What Age Can You Get a Job in Indiana? Minimum Ages, Hours, and Rules

In Indiana, most young people can start a nonagricultural job at age 14. The work they may do, the hours they may work, and the records employers must keep depend on the worker’s age and whether school is in session. Indiana no longer requires youth work permits, but employers generally must register their minor employees. Federal child labor laws also apply, and stricter rules take precedence. Here is how the main requirements work.

Minimum Age to Work in Indiana

For most jobs in Indiana, the minimum age is 14. This applies to many common entry-level positions, such as cashier, grocery clerk, restaurant worker, and some office or retail roles. A job must still be suitable for the worker’s age, and employers must follow state and federal restrictions on duties and schedules.

There are limited exceptions for certain kinds of work. For example, federal law allows children to do some jobs outside standard employment, such as casual babysitting, perform in entertainment, or perform minor chores around a private home. Rules for newspaper delivery and family businesses can also differ. These exceptions are narrow: they do not give a young person permission to do every kind of work or to ignore hazardous-occupation rules.

Agricultural work has separate age rules. Depending on the task, the employer, parental consent, and whether school is in session, some children younger than 14 may be permitted to do certain farm work. Other agricultural tasks have minimum-age limits or are prohibited for minors. Families and employers should check the U.S. Department of Labor’s agricultural child labor rules before arranging farm employment.

Indiana Work Permit and Employer Registration Rules

Indiana does not require minors to obtain a traditional work permit. The state eliminated work permits for youth employment in 2021. A young worker generally does not need a school-issued permit or a separate state work authorization before starting a job.

Instead, Indiana requires employers that hire minors to use the state’s Youth Employment System (YES) to register and manage youth-employment information. This is an employer responsibility, not an application the minor must complete to receive a work permit. Employers should consult the Indiana Department of Labor for current registration deadlines, reporting steps, and recordkeeping requirements.

The absence of a work permit does not remove the employer’s legal duties. Employers remain responsible for confirming a minor’s age, assigning lawful tasks, following applicable hour limits, and maintaining required records. A school or employer may ask for proof of age, such as a birth certificate or other acceptable document, even though Indiana does not issue a general youth work permit.

Work Hours for 14- and 15-Year-Olds

Federal law places strict limits on when and how long 14- and 15-year-olds may work in nonagricultural jobs. Indiana employers must follow the applicable state and federal requirements. The general federal limits are:

• When school is in session: No more than 3 hours on a school day or 18 hours in a school week.
• When school is not in session: No more than 8 hours on a nonschool day or 40 hours in a nonschool week.
• Permitted time of day: Generally, work may take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• Summer evening extension: From June 1 through Labor Day, the permitted evening cutoff is generally extended to 9 p.m.

These are maximums, not guaranteed schedules. An employer may set shorter shifts, and a school or other applicable rule may affect scheduling. The limits apply to the total time the minor works, so a second job does not create a separate allowance for additional hours.

The federal rules generally exclude meal periods from hours worked when the employee is completely relieved of duties. Short breaks and time spent working usually count as work time. Employers should track actual hours rather than relying on a planned schedule if shifts run late or duties continue after the scheduled end time.

Work Hours for 16- and 17-Year-Olds

At age 16, a worker can generally work more hours than a 14- or 15-year-old under federal nonagricultural child labor rules. Federal law does not set a daily or weekly hour limit for 16- and 17-year-olds. Indiana’s rules and any applicable workplace policies should still be checked, especially when a schedule could interfere with school attendance or other legal requirements.

Age 16 does not mean every job or task is permitted. Federal law still bars workers under 18 from certain hazardous occupations. A teenager may be allowed to work a long shift in an otherwise lawful role, for example, but may not operate prohibited machinery or perform other restricted duties.

Employers should distinguish between a job title and the tasks actually performed. A teenager working in a restaurant, for instance, may be allowed to perform many ordinary duties but prohibited from using particular power-driven equipment. The rules can depend on the equipment, the work setting, and whether a specific legal exception applies.

