Minimum working age by state

To comply with federal and state laws, employers must follow specific rules and restrictions when hiring anyone under the age of 18. But, even though the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) dictates the working conditions for specific jobs, there are still some differences at the state level.

Navigating state and federal labor laws can be nagging, which is why in our guide, we’ll help you understand the employment restrictions concerning:

Each state’s minimum legal working age,
Working time regulations (the number of work hours or days a minor is allowed to work during school or non-school days),
The types of hazardous occupations prohibited to children of different age, and
The required documentation for youth employment (such as age or employment certificates).

Knowing these working standards and requirements with regards to child labor in the US will help employers stay compliant and avoid paying hefty fines and civil penalties.

Table of Contents

Federal time restrictions for youth

As a means of regulating child labor, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 sets the conditions under which children may be employed.

The act puts limitations on different aspects of child labor, such as:

The working age,
The working conditions under which minors may be employed,
The types of jobs that were considered hazardous to the health and wellbeing of children, and more.

Child labor is also regulated at the state level, and laws vary considerably in terms of the employment standards for children. Additionally employers who willfully violate the child labor laws may face serious civil and criminal penalties.

Federal age requirements for employment of minors

The permitted working age for a minor to be employed depends on federal and state laws as well as the type of work and the child’s relationship to their employer.

In general, different rules apply to two distinct categories:

Non-agricultural, and
Agricultural jobs.

According to FLSA, minors in the US can start working in non-agricultural jobs at the age of 14. However, as per FLSA, a youth can be of any age to be allowed to:

Distribute newspapers and magazines,
Work in radio, television, movie, or theater,
Work for a parents’ non-farm business (except in mining, manufacturing or hazardous jobs), and
Collect evergreens and make evergreen wreaths.

On the other hand, the federal minimum age for agricultural workers is:

16 years old — at any time, even during school hours,
14 years old — or 13 and 12 with written parental consent, or in a farm business owned by the parent, outside school hours, and
Under 12 years of age — with written parental permission on farms exempt from Federal minimum wage provisions.

Nevertheless, a child of any age may work at any time in a farm business operated by their parents (except for the occupations declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor).

Despite the minimum work age requirement, the FLSA also regulates the number of hours children younger than 16 can work in agricultural occupations whether school is in session or not. It also prohibits minors younger than 18 from working in hazardous jobs.

However, like most legal issues, there are certain exceptions to this rule, as some states have added state level restrictions and regulations.

But before we delve into the US legal working age by state, let’s find out:

The maximum hours 14- to 18-year-olds are allowed to work, and
The federally prohibited occupations for minors under 18.

Working hour restrictions for minors in non-agricultural jobs

The FLSA states that minors 18 years of age and above may work for unlimited hours in any job (regardless of whether it’s deemed hazardous or not).

On the other hand, 16- and 17-year-olds may only work for unlimited hours in non-hazardous occupations.

The FLSA act also prohibits 14- and 15-year-old non-agricultural workers from working:

During school hours,
More than 3 hours on a school day,
More than 8 hours on a nonschool day,
More than 18 hours when school is in session,
More than 40 hours when school is not in session, and
Before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m. (except between June 1 and Labor day — no work after 9 p.m.).

Occupational restrictions for all minors under 18 in non-agricultural jobs

As stated in the FLSA child labor provisions, minors under the age of 18 are banned from working in the following hazardous, non-agricultural occupations:

