific: MyPocketSkill (13-18), Fiver Challenge, Tutorful. Mainstream (16+): Indeed UK, Reed, Find an Apprenticeship on GOV.UK, Apprentago, urfuture. Careers advice: National Careers Service, Barclays LifeSkills, The Mix.

If you can't get hired: start your own thing

Enterprise is often the fastest route to your first £. Use the We Can Be AI Idea Machine to generate UK-friendly ideas, then read 'how to make money as a teenager in the UK' and 'from side hustle to real business'. Browse 200+ British female founder role models who started with less than you.