Are Minors Allowed to Work Full Time? U.S. Rules by Age
Meta description: Find out whether minors can work full time in the United States, including federal age limits, school-day restrictions, hazardous-job rules, and state law differences.
Whether a minor can work full time in the United States depends mainly on age, school attendance, job duties, and state law. Federal rules sharply limit work for children under 16, while 16- and 17-year-olds can generally work unlimited hours in nonhazardous jobs under federal law. State rules may be stricter, and agriculture has separate standards. Understanding these distinctions helps families and employers avoid illegal schedules and prohibited work.
Can Minors Work Full Time?
Some minors can work full time, but there is no single nationwide rule for every person under 18. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most workers younger than 16 face limits on the hours and times they may work in nonagricultural jobs. Federal law generally does not limit the hours of 16- and 17-year-olds, provided their work is not in a federally prohibited hazardous occupation.
That federal baseline is only part of the answer. States can impose stricter limits, such as shorter workdays, later or earlier curfews, additional restrictions during the school year, or work-permit requirements. When federal and state laws both apply, employers generally must follow the rule that gives the young worker greater protection.
“Full time” also does not have one universal legal definition for all U.S. jobs. Employers and benefit programs may use different definitions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics commonly classifies people who usually work 35 or more hours a week as full-time for statistical purposes, but that measure is not a federal youth-work limit.
Federal Work-Hour Rules for Minors
The federal hour limits below apply to most nonagricultural employment covered by the FLSA. They do not replace stricter state requirements or special rules for certain jobs and circumstances.
| Age | Federal rule for most nonagricultural jobs |
|---|---|
| Under 14 | Generally may not be employed in covered nonagricultural jobs, subject to limited exceptions. |
| 14–15 | May work only within specific daily, weekly, and time-of-day limits. |
| 16–17 | No federal limit on work hours, but hazardous occupations are generally prohibited. |
| 18 and older | Federal child-labor restrictions no longer apply. |
Workers Under 14
Most children under 14 may not be employed in nonagricultural jobs covered by federal child-labor law. Exceptions can include certain work for a parent-owned business, acting, newspaper delivery, and some casual work such as babysitting or performing minor chores around a private home. Each exception has specific conditions; it does not create a general right to take an ordinary job.
Work in a business owned by a parent is not automatically allowed in every circumstance. Federal law restricts children under 16 from working in manufacturing, mining, or occupations declared hazardous, even when a parent owns the business. State law may also impose additional limits.
Workers Ages 14 and 15
For most covered nonagricultural jobs, 14- and 15-year-olds may work:
- When school is in session: Up to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week.
- When school is not in session: Up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours in a week.
- During permitted hours: Generally between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The evening limit extends to 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day.
These are federal maximums, not guaranteed schedules. A state may permit fewer hours or require the young person to stop working earlier. School-day rules can also depend on how the law defines a school week or school day, so employers should check the applicable state requirements.
Federal law allows 14- and 15-year-olds to do only certain types of work. Permitted jobs can include many retail, food-service, and office tasks, subject to detailed restrictions. They generally cannot operate or clean power-driven machinery, bake, perform most cooking tasks, work in a freezer or meat-processing area, or take on other prohibited duties. A job title alone does not determine whether the actual tasks are legal.
Workers Ages 16 and 17
Under federal law, 16- and 17-year-olds may generally work any number of hours in a nonagricultural job that is not classified as hazardous for minors. This means a 17-year-old may be able to work a full-time schedule under federal law, even during a school term. However, state law can set stricter hour limits, particularly for school nights or younger teens.
Federal law prohibits workers under 18 from specified hazardous occupations, regardless of whether the job is full time. Prohibited work can involve certain power-driven machinery, roofing, excavation, logging, meat processing, and driving as part of the job. The Department of Labor identifies 17 Hazardous Occupations Orders for nonagricultural work. Some narrow exceptions exist, but they are not broad permission to assign dangerous tasks.
Agricultural Jobs Have Different Rules
Federal child-labor standards for agriculture differ from those for most other jobs. They generally allow younger children to perform certain farm work under conditions tied to age, school hours, parental consent, and whether the farm is covered by the FLSA. For example, federal rules generally allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work outside school hours on farms, while 12- and 13-year-olds may work outside school hours with written parental consent or on a farm where a parent is employed.