Manufacturing or storage occupations involving explosives.
Motor-vehicle occupations.
Most coal mining jobs.
Forest fire fighting, forest fire prevention, timber tract, forestry service, logging, and sawmilling occupations.
Power-driven woodworking machine occupations (such as chainsaws, nailing machines, and sanders).
Occupations involving exposure to radioactive materials and ionizing radiation.
Power-driven hoisting apparatus occupations (including forklifts, non-automatic elevators, skid-steers, skid-steer loaders, etc.).
Power-driven metal-working, punching, and shearing machine occupations (but they are allowed to use most machine tools).
Most mining jobs other than coal (metal mines, quarries, or aggregate mines, underground mines, open cut mines, or open quarries, and sand, or gravel jobs).
Occupations including operation of power-driven meat processing machines and working in meat and poultry slaughtering and meat-packing (meat slicers, saws, choppers, etc.)
Power-driven bakery machines, including batter mixers, dough rollers, rounders, dividers, sheeters, and cookie or cracker machine occupations.
Occupations involved in the operation of balers, compactors, and power-driven paper-products machines.
Occupations dealing with the manufacture of brick, tile, and related products.
Occupations involving the operation of power-driven tools (such as circular saws, band saws, guillotine shears, chain saws, etc.)
Most occupations related to wrecking, demolition, and ship-breaking (except remodeling or repair work).
Roofing jobs (any type of work on or about a roof).
Jobs related to trenching and excavation.

According to the Secretary of Labor, all of these non-agricultural occupations are considered harmful to the minor’s health and well-being. That’s why the minimum age requirement for these occupations is higher compared to others.

Minimum working age by state table

The minimum legal age of employment varies by state. However, that’s not the only factor. The working hours and types of jobs are also regulated at the state level.

Let’s explore the age and hour regulations on agricultural and non-agricultural jobs by state in the tables below.

Child labor regulations on agricultural jobs by state

Around 28 states have set their own minimum working age requirements for minors working in agricultural jobs during school hours (12 to 18 years of age). Children working outside school hours must be from 9 to 14 years of age. The remaining states do not have minimum age regulations and must comply with the federal rules.

The table below shows:

The minimum age requirements for agricultural jobs (during or outside of school hours),
The number of hours a minor is allowed to work per day/week, and
Other relevant rules (such as employment certificate or proof of age requirements).

