The teen summer job market, in numbers
- Fewer summer jobs. Challenger, Gray & Christmas forecast 790,000 teen jobs for May to July 2026, down from 801,000 in 2025 and 1,077,000 in 2024. If the forecast holds, 2026 is the lowest summer since BLS began tracking in 1948 (Challenger, May 20, 2026).
- Fewer leisure jobs announced. Entertainment and leisure employers, which hire many teens, announced 8,261 hiring plans through April 2026, down 70% from a year earlier (Challenger, May 20, 2026).
- But more teens working. In July 2026, 36.5% of 16 to 19 year olds had a job, up from 35.2% in July 2025 (BLS, The Economics Daily, August 26, 2026). One in four employed 16 to 24 year olds worked in leisure and hospitality (BLS, August 20, 2026).
- Still hard to land one. The unemployment rate for 16 to 19 year olds was 14.6% in June 2026 (BLS Employment Situation, July 2, 2026).
What this means: fewer openings and more teens per job. Apply early and follow up in person.
When to apply: the 2027 timeline
Dates are from 2026 announcements. Employers often repeat their timing, so use them as your reminder for 2027.
Scroll horizontally to view every column.
| When | What happened in 2026 | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | Six Flags held a National Hiring Week on February 14 to 22, 2026, aiming to fill more than 50,000 jobs across North America. Six Flags Over Georgia held a hiring fair on February 7 and a fair for 15 year olds on February 8 | City of Arlington, February 6, 2026; Yahoo News, February 2026 |
| January | NC 4-H camps posted summer 2026 staff openings | NC State Extension, January 2026 |
| February to March | Phoenix pools ran $20 lifeguard certification classes, with a March 20 certification deadline and interviews on March 21 | City of Phoenix, February 16, 2026 |
| April to May | Apply before school ends. Challenger warned that teens who wait for summer face more competition and filled slots | Challenger, May 20, 2026 |
| June | The busiest month for teen hiring | Challenger, May 20, 2026 |
| June to August | Spirit Halloween announced more than 52,000 seasonal jobs on June 11, and fall theme park hiring opened at Six Flags Great Adventure by July 31 | Spirit Halloween, June 11, 2026; News 12 New Jersey, July 31, 2026 |
For every season of the year, see the seasonal jobs calendar.
Summer jobs to target
Theme parks and water parks. The biggest summer hirers for teens. Six Flags says all of its parks hire at 16, and some hire 14 and 15 year olds (jobs.sixflags.com, viewed October 21, 2026). Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor Arlington planned more than 1,400 seasonal hires for 2026, with a minimum age of 15 (City of Arlington, February 6, 2026). Roles include rides, games, food, retail and admissions. Apply online before the hiring fair.
Lifeguards and pool staff. Cities hire early because lifeguards need certification first. Phoenix hired more than 200 lifeguards for 2026 and paid a $750 lifeguard bonus and a $1,000 swim instructor bonus (City of Phoenix, February 16, 2026). Green Bay, Wisconsin started lifeguards at $17.69 an hour and was still hiring on May 27, 2026 (City of Green Bay). Start your certification class in February.
Summer camps. Counselor and kitchen jobs at 4-H, city and private camps. NC 4-H posted its summer 2026 openings in January 2026 (NC State Extension). Camps usually fill before school ends, so apply in winter.
Restaurants, grocery and retail. These hire all year, with more shifts in summer. Look at retail jobs with no experience, part-time retail jobs, part-time jobs near me and the best jobs with no experience. Not sure retail fits? Read is retail a good first job.
Late-summer seasonal work. Halloween stores and fall theme park events start hiring in summer. Spirit Halloween takes applications at Work4Spirit.com or by texting REAPER to 85000 (Spirit Halloween, June 11, 2026). Check the minimum age in the posting.
Before you apply: age, hours, permits and pay
Each of these has its own guide, so this page does not repeat them:
- Who hires at your age: jobs that hire at 16 lists employers whose own pages state a minimum age. If you are younger, see jobs for 14 and 15 year olds.
- How many hours you can work: federal limits and state rules are in teen work hours by state.
- Work permits: which states require one and where to get it: work permits for minors by state. Start the form the week you apply.
- Pay: state minimums and youth rates for 2027 are in minimum wage by state. Why your first check is smaller: your first paycheck explained.
How to apply for a summer job
- Apply online first, then visit. Hiring fairs and managers move faster for people who already applied.
- Use a simple resume if asked. Our one-page resume template works with school, activities and volunteer work.
- Prepare two answers: why you want this job, and which hours you can work. Practice with the mock interview or interview prep.
- Bring ID and your work permit form if your state requires one.
- Track every application in the application tracker, and look for local hiring events on job fairs.
- Watch for scams. No real employer charges a fee to apply or asks for your Social Security number before an offer. Reported losses to job scams reached $501 million in 2024 (FTC, March 10, 2025). See job scam warning signs.
Current openings
See retail jobs and retail jobs with no experience required, or by city: retail jobs in Orlando, retail jobs in Dallas.
More retail openings
Current source-linked listings could not be confirmed in this sample. Check the category search and each original posting for availability.
How to verify a listing
Every opening on JobPin links to its source posting. Open it, check the date and the season it is for, and confirm the minimum age and pay on the employer's own site before you give personal information. How we check listings: how JobPin verifies listings.
How JobPin dates and sources listings: How JobPin verifies listings and events. Report a listing.