How Many Hours Can a Teen Work? Checker by State
Pick a state, an age from 14 to 17 and school week or summer: the most hours a day and a week, the latest finish time and whether a work permit is needed.
Under federal law a 14 or 15 year old can work at most 3 hours on a school day and 18 in a school week, 8 hours a day and 40 a week in summer, and only 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from 1 June to Labor Day). At 16 and 17 only state law limits hours, as checked on 18 October 2026.
How Many Hours Can a Teen Work? Checker by State
Frequently asked
How many hours can a 14 year old work during the school year?
Federal law allows 3 hours on a school day, 8 hours on a Saturday or other non-school day and 18 hours in a school week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. A state can be stricter: Washington caps a school week at 16 hours and Florida at 15.
Is there a federal limit on hours for 16 year olds?
No. The Fair Labor Standards Act sets no hour or time-of-day limits for 16 and 17 year olds outside hazardous jobs. Limits for them come only from state law, such as New York's 4 hours on a school day and 28 in a school week.
Which states require a work permit for 16 and 17 year olds?
Of the states checked, California, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington require a permit or certificate (or a signed authorization form) for all minors under 18. Many others require one only under 16.
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