State	Minimum age to work during schools hours	Minimum age to work outside schools hours	Hours permitted to work: Daily/Weekly	Days per week	Other relevant laws
Alaska	16	14	9/23h (work and school hours combined)	6 (under 18)	– An employment certificate isn’t required. – An age certificate is required for all minors under the age of 18.
Arizona	16	14	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week	N/A	N/A
Arkansas	16	14	– 8/48h in any week and 10/54h in any week (age 16 and 17 respectively)	6 (under 18)	An employment certificate required for all minors under the age of 16.
California	18 (or 16 if not required to go to school)	12	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week (age 12 and 13) – If enrolled in school, 4h during school day or 8h on a school day that precedes a non-school day).	6	An employment certificate required for all minors under the age of 18.
Colorado	16	12	– 8/40h under 18; 6h under 16 (school days) – Minors 14 or older may work up to 12h in a 24-hour period and up to 30h in a 72-hour period in seasonal establishments.	N/A	An age certificate required for all minors under the age of 18.
Connecticut	16	14	8/48h	N/A	An employment certificate required as well as a proof of age or an agriculture permit for minors under the age of 16.
Delaware	Exempt from farm work except for hazardous occupations.	Exempt from farm work except for hazardous occupations.	Exempt from farm work except for hazardous occupations.	N/A	N/A
Florida	N/A	14	– 8/40h during school day/week – 3h when followed by school day (age 15) – 8/30h during school day/week (age 16 and 17) – 8/40h during non-school day/week (under 16)	6	An age certificate required for all minors under the age of 18.
Hawaii	18 (or 16 if not required to go to school)	14 (15 in pineapple harvesting or 10 in coffee harvesting)	– 6/30h no more than 5 consecutive days during non-school day/week (age under 14) in coffee harvest – 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week (age 14 and 15) – 8/48h in pineapple harvesting	6	An age certificate required for 16- and 17-year-old minors.
Idaho	16	N/A	9/54h	N/A	N/A
Illinois	12	10	N/A	N/A	N/A
Indiana	Exempt from farm work except for minimum age and when school is in session	12	Minors 14 – 17 years of age are exempt from farm work	N/A	As of July 1, 2021, Indiana no longer issues employment or age certifications, instead employers must register all employed minors in an employer registration system maintained by the Indiana Department of Labor.
Iowa	16	14 (or 12 for migratory labor)	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 4/28h during school day/week (8 hours maximum during a non-school day)	N/A	An employment certificate required for all minors under the age of 16.
Maine	16 unless exempt by the superintendent of the school.	Under 14 only for planting, cultivating, or harvesting (providing it’s not in direct contact with hazardous machinery or subrances).	Exempt	Exempt	– 18- year-olds must provide an employment certificate only if they are in direct contact with hazardous machinery or substances. – An age certificate is not required.
Massachusetts	14 with certification	14 with certification	4/24h during school day/week or 8/48h during non-school day/week.	6	An employment certificate and proof of age is required for all minors under the age of 18.
Michigan	16	13	– 10/48h during non-school day/week (under 16) – If enrolled in school no more than 48h per week work and school hours combined. – 10/48h (age 16 to 18) – 11/62 in farming with parental consent	6 (under 18)	An employment certificate and proof of age is required for all minors under the age of 18.
Minnesota	16	12	Exempt	N/A	An employment certificate is required for all minors under the age of 16 for work during school hours, and proof of age is required for all minors under the age of 18.
Missouri	16	14	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3h on school days	6	An employment certificate is required for all minors under the age of 16 for work during school term, and proof of age is required for all minors under the age of 18 on request.
Nevada	14	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
New Hampshire	18 (or 16 if not required to go to school)	12	– 8h during non-school days, 48h during vacation – 3/23h during school day/week if enrolled in school – If enrolled in school, 16- and 17-year-old minors can work 30h in school week/48h during vacation.	6 (age 16 and 17 if enrolled in school).	N/A
New Jersey	16	12	10h per day	6	An employment certificate is required for all minors under the age of 16.
New Mexico	16 (14 hardship cases)	N/A	– 8/44h – 8/48h special cases under 14	N/A	An employment certificate is required for all minors under the age of 16, and proof of age is required for all minors under the age of 18 on request.
New York	16	14 (or 12 for hand-harvesting berries, fruits, and vegetables)	4h per day (age 12 and 13).	N/A	An employment certificate is required for all minors under the age of 16.
North Dakota	14	N/A	Exempt	Exempt	N/A
Ohio	16	14	– 8/48h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week	N/A	18-year-old minors must provide an employment certificate if residing in an agriculture labor camp.
Oregon	16	12 (or 9 for picking berries or beans with parental consent).	– 10/40h during non-school day/week (special permit required for more than 10h per day) – 3/18h during school day/week	6	An employment certificate is required only for minors under 18 who are in direct contact with power-driven farm machinery.
Pennsylvania	Exempt from child labor law.	Farm workers under 14 shall not be required to work.	Under 18 cannot work from 7 a.m. to 1 hour after the end of school day.	N/A	N/A
South Carolina	16	14 (or 12 with parental consent).	N/A	N/A	N/A
South Dakota	N/A	N/A	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 4/20h during school day/week	N/A	N/A
Utah	16	12 (no limit with parental consent)	8/40h on non-school days (or 4h during school days waived with parental consent)	N/A	Proof of age is required for all minors under the age of 18 on request.
Vermont	16 (or 14 with labor certification)	N/A	8/40h	6	An employment certificate is required for all minors under the age of 16 during school hours.
Virginia	16	14 (or 12 with parental consent).	N/A	N/A	Proof of age is required for all minors under the age of 18 on request.
Washington	18	14 (or 12 for hand-harvesting berries, bulbs, cucumbers, and spinach during non-school week).	– 8/40h during non-school days (age 12 to 15) – 10/50h (60 for wheat, hay, and pea harvest) during non-school day/week – 4/28h during school day/week (age 16 and 17)	6 (or 7 in dairy, livestock, hay and irrigation, with one day off every two weeks, under 18)	N/A
Wisconsin	18	12	– 8/40h during non-school day/week, 3/18h during school day/week – During peak seasons, minors 14 to 17 may work outside of school hours beyond the permitted weekly hours.	6	N/A

If employers decide to hire minors, they will most likely need to obtain proof of age or an employment certificate (in certain states) in order to comply with state child labor laws.

