Your first job at 16 or 17: your rights, your pay and what to expect
6 minute read · 2026-10-08
Once you are over school leaving age and under 18, the law calls you a young worker, and you get extra protection: shorter maximum hours, longer breaks and limits on night work. You are also entitled to at least £8.00 an hour, paid holiday and a written statement of your terms from your first day.
When you can start full time work
In England and Wales you can leave school on the last Friday in June if you will be 16 by the end of the summer holidays. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own dates; GOV.UK sets them out.
In England you must stay in some form of education or training until 18. That does not have to be school or college: an apprenticeship counts, and so does working or volunteering 20 hours or more a week while doing part time education or training. So a full time job with no training attached is not an option in England until you turn 18, but a job with day release or a part time course is.
Your hours and breaks
Under the Working Time Regulations, a young worker:
- cannot normally work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week, and cannot opt out of this limit;
- gets a 30 minute break if the shift is longer than four and a half hours;
- gets 12 hours' rest between working days and 48 hours' rest each week.
If you have two jobs, the hours are added together. There are narrow exceptions for emergencies, but "we are short staffed this weekend" is not one of them. GOV.UK: rest breaks for young workers.
Night work
At 16 or 17 you usually cannot work between 10pm and 6am (your contract can move this to 11pm to 7am), and you cannot work between midnight and 4am at all, except in a short list of situations. Some sectors, such as hotels, catering, retail, hospitals and newspaper or post delivery, can use young workers later in certain circumstances, but the employer has to supervise you and give you rest to make up for it. GOV.UK: night work for young workers.
Your pay
| Your age (from 1 April 2026) | Minimum hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | £8.00 |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 |
| 21 and over | £12.71 |
| Apprentice (under 19, or in the first year) | £8.00 |
The rate goes up on your birthday, from the next pay period, not just when your employer gets round to it. Every payslip must show your pay before and after deductions. Our guide to the minimum wage and your payslip shows how to check it.
You get the same paid holiday as adults: 5.6 weeks a year, which is 28 days for a five day week (pro rata if you work fewer days). You may also get statutory sick pay.
Your National Insurance number
Most people receive a letter with their National Insurance number shortly before their 16th birthday. Keep it safe; your employer needs it for tax. If you never received one, you can apply on GOV.UK, and you can usually start work while you wait as long as you can prove your right to work.
Health and safety
Your employer must look at the risks of the job specifically for young workers (inexperience, strength, not yet knowing what "normal" looks like) before you start. Some machinery, chemicals and heavy lifting are restricted. You should get proper training and never be left to work out dangerous equipment on your own. If something feels unsafe, saying so is not being difficult.
What the first week is really like
Expect to feel slow. Everyone does. You will be shown a lot and remember a quarter of it, so carry a notebook or use your phone's notes. Turn up ten minutes early, ask when you are unsure rather than guessing, and do not be on your phone on the shop floor or the line. Our guide to the first week in a new job has the full list of what managers notice.
If you do not have a CV yet, our guide to a CV with no experience shows how to fill a page with school, clubs, volunteering and part time work.
Red flags at 16
- Being paid cash with no payslip.
- "Unpaid trial shifts" that last more than a short, genuine look at whether you can do the job.
- Being asked to pay for a uniform, training or a "starter pack" before you start.
- Being told you are "not old enough" for holiday pay or breaks.
If any of those happen, talk to a parent, carer, teacher or ACAS. Their helpline is free and confidential.
What to do next
- Look for jobs and apprenticeships near you with the pay shown.
- Check your first payslip against the table above.
- Keep your written statement of terms and your payslips in one folder.
This is general information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ACAS (0300 123 1100) is free.
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