A first-job guide for teens and entry-level workers in Bartlett: where 16- to 18-year-olds actually get hired around here, what Illinois requires for younger workers, what the pay looks like, and where to find current openings. This page lists where to look — not live openings, which change daily — with links to the real job boards at the bottom.
The single biggest teen employer in town. Seasonal and part-time roles include camp counselors, lifeguards, swim instructors, golf course staff, nature center staff, and before- and after-school program staff. The district employs hundreds of staff and keeps online applications active for a year.
Commercial landscaping companies around Bartlett hire seasonally, mostly in spring — but generally require 18+ because crews run power equipment. Under 18, the realistic path is mowing lawns and doing yard work for neighbors as your own small operation: no permit needed, and regular customers beat one-off gigs.
The classic 18-year-old first job. Families hire sitters directly, so there is no work permit or employer process at any age. A babysitter safety or CPR course plus two or three references from families you have helped will put you ahead of most applicants. Find families through neighbors, school and church networks, and local parent groups.
Most Bartlett-area restaurants hire at 16+. Tipped roles (servers, bussers at sit-down spots) have a lower base wage, but Illinois requires total pay including tips to reach the $15 minimum — if tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference. Fast food and counter service are the most reliable 16-year-old entry points.
Bagging, stocking, and cashier roles at grocery and big-box stores are standard first jobs, usually hiring at 16+. Evening and weekend shifts fit around school, and summer brings extra hours. Apply on each chain's careers site rather than waiting for a sign in the window.
Illinois child-labor law explicitly allows younger teens to work at golf courses, which makes them one of the few options for 14- and 15-year-olds alongside park districts. Roles include caddying, range and bag-room help, and grounds crew support. Bartlett's park district runs local courses — check its employment page first.
Rules summary based on the Illinois Child Labor Law (820 ILCS 205) and Illinois Department of Labor guidance, verified September 2026. When in doubt, the Illinois Department of Labor's child labor page is the authority.
Openings turn over fast — a listing from last week may already be filled. Apply quickly, follow up once, and keep several applications out at the same time.
Yes. Illinois requires an employment certificate (work permit) for all workers under 16. It is issued by the school district superintendent or an authorized agent, the minor applies with a parent or guardian present, and the prospective employer must provide a statement of the job duties, hours, and days. Certificates are generally valid for up to one year and are held by the employer.
Illinois' 2026 minimum wage is $15.00 per hour. Workers under 18 may be paid a youth rate of $13.00 per hour for their first 650 hours in a calendar year; after 650 hours the rate rises to $15.00. Tipped workers have a lower base wage but their total pay including tips must reach the applicable minimum.
Illinois law limits under-16 workers to non-hazardous jobs with restricted hours (3 hours on a school day, 8 hours on a non-school day, between 7 AM and 7 PM, extended to 9 PM in summer). Realistic options include park district and golf course work (explicitly allowed by Illinois law), babysitting, neighborhood lawn mowing, and some retail or food-service roles that accept 14- and 15-year-olds.
Yes. At 18 you are a legal adult, so no Illinois work permit is required. Babysitting and nanny work is typically self-employment: families hire you directly, so there is no employer permit process. A babysitter safety or CPR certification and references from families you have helped before make it much easier to get hired.
Commercial landscaping crews in the Bartlett area hire seasonally, mostly in spring, and generally require workers to be 18 or older because the work involves power equipment. If you are under 18, mowing lawns and doing yard work for neighbors as self-employment is the realistic path. For crew jobs, apply directly to local landscaping companies in March and April before the season starts.
Yes. The Bartlett Park District employs hundreds of seasonal and part-time staff across its parks, pools, golf courses, and programs, and many roles — camp counselors, lifeguards, swim instructors, golf course staff, before- and after-school program staff — are classic first jobs. Applications are submitted online through the district's employment page, and applications stay active for one year.