On the other hand, Utah labor laws have no limit on the minimum working age outside school hours as long as the parent agrees.

In addition, minors are exempt from agricultural employment in 17 states, including:

Alabama,
Delaware,
Georgia,
Kansas,
Kentucky,
Louisiana,
Maryland,
Mississippi,
Montana,
Nebraska,
North Carolina,
Oklahoma,
Rhode Island,
Tennessee,
Texas,
West Virginia, and
Wyoming.

Finally, when state youth employment laws contradict federal laws — the federal law will always prevail.

Child labor regulations on non-agricultural jobs by state

As we already mentioned, in non-agricultural jobs, the federal minimum age for employment is 14. In non-agricultural employment, minors also have restrictions on the types of jobs they can work and the number of hours permitted.

For example, 14-year-old minors can only work in specific occupations which are not considered hazardous to their health and well-being. Moreover, 14- and 15-year-old workers are prohibited from working during school hours, while 16- and 17-year-old workers can work for unlimited hours only in non-hazardous jobs.

In non-agricultural jobs, the federal hour restrictions for minors under 16 is 8/40 h during non-school day/week and 3/18h during school day/week. 14 and 15-year-old minors may work up to 3/23h on a school day/week during school hours.

On top of federal regulations, each state has also put restrictions on the number of working hours for non-agricultural workers under 16 and 17 years of age.

The table below shows:

The maximum number of daily and weekly hours, and days per week that minors of age under 16, and age 16 and 17 can work in non-agricultural jobs, and
The night hours that minors are allowed to work/prohibited from working.

