Summer Jobs for teens

Jobs you can/can not take between the ages of 14 to 17 & the rules

There are many reasons a teenager might want a summer job starting around the ages of 14 - 17. Some reasons people can think of would include purchasing new clothes, shoes, electronics such as a new phone or game machine, spending money for hanging out with friends, potentially saving up for a car or buying gas for the car they have. Dr. Mary L Gavin believes teenagers should look for a summer job to help in different ways. In her article written for Kids Health, “5 Reasons to Look for a Summer Job” she says the process of trying to get the job might even outweigh having one. It will help develop interview skills which is something everyone will need in the future. It might help teens get better at coping with rejection. Dr. Gavin says the more a person faces rejection, the easier it is to bounce back from it. You might learn something about yourself, a new skill or interest for example. It will definitely help get you out of your comfort zone. Then of course it will help build self confidence.

With the summer months just around the corner it’s time to start planning what to do with our time off. Even if you are one of the kids looking for a summer job, you may find you are not old enough to work at your favorite fast food restaurant. The state of Arkansas has many laws or rules for children within the ages of 16 to 17 when it comes to working. Some include not being allowed to work before 6am or to work more than 10 hours per day or 54 hours per week during the summer, according to the University of Arkansas’s website on child labor, (Arkansas Labor Laws). Then if you are a little younger teen, (14 to 15 years), a permit is required to work which is issued by the Arkansas Department of Labor. As stated on the website:

They can NOT work before 7am or later than 9pm during the summer.

They can NOT work with heavy machinery or gasses.

They can NOT work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week during the summer. They can NOT work more than 18 hours per week, 3 hours per day or after 7pm during school days/nights.

In Saline County, if you are under the age of 16, you might consider babysitting for friends or family, mowing yards for neighbors and elderly, working at a camp such as Family Farm or Brookhill Ranch, delivering newspapers or possibly as a lifeguard. (a lifeguard has to be certified by the American Red Cross).

Once teens are 16 and up, the world or Saline County, is their playground. Magic Springs hires just for the summer, Camp Bow Wow will hire you to play with the dogs, Crumbl Cookie needs cooks and salespeople, the various car washes around will hire you, the grocery stores will hire you to stock shelves, and so many more places. The movie theater seems to be a favorite summer job location for teens in the area, Freddy’s, Dunkin Donuts, and Hobby Lobby are always hiring.

Regardless of what you decide to do with your summer break, hang out by the pool or get a job, it is just a matter of time before we all get those first jobs. Remember how Walt Disney put it, “Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.”