Federal agricultural rules generally prohibit employment in hazardous farm occupations for workers under 16, with exceptions including work on a farm owned or operated by a parent. Different limits and exceptions can apply to small farms and other situations. State laws may be stricter, and agricultural work can carry significant safety risks. Employers should review the specific federal and state rules before assigning duties or setting hours.
Farm work is not automatically exempt from every child-labor requirement. Coverage depends on the employer, the work, and the relevant statutory exceptions. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division provides guidance on agricultural employment, but a specific arrangement may require a careful review of the law.
State Laws Can Change the Answer
A minor who can work full time under federal law may still face stricter limits under state law. States may regulate the number of hours minors can work, the hours of the day they may work, and the amount of rest required. Some rules vary according to age, whether school is in session, the type of work, or the number of days worked in a week.
States also differ on employment certificates, often called work permits, and age certificates. A state may require a minor to obtain paperwork before starting work, even when federal law does not require that document. In other states, employers must keep particular records or follow a defined process for verifying age. School districts or state labor agencies may help families locate the right forms.
For an accurate answer, the employer and family should check the U.S. Department of Labor’s state child-labor law resources and the labor department website for the state where the job will take place. If state and federal requirements differ, following only the less restrictive rule can put the employer in violation.
What Counts as a School Day or Workweek?
Scheduling questions can depend on details that are easy to overlook. Federal rules for 14- and 15-year-olds distinguish school days from days when school is not in session. A school week may include weeks when school is in session for part of the week, and state laws may define the terms differently. Employers should not assume a holiday, remote-learning day, or school break automatically changes every applicable limit.
The weekly cap concerns the total hours worked across covered jobs, not simply the hours at one workplace. Employers should ask about other work when necessary to ensure a minor is not scheduled beyond a legal maximum. Accurate time records are especially important when a young person has more than one employer or works changing shifts.
Work Permits, Records, and Employer Responsibilities
Federal law does not require every minor to obtain a work permit, but state or local rules may. The required process may involve a school, parent or guardian, employer, or state agency. A job offer does not override a legal restriction, and a permit cannot authorize work that federal or state law prohibits.
Employers should verify the worker’s age, identify the rules that apply to the actual job duties, and create a schedule that meets all relevant limits. They should also keep required time and payroll records, train supervisors, and prevent minors from being assigned restricted tasks. Families can ask for a written schedule and a clear description of the duties before a young person starts work.
Federal child-labor protections generally apply even when a minor is paid informally or works part time. Calling a worker an independent contractor does not by itself remove legal obligations; the actual working relationship matters. Employers that violate child-labor rules may face civil penalties, and serious violations can bring additional consequences.
Practical Examples
A 15-Year-Old Seeking a Summer Job
Under federal rules, a 15-year-old may generally work up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week when school is not in session, during the permitted time window. The young person must still be assigned only work allowed for that age, and state law may set stricter limits or require a work permit.
A 17-Year-Old Working During the School Year
Federal law generally does not cap a 17-year-old’s hours in a nonhazardous, nonagricultural job. But state rules may restrict late-night work or the number of hours on school days. A schedule that is federally permissible is not necessarily legal in every state.
A Teen Working on a Farm
A farm job must be evaluated under agricultural child-labor standards, not simply the rules for a retail or restaurant job. Age, school hours, parental involvement, the farm’s coverage, state law, and the assigned tasks can all affect whether the work is permitted.
How to Check Whether a Schedule Is Legal
- Confirm the worker’s age. Different rules apply to workers under 14, ages 14–15, ages 16–17, and adults.
- Identify the type of work. Agricultural and nonagricultural jobs have different federal standards.
- Review the actual duties. A permitted job title does not make a prohibited task legal.
- Count total hours and check work times. Include all applicable jobs and consider school-day, school-week, and curfew rules.
- Check both federal and state requirements. Look for hour limits, hazardous-work rules, and permit or recordkeeping requirements.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division administers federal child-labor provisions and provides resources through Child Labor and state child-labor law guidance. Its youth-focused website, YouthRules!, offers information for young workers, parents, and employers. State labor agencies can clarify local requirements.
Key Takeaway
Minors may be allowed to work full time, but age and job type determine whether that is legal. Federal law generally limits 14- and 15-year-olds to shorter schedules in most nonagricultural jobs. It generally allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work unlimited hours in nonhazardous jobs, but state rules may be stricter. Agricultural work follows different standards, and hazardous occupations remain off-limits to many workers under 18. A legal schedule requires checking all applicable rules, not just the federal baseline.