State	State Maximum daily/weekly hours and days per week for minors under 16	Maximum daily/weekly hours for minors 16 and 17	Nightwork
Alabama	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week – 6 days per week	N/A	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. during summer vacation) to 7 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 10 p.m. before school day to 5 a.m., if enrolled in school (for age 19)
Alaska	– 9/23h (work and school hours combined) – 6 days per week during school weeks.	6 days per week during school weeks.	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Arizona	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week	N/A	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 9:30 p.m. (11 p.m. before non-school day) to 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. in door-to-door sales or deliveries
Arkansas	– 8/48h – 6 days per week	16-year-olds cannot work in excess of 10 consecutive hours or beyond 10 hours in a 24-hour period.	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. before non-school day) to 6 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. before school day (for 16-year-olds only – No requirements for 17-year-olds)
California	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week	– 8/48h during non-school day/week – 4/28h during school day/week (work and school hours combined) – 8h on any day preceding a non-school day	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 10 p.m. (12:30 a.m. before non-school day) to 5 a.m.
Colorado	– 8/40h during school day/week – 6 days per week	8/40h	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. before school day.
Connecticut	– 8/40h in commerce jobs when the child is on school vacation that lasts more than 5 days – 6 days per week	– 8/48h if enrolled in a secondary education during non-school day/week – 6/32h during school day/week in restaurant, recreational, amusement, theater, manufacturing, mechanical, retail, hairdressing, bowling alley, pool hall, or photography gallery businesses – 8/48h if not enrolled in a secondary education in retail stores – 9/48h in restaurant, manufacturing, mechanical, recreation, amusement and theater establishments	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. July 1 to the first Monday in September) to 7 a.m.; – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 11 p.m. (midnight if school vacation, not prior to a school day, or not attending school) to 6 a.m. in restaurants, recreational, amusement and theater establishments – 10 p.m. (11 p.m. if school vacation, not prior to a school day, or not attending school – Midnight in a supermarket of 3,500 ft2 or more when no school the next day) to 6 a.m. in manufacturing, mechanical and retail establishments – 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in hairdressing, bowling alley, pool hall, or photography gallery establishments
Delaware	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 4/18h during school day/week – 6 days per week	12h per day (work and school hours combined)	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work 8 consecutive hours of non-work, non-school time required in each 24-hour day
Florida	– 8/40h during school day/week – 3/15h when followed by a school day (unless enrolled in vocational schools) – 6 days per week – Minors younger than 16 may work 8/40h during non-school day/week	– 8/30h during the school year – 6 days per week	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. before school day to 7 a.m. on school day (9 p.m. during holidays and summer vacations to 7 a.m.) – 16- and 17-year-olds cannot work from 11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., before school day
Georgia	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 4 days per week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Hawaii	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 6 days per week – 3/18h during school day/week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (9 p.m. to 6 a.m. during authorized school breaks).
Idaho	9/54h in any week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Illinois	– 8/48h during school day/week (work and school hours combined) – 3/24h during school day/week (twice a week until 9 p.m.) for 14-year-old minors or up working in recreational or educational establishments – 6 days per week.	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Indiana	– 3/18h per school day/week – 8/40h per non-school day/week – No days per week restriction	If enrolled in school, 16 and 17-year-old minors cannot work for more than 9/40h per day/week in a school week, 48h in a non-school week, and 6 days per week (school or non-school).	– Minors younger than 16 cannot start work before 7:00 a.m. or finish after 7:00 p.m., but may work until 9:00 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day, except on a night followed by a school day. They cannot work during school hours on a school day, except in certain entertainment jobs. – 16- and 17-year-old minors may work until 10:00 p.m. on nights followed by a school day (except for hazardous jobs) or until 11:00 p.m with written parental permission. They cannot work in an establishment that operates between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless another employee (at least 18 years of age) also works during the same hours.
Iowa	– 4/28h during school day/week – 8/40h during non-school day/week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Kansas	– 8/40h during non-school day/week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work after 10 p.m. before school day to 7 a.m.
Kentucky	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week	– If enrolled in school, 6/30h (8h on Saturday and Sunday) – 40h with parental consent and at least a 2.0 school grade point average	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 10:30 p.m. (1 a.m. Friday and Saturday) to 6 a.m. during school days/weeks.
Louisiana	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week; 6 days per week	N/A	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. – Non-graduates (7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on any school day, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. on any non-school day) – Non-graduate 16-year-olds cannot work from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. before the start of school day, while non-graduate 17-year-olds cannot work from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. before a school day.
Maine	– 8/40h for 6 consecutive days during a non-school week – 3/18h for 6 consecutive days during a school week	– If enrolled in school, 10/50h for 6 consecutive days during a non-school week – 6/24h (except 8h on the last scheduled day of school week) for 6 consecutive days during a school week	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. during summer vacation) to 7 a.m. – If enrolled in school, 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 10:15 p.m. (12 a.m. before non-school day) to 7 a.m. during school day/week, and to 5 a.m. otherwise.
Maryland	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 4/23h during school day/week (8h on Saturday and Sunday if a minor does not work outside school hours for more than 6 consecutive days in a week – The total working hours outside school shouldn’t be more than 24).	12h per day (work and school hours combined)	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 8 p.m. (9 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. – On a non-school day, 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work more than 8 consecutive hours per day in a row without a break.
Massachusetts	– 3/18h during school day/week – 8/40h on non-school day/week – 8 hours a day on Saturday, Sunday, holidays – 6 days per week.	– Maximum 9/48h day/week regardless of the school period – 6 days per week	– Minors younger than 16 can only work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the school year and only between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. during the summer (from July 1 through Labor Day) – 16- and 17-year-old minors can work only between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. (on nights before a regular school day) or only between 6 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. (on nights not preceding a regular school day) – In restaurants and racetracks, only between 6 a.m. and midnight (on nights not preceding a regular school day) – After 8:00 p.m., all minors must be supervised by an adult, unless the minor works at a kiosk, cart, or stand in a secured shopping mall
