Child Employment Laws for Young Minors: Jobs, Hours, and Regulations

Meta description: Learn which jobs young minors can do in the U.S., how federal child labor laws limit work hours, and why state rules and permits matter.

For young people, a first job can build skills and independence—but age, job duties, work hours, and school schedules all affect what is legal. In the United States, federal child employment laws set baseline rules, while states can impose stricter protections. The rules also differ for agricultural work and certain family or entertainment jobs. Understanding those distinctions helps young workers, parents, and employers identify appropriate jobs and avoid violations.

How Child Employment Laws Work in the United States

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum-age rules, limits on the hours and times certain minors can work, and restrictions on hazardous occupations. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division enforces these federal requirements.

State laws may be more protective. A state can set a higher minimum age, restrict additional occupations, require work permits, or limit hours more than federal law does. When federal and state rules differ, employers generally must follow the rule that gives the young worker greater protection. Local requirements may also apply.

Coverage depends on factors such as the employer, type of work, and whether the job is agricultural. Some activities and family arrangements are treated differently under the law. Therefore, a job that is permitted for one young person may not be legal for another person of the same age in a different setting.

Minimum Age for Common Nonagricultural Jobs

For most nonagricultural employment covered by the FLSA, the general minimum age is 14. This includes many jobs in retail, restaurants, offices, and recreation businesses. However, being old enough to work does not mean a minor may perform every task at a workplace. Age-specific hour limits and prohibited-duty rules still apply.

Children younger than 14 generally cannot be employed in covered, nonagricultural jobs, subject to specific exemptions. Examples of activities that may qualify for an exemption include certain acting or performing work, casual babysitting, and minor chores around a private home. The details matter: a regular job at a business is not automatically an exempt household task.

Federal law also provides a newspaper-delivery exemption and special rules for some workers employed by their parents. These exemptions are limited, and they do not necessarily remove state requirements or hazardous-work protections. Families and employers should check the relevant federal and state rules rather than assume that a family connection makes a job exempt.

Jobs Commonly Available to 14- and 15-Year-Olds

Fourteen- and 15-year-olds can work in certain nonhazardous jobs outside school hours. Permitted work may include cashiering, stocking shelves, bagging groceries, office tasks, and some food-service duties. In restaurants, they may perform limited cooking or food preparation when the specific task is allowed and does not involve prohibited equipment or conditions.

Federal rules also permit some work in recreation and entertainment, such as certain roles at sports facilities, amusement parks, or camps. Whether a particular duty is legal depends on the work itself—not just the employer’s business category. For example, operating equipment or working at a restricted height may be prohibited even when other duties at the same workplace are allowed.

Federal rules prohibit 14- and 15-year-olds from working in manufacturing, mining, and many processing occupations. They also restrict tasks involving power-driven machinery, most baking, loading or unloading goods from certain vehicles, and work on ladders or scaffolding. The Department of Labor’s youth employment guidance provides a detailed list of permitted duties and prohibited work.

Employers should define a young worker’s responsibilities clearly and ensure the worker is not asked to cover duties outside the permitted scope. A job title such as “crew member” or “assistant” does not determine legality; the actual tasks, equipment, and work setting do.

Federal Work-Hour Limits for 14- and 15-Year-Olds

Federal law places firm limits on the hours and times 14- and 15-year-olds may work in nonagricultural jobs. During a school week, they may work no more than 18 hours total and no more than three hours on a school day. On a day when school is not in session, the daily limit is eight hours.

When school is not in session for the entire week, the federal limit is 40 hours. A minor’s schedule must also fall within permitted times: generally, work may take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. During the period from June 1 through Labor Day, the evening limit extends to 9 p.m. These rules apply regardless of whether the work is full-time, part-time, or seasonal.

These are federal ceilings, not guaranteed schedules. State law may set tighter limits, and employers may choose to schedule fewer hours. Parents and young workers should also consider school attendance, rest, and any state rules governing breaks.

Rules for 16- and 17-Year-Old Workers

Under federal law, 16- and 17-year-olds may generally work unlimited hours in nonagricultural jobs. That does not mean they may perform every kind of work. Federal hazardous-occupation orders prohibit workers under 18 from specific tasks and industries, including many jobs involving power-driven machinery, roofing, excavation, and certain types of driving.

The hazardous-work restrictions apply even when a minor has parental permission or is working outside school hours. Some narrow exceptions exist—for example, certain approved training programs—but an employer cannot create an exception simply by providing informal instruction. State law may also restrict hours or require additional safeguards for older minors.

Agricultural Jobs Have Different Minimum-Age Rules

Farm work is governed by distinct federal child labor provisions. In general, children may work in agriculture at younger ages than they may in most nonfarm businesses, but the rules depend on age, school attendance, parental consent, and the size or ownership of the farm.

As a general federal framework, children under 12 may work on certain small farms or under specific parental-consent arrangements. At ages 12 and 13, agricultural employment outside school hours may be allowed with written parental consent or when a parent is employed on the same farm. At 14 and older, federal law generally allows agricultural work outside school hours, subject to restrictions on hazardous tasks and any stricter state requirements.

Most agricultural work declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor is prohibited for workers under 16. There are limited exceptions, including certain tasks on a farm owned or operated by a parent and some supervised student-learner arrangements. Because farm hazards can include machinery, chemicals, livestock, and heat exposure, the exact task and setting should be checked before work begins.

Work Permits, Age Certificates, and Employer Duties

Federal law does not require every minor to obtain a work permit, but many states do. Depending on the location, a young worker may need an employment certificate, age certificate, or school-issued work permit before starting. The process may involve a parent or guardian, the school, and the employer.

Employers must comply with applicable age, hour, and job-duty restrictions, and should verify a minor’s age when required. They should keep accurate records of hours and ensure supervisors understand which duties are allowed. Parents can help by reviewing the schedule and job description, but parental approval does not override a legal prohibition.

Before accepting a job, a young worker can ask the employer to explain the duties, work schedule, equipment involved, and any required permit. If the job changes or adds new tasks, the original approval may no longer be sufficient. The employer should reassess whether the new duties comply with youth employment rules.

Pay Rules for Young Workers

Minimum wage requirements generally apply to young employees. Under federal law, employers may pay eligible workers under 20 a youth minimum wage of $4.25 per hour during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment. This is an option, not a requirement, and it cannot be used to displace another worker or reduce another employee’s hours to hire a youth worker at the lower rate.

States and local governments may require higher wages or may restrict use of the federal youth wage. Other wage rules—such as overtime requirements—can also depend on the job and applicable law. Employers should check current federal, state, and local requirements before setting a minor’s pay rate.

How to Check Whether a Job Is Legal

Because child employment laws vary by age, task, and location, a practical review should cover more than the job title. The following checks help identify issues before a minor starts work:

• Confirm the worker’s age and whether the job is agricultural or nonagricultural.
• List the actual duties, including equipment use, food preparation, deliveries, and work at heights.
• Compare the schedule with federal limits and any stricter state rules, including school-week and evening limits.
• Check permit requirements with the state labor department or school district.
• Review hazardous-work restrictions, especially for machinery, construction, driving, and farm tasks.
• Confirm wage requirements at federal, state, and local levels.

For federal guidance, the Department of Labor maintains resources on youth employment rules and nonagricultural child labor provisions. Its agricultural employment guidance explains the separate farm-work framework. State labor agencies can clarify local permits, stricter hour limits, and additional prohibited occupations.