Jobs Minors May and May Not Do

Common jobs for workers ages 14 and 15

Young teenagers may work in many nonhazardous retail, food service, office, and service jobs. Typical permitted duties can include stocking shelves by hand, cashiering, bagging groceries, some kitchen preparation, and office tasks. The exact task matters: a minor’s permission to work at a business does not automatically allow use of every machine or participation in every activity there.

For example, federal rules restrict 14- and 15-year-olds from most cooking duties involving open flames or certain hot surfaces, and from operating or cleaning many power-driven machines. They also generally cannot work in manufacturing, mining, construction, or other occupations designated as hazardous. Employers should refer to the U.S. Department of Labor’s permitted-occupation guidance rather than assume a task is allowed because it is common in the industry.

Hazardous work prohibited for most employees under 18

Federal law prohibits most workers under 18 from employment in occupations the U.S. Department of Labor has classified as hazardous. Examples include certain work involving:

• Power-driven woodworking, metal-forming, or paper-processing machines.
• Meat-processing equipment, including certain power-driven meat slicers and commercial mixers.
• Roofing, excavation, demolition, and many construction activities.
• Driving as part of the job, with only limited exceptions for some 17-year-olds.
• Explosives, radioactive materials, or certain mining operations.

This list is not exhaustive. A hazardous-occupation order may cover particular equipment or duties even when the broader workplace seems safe. Some exceptions exist, such as specific student-learner or apprenticeship arrangements, but they have detailed conditions. Employers should verify the applicable rule before assigning a minor to restricted work.

How School Attendance Affects a Minor’s Job

For 14- and 15-year-olds, school schedules directly affect federal work-hour limits. A day when school is in session can trigger the three-hour daily maximum, while a nonschool day may allow a longer shift, subject to the weekly cap and permitted work hours. School calendars, holidays, and summer vacation can therefore change the schedule an employer may offer.

Work must not replace a young person’s required education. Indiana’s compulsory-attendance rules apply independently of child labor law, and employers should not assume that a minor’s age or job automatically excuses school attendance. Questions about attendance, graduation, or alternative education should be directed to the school or the relevant Indiana education authority.

In practice, families and employers can prevent scheduling problems by sharing the school calendar, documenting the minor’s availability, and reviewing the schedule whenever school is in session. A schedule that was lawful during summer may need to change when classes resume.

What Employers and Families Should Check Before a Minor Starts

A short review before the first shift can help avoid violations. Employers should identify the worker’s age, determine whether the job is agricultural or nonagricultural, and check the tasks—not just the position title—against state and federal restrictions. They should also confirm the permitted schedule, complete applicable YES registration, and keep accurate employment records.

Families can ask for a clear description of the duties, the expected hours, and the name of the supervisor. For workers under 16, it is especially important to confirm that the schedule fits the school calendar and the federal daily and weekly limits. A young person should tell a supervisor if assigned equipment or duties seem different from those agreed upon.

Federal child labor rules do not necessarily apply in the same way to every employer or situation, and specific exceptions may exist. Because the rules can change and depend on the facts, employers should consult the Indiana Department of Labor or the U.S. Department of Labor when a task or schedule is uncertain.

Quick Guide to Indiana Minimum Working Ages

Reliable Sources for Indiana Youth Employment Rules

Because child labor requirements can involve both state and federal law, official sources are the best place to confirm a particular job or schedule. The Indiana Department of Labor provides state youth-employment information and access to the Youth Employment System. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division explains federal child labor rules, including work-hour limits, hazardous occupations, and agricultural employment.

For a specific question, the key facts are the worker’s age, the exact duties, the industry, whether school is in session, and the hours worked across all jobs. Checking those details against current agency guidance is more reliable than relying on a job posting or an informal understanding of what teenagers are allowed to do.