Michigan	– 10/48h per day/week (work and school hours combined) – 8h per day on average during non-school day; 6 days per week – Not before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.	– 10h per day (work and school hours combined) – 24h in a school week and 48h in a non-school week – 6 days per week – No work during school hours – Not before 6:00 a.m.; Not after 10:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday during school days/weeks – Not after 11:30 p.m. on Friday to Saturday during school days/weeks or 7 days during non-school days/weeks	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. – If enrolled in school, 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 10:30 p.m. (11:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and during school vacations) to 6 a.m., if attending school – If not, from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Minnesota	8/40h	N/A	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. before school day (11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. with written parental consent)
Mississippi	8/44h in a factory, mill, cannery, or workshop.	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. in a factory, mill, cannery, or workshop.
Missouri	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3h per day when school is in session – 6 days per week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) (10:30 p.m. at regional Fairs or expositions) to 7 a.m.
Montana	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week – 6 days per week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. during non-school days/weeks (June 1 through Labor Day, depending on local standards) to 7 a.m.
Nebraska	8/48h	N/A	– Minors under 14 cannot work from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. – 14- and 15-year-old minors cannot work from 10 p.m (beyond 10 p.m before a non-school day, they’re only allowed with special permit) to 6 a.m.
Nevada	8/48h	N/A	N/A
New Hampshire	– 8h during non-school days – 48h per week during vacation, if enrolled in school – 3/23h during school day/week (if enrolled in school)	– If enrolled in school, 48h in a work week, up to 6 days per work week during vacation – If not on vacation, 30h in a work week, up to 6 days per work week if enrolled in school	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
New Jersey	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week – 6 days per week	– 8/40h, 6 days per week – Minors aged 16 and up may work up to 10/50h per day/week only between the last day of school and Labor Day	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from the last day of school through Labor Day in non-school weeks with written permission) to 7 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during school term
New Mexico	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. outside the calendar school year) to 7 a.m.
New York	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week – 6 days per week	– If enrolled in school, 8/48h during non-school day/week (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) – 4/28h on a day preceding a school day (Monday – Thursday) – 6 days per week	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 21 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 10 p.m. (midnight before school days with written parental and school consent and before non-school day with written parental consent) to 6 a.m., during school days/weeks. Midnight to 6 a.m. outside school days/weeks.
North Carolina	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week	N/A	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. during summer vacation) to 7 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. before school day during school (except with written parental and school consent).
North Dakota	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week (if not exempted from school) – 6 days per week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Ohio	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week	N/A	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 to Sept. 1 and during school holidays of 5 school days or more) to 7 a.m., 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in door-to-door sales – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 11 p.m. before school day to 7 a.m. on school day (6 a.m. if not employed after 8 p.m. previous night) if attending school – 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. in door-to-door sales
Oklahoma	– 8/40h during non-school day/week; – 3/18h during school day/week; – 6 days per week.	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Oregon	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week – 6 days per week	44-h per week (emergency overtime with permit)	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Pennsylvania	– 8/44h during non-school day/week – 4/18h during school day/week – 6 days per week	8/44h during school day/week, if enrolled in regular day school.	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (10 p.m. during vacation from June to Labor Day) to 7 a.m. – If enrolled in school, 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 12 p.m. (1 a.m. before non-school day) to 6 a.m.
Rhode Island	8/40h	9/48h during the school year.	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. during school vacation) to 6 a.m. – If regularly enrolled in school, 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 11:30 p.m. (1:30 a.m. before non-school day) to 6 a.m.
South Carolina	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. during summer break of the school district in which the minor resides) to 7 a.m.
South Dakota	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 4/20h during school day/week – 6 days per week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work after 10 p.m. before school day.
Tennessee	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week – 6 days per week	N/A	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (9 p.m. to 6 a.m. before non-school days) – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Sunday to Thursday before school days. Midnight with parental consent up to 3 nights a week).
Texas	8/48h	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 10 p.m. (midnight before non-school day or in summer if not enrolled in summer school) to 5 a.m.
Utah	– 8/40h during non-school days/week – 4h per day during school days	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. before school day.
Vermont	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week – 6 days per week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Virginia	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week – 6 days per week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Washington	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/16h during school day/week – 8h on Saturday and Sunday – 6 days per week	– 8/48h during non-school day/week – 4/20h during school day/week – 8h on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – 6/28h with parental, employer, student and school consent	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1st to Labor Day) to 7 a.m. All minors working in service occupations after 8 p.m. must be supervised by an adult – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday (midnight Friday and Saturday when school is not in session) to 7 a.m. (5 a.m. when school is not in session) – 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. in door-to-door sales – All minors working after 8 p.m. in service occupations must be supervised by an adult
West Virginia	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week – 6 days per week	N/A	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. – During the non-school day/week, 14 and 15-year-old minors are allowed to work until 11:00 p.m. with a supervision permit.
Wisconsin	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 4/18h per day during school day/week – 6 days per week	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Wyoming	N/A	N/A	Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 10 p.m. (midnight before non-school day and for minors not enrolled in school) to 5 a.m.

