Part-time jobs for students in the USA: rules and pay

Facts checked on 11 October 2026

Who may work, and how much

US citizens and permanent residents

Federal law puts no limit on the hours a worker aged 16 or over may work, and being a student changes nothing. Some states have their own rules for workers under 18. If you qualify for financial aid, ask about Federal Work-Study: part-time jobs, mostly on campus, for students with financial need. You apply through the FAFSA and your school's financial aid office arranges the work.

International students in F-1 status

Kind of work	What is allowed
On campus	Up to 20 hours a week in total while school is in session; full-time during official breaks and your annual vacation. No separate work permit is needed.
Off campus	Only with authorisation obtained before you start. Usually you must first have completed one full academic year.

The routes to off-campus work are:

Curricular Practical Training (CPT): an internship or job that is part of your programme, authorised by your school's designated school official (DSO) on your Form I-20.
Optional Practical Training (OPT): work related to your field of study. Before you finish your programme it is limited to 20 hours a week while school is in session. You need an approved Form I-765 and the employment card in your hand before you start.
Severe economic hardship: for unforeseen financial trouble, on your DSO's recommendation and with approval from USCIS.

Students in J-1 status may work up to 20 hours a week, except during official breaks, and only with written approval from their programme sponsor beforehand.

Working without authorisation is a violation of F-1 status and can end your stay. A restaurant or shop job off campus is not allowed just because the employer is willing to hire you. The rules on student status were also being revised and challenged in court during 2026, so ask your DSO before you accept any job: they have the current position for your school.

What you must be paid

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and has not changed since 2009. Most states, and many cities, set a higher one, and where two rates apply you get the higher. Some examples from the Department of Labor's list, in force in 2026:

State	Minimum per hour
Washington	$17.13
New York (New York City, Long Island, Westchester)	$17.00
California	$16.90
New York (rest of the state)	$16.00
Texas	$7.25

In jobs where you receive tips, federal law lets an employer pay a cash wage of $2.13 an hour as long as your tips bring you up to the full minimum. Many states do not allow this or set a higher figure. Look up your own state on the Department of Labor's page, which is linked below.

Before your first shift

A Social Security number. F-1 students apply after getting a job offer. You need a letter from your DSO, a letter from the employer giving the start date and hours, your passport, your I-94 record and your Form I-20. The application is not processed more than 30 days before the job starts.
Form I-9. Every employee completes Section 1 by the first day of work, and shows the employer documents proving identity and permission to work within three business days.
Form W-4. This tells your employer how much federal income tax to hold back from your pay.

Taxes in brief

Income tax is taken from each pay cheque according to your W-4, and you settle up by filing a return after the end of the year. For the 2026 tax year the standard deduction for a single person is $16,100, so a US student who earns less than that in the year usually gets the withheld federal income tax back.
International students are usually non-resident for tax purposes and generally cannot use the standard deduction. A tax treaty gives students from India an exception. Your school's international office can usually point you to a tax-filing service for non-residents.
Social Security and Medicare tax (FICA): F-1 and J-1 students who are non-resident for tax are generally exempt on authorised work for their first five calendar years. Students who work for the school where they study are exempt too.

Where student jobs are advertised

Your school's student employment office lists on-campus jobs: libraries, dining halls, labs, residence halls, the recreation centre, research and teaching assistant posts. For F-1 students this is the place to start.
Handshake, the careers platform that many universities give their students access to, carries part-time jobs and internships from employers that want students.
USAJOBS Pathways lists paid internships with the federal government for current students.
Employers' own careers pages and job boards for work off campus. Among 16 to 24 year-olds with a job in July 2026, a quarter worked in leisure and hospitality and almost a fifth in retail.

Timing: shops and delivery firms build up their holiday-season staff from October to December and recruit before that. Summer jobs peak in July and are advertised in spring.

Finding them without checking every site

Jobofinder can do the looking. Set up one search:

Choose "Any part-time job", or type a job title such as barista or front desk.
Choose United States, type your town, and say how far you can travel.
Add the careers pages of employers near you that you would like to work for.

New jobs reach you every morning and evening with a link. If you are in F-1 status, remember that an off-campus job in the list is only open to you with authorisation; use the search for on-campus employers and for internships you can do under CPT or OPT.

Common questions

Can F-1 students work in the USA?

Yes, on campus: up to 20 hours a week while school is in session and full-time during official breaks. Work off campus always needs authorisation first, through Curricular Practical Training, Optional Practical Training or, in cases of severe economic hardship, approval from USCIS.

What is the minimum wage for students in the US?

The federal minimum wage is 7.25 dollars an hour, but most students are covered by a higher state or city rate. In 2026 the state minimum is 16.90 dollars in California and 17.13 dollars in Washington, for example. The higher rate always applies.

Do international students need a Social Security number to work?

Yes. An F-1 student can apply once they have a job offer, with a letter from the school's designated school official and a letter from the employer. The Social Security Administration does not process the application more than 30 days before the job starts.

What is Federal Work-Study?

A federal aid programme that provides part-time jobs for students with financial need. You apply through the FAFSA, and your school's financial aid office runs it. It is for US citizens and eligible non-citizens, not for F-1 students.

Official sources

Rules and rates change. These pages have the final word, and this guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice.

Part-time jobs for students in the United States