Youth employment rules: what to check
If you’re under 18, federal and state rules may affect when you can work and what you can do. This page shows general information and official sources. It isn’t legal advice, and it can’t tell you whether a specific job is allowed. Employers and government agencies make those decisions.
Draft: This information is being reviewed and may change. Always confirm current requirements with the employer and the official sources linked below.
Federal rules for non-farm jobs
- Ages 14 and 15
- Outside school hours only: up to 3 hours on a school day (including Fridays), 18 hours in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 hours in a non-school week. Only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (until 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day). Many jobs are off-limits at 14 and 15, including most manufacturing, construction, transportation and hazardous work.
- Ages 16 and 17
- No federal limit on hours. No federal night-work limit. Jobs the U.S. Department of Labor has declared hazardous (for example driving on the job in most cases, many power-driven machines, roofing and demolition) are off-limits until 18.
When federal and state rules both apply and differ, the stricter rule generally applies.
Rules in your state
Farm and agricultural jobs
Farm and agricultural work follows different federal and state youth-employment rules. Fun First Jobs guidance does not cover agricultural jobs; such jobs are flagged for moderator review.