Child labor regulations on non-agricultural jobs for US territories:

US territories	Maximum daily/weekly hours and days per week for minors under 16	Maximum daily/weekly hours for minors 16 and 17	Nightwork
District of Columbia	– 8/48h – 6 days per week	– 8/48h – 6 days per week	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Guam	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week – Maximum 9h during non-school day (work and school hours combined) – 6 days per week	– 8/40h during non-school day/week – 3/18h during school day/week – Maximum 9h (work and school hours combined) – 6 days per week	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1st through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 10 p.m. (midnight on non-school nights (Sunday through Thursday, except nights before a holiday during a school week)) to 6 a.m.
Puerto Rico	– 8/40h during school day/week (work and school hours combined) – 6 days per week	– 8/40h – 6 days per week	– Minors younger than 16 cannot work from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. – 16- and 17-year-old minors cannot work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

FAQs about the minimum working age

The section below includes a series of questions that minors commonly ask when they’re looking for a job in the US.

What state has the youngest working age?

According to the FLSA, in most states, minors are allowed to work in agricultural jobs during school hours only if they’re 16 years old.

However, the state of Illinois allows 12-year-old minors to work in agricultural jobs during school hours, while minors who wish to work outside school hours need to be at least 10 years old.

As we previously mentioned, according to child labor laws in Nevada and North Dakota minors have to be at least 14 years old to work during school hours in agricultural jobs.

Other states that allow 14-year-olds to work in agriculture during school hours with labor certification are Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Mexico (hardship cases only). Circumstances that may cause someone to suffer undue hardship may include the following events:

Extreme financial burden due to imminent foreclosure, eviction from the home, loss of property or income,
A medical condition resulting from an illness or accident,
Funeral expenses, or
A similar unforeseeable event that is beyond the control of the individual.

Moreover, in Oregon, the minimum age requirement outside school hours is 9 if the minor is involved in picking berries or beans (of course, with parental consent).

🎓 Clockify Pro Tip

Want to learn more about North Dakota and Nevada labor laws? Everything you need to know is right here:

Can 12-year-olds get a job in the US?

The simple answer is yes, but there are a few limitations. Usually, 12-year-old minors cannot work in most non-agricultural jobs. However, there are still some non-agricultural work opportunities that are available for minors age 12 and under, such as:

Lawn mowing,
Dog walking,
Car washing,
Window washing,
Pool skimming,
Fence painting, or
Housekeeping.

According to the aforementioned FLSA regulations, the only exception is when the company is owned by the minor’s parents. In such cases, minors of any age are legally authorized to work but only in the above-mentioned jobs that are considered non-hazardous.

On the other hand, agricultural jobs offer more flexibility. Basically, 12-year-old minors can work in agricultural jobs as long as they perform the work:

Outside of school hours,
Under non-hazardous work conditions, and
With parental consent (for some states).

Here’s a list of states that allow 12-year-old minors to work in agriculture:

California,
Colorado,
Indiana,
Iowa (in migratory labor),
Minnesota,
New Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New York (in hand-harvesting berries, fruits, and vegetables),
Oregon,
South Carolina (with parental consent),
Utah,
Virginia (with parental consent),
Washington (in hand-harvesting berries, bulbs, cucumbers, and spinach), and
Wisconsin.

Since employment rules for minors vary by state, make sure you check the limitations that might apply.

Can 14-year-olds work in the US?

Most US states allow 14-year-old minors to work in agricultural jobs outside of school hours. In fact, there are 15 states that follow a minimum working age of 14 (outside of school hours):

Alaska,
Arizona,
Arkansas,
Connecticut,
Florida,
Hawaii,
Iowa,
Maine,
Massachusetts,
Missouri,
New York,
Ohio,
South Carolina,
Virginia, and
Washington.

The states that allow 14-year-old minors to perform work during school hours are the following:

Massachusetts (with labor certification),
Nevada,
New Mexico (hardship cases only),
North Dakota, and
Vermont (with labor certification).

But, even though you can legally work at 14, federal laws (such as the FLSA) are strict about the working hours and the type of job you’re allowed to work. Additionally, before starting work in some states, 14-year-olds may need to submit relevant documents, such as:

Proof of age,
Employment certificate, or
Parental approval.

Which states have a minimum working age under 14?

Even though most states impose a minimum legal working age of 14, there are still some exceptions. For example, Georgia child labor laws have set the minimum age at 12. However, these rules apply only to employers not covered by the FLSA.

Under Georgia state labor laws, several types of jobs are approved for minors younger than 14, including:

Babysitting,
Newspaper delivery,
Yard work,
Shoe-shining,
Entertainment jobs (acting, singing, or dancing), and
Family business or family farm.

Furthermore, Georgia state laws require an employment certificate (or a work permit which is provided by the school) for minors under 18 prior to beginning work, while proof of age isn’t required.

Nevertheless, like many other US states, Georgia follows the federal rules regarding hazardous occupations. All minors regardless of their age cannot be employed in jobs that are deemed risky to their health and well-being.

Which states have a minimum working age of 16?

There are a few states that allow 16-year-old minors (and beyond) to work in agricultural jobs during school hours.

The states that have set a minimum working age of 16 during school hours are:

Arizona,
Arkansas,
Colorado,
Connecticut,
Idaho,
Iowa,
Maine,
Michigan,
Minnesota,
Missouri,
New Jersey,
New Mexico,
New York,
Ohio,
Oregon,
South Carolina,
Utah,
Vermont, and
Virginia.

The FLSA has set employment restrictions on minors under 16 years of age, stating that work must be performed outside of school hours.

Minimum working age by state conclusion and disclaimer

We made sure to cover all the relevant information about the minimum working age in the US in our detailed guide, but you can get more information on the official US Department of Labor website.

You can also follow the official links we’ve provided right at the bottom of the tables.

After thorough research, we can conclude that:

The minimum age of admission to employment should not be lower than the minimum federal or state age requirement (whichever has stricter rules),
Minors should not be admitted to any job that may be harmful to their safety, and physical or mental health,
The work should not interfere with their schooling,
Different rules apply to working minors under 16 and under 18, and
Restrictions vary depending on the minor’s age and the type of job (agricultural or non-agricultural).

Please note that this guide was written in Q2 of 2023, so any subsequent adjustments made to the relevant laws may not be included in this Minimum working age by state guide.

Since this guide does not represent legal advice, we strongly advise you to contact the applicable institutions and/or certified representatives before pursuing any legal matters.

Clockify is not responsible for any losses or risks incurred, should this guide be used without further legal guidance.

Sources for the tables:

Minimum working age by state — Guide for 2023