How Old Do You Have To Be To Work?

Whether it’s for the summer or year-round, getting a job can build a teenager’s character, sense of responsibility, and technical skills. Busy teenagers tend to stay out of trouble a little better, and earning money to pay for expenses, to save for college, or to spend however they want can give them a sense of ownership and pride in their lives.

But how early is too early for a teenager to start working, legally speaking?

Ages Minors Are Legally Allowed to Start Working

U.S. federal laws state that the minimum age for employment is 14. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulates this and the hours minors can work, the wages they can earn, and the safety requirements their employers have to follow.

States can make their own laws about all of these topics, but if these differ from federal laws, whichever law is more protective of the minor laborer applies. So, states can set the minimum age for working higher than 14 but not lower.

Hours Minors are Legally Allowed To Work

To ensure they can still go to school and aren’t being overburdened, the FLSA limits the number of hours 14- and 15-year-olds can work. Again, states can have laws that further limit these hours, but these federal laws establish the maximum amount of time that 14- and 15-year-olds can work in the U.S.

During a school week, these minors can work a maximum of three hours per day and 18 hours per week. In addition, they can only work from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

When school isn’t in session, 14- and 15-year-olds can work up to eight hours a day and 40 hours a week. From June 1 through Labor Day, they also may work until 9:00 p.m.

Following these laws can get complicated if minors are working more than one job, as all the hours they work at any position go toward their maximum number of hours — it doesn’t reset for each job or employer.

Minors who are 16 and older don’t have any federal limits to their working hours, but they do still have restrictions on the types of jobs they can work.

Types of Jobs Minors Aren’t Legally Allowed to Work

In order to protect them from physical harm, the FLSA places restrictions on the types of jobs minors are allowed to hold.

These restrictions are most stringent for 14- and 15-year-olds, but even 16- and 17-year-olds can’t work just anywhere.

Occupations the FLSA deems hazardous include excavation, manufacturing, mining, and construction. Teenagers are also typically not allowed to have jobs that require driving or operating power-driven equipment.

In addition, while minors can technically work in agriculture, jobs in this and similar fields have stricter regulations on what tasks teenagers can and can’t do.

States can also create their own laws addressing these hazardous jobs, but again, the law that protects the minor most will always prevail, whether it’s put into place by the federal or state government.

Exceptions to These Laws

Now that you know the basics of laws restricting the work minors can do, it’s time to learn about the exceptions.

There is a list of jobs that minors of any age can perform as long as they aren’t exceeding the maximum number of hours that a 14-year-old is allowed to work. Some of them also require a parent or guardian to be present. These jobs include:

• Acting

• Modeling

• Delivering newspapers

• Babysitting

• House cleaning/chores

• Dog walking

• Working for parents

This last category allows the most freedom for minors. As long as the parent or guardian is the only one who owns or operates the business and the job isn’t considered hazardous by the FLSA, children of any age can work for them without any time restrictions.

Minors can also volunteer for non-hazardous roles, which can be valuable if their parents’ or their goal is for them to gain life skills and work experience over money.

Wage Laws for Minors

The FLSA also outlines how much minors can and should be paid.

The federal minimum wage, $7.25 per hour, applies to minors as well as adults except in occupations such as babysitting. States can set their own minimum wage rates, but just as with the other laws mentioned in this article, the law with the minimum wage most beneficial to the employee trumps other minimum wage laws.

So, if a state sets a higher minimum than $7.25, companies need to abide by the state’s wage.

For their first 90 days of employment, however, workers under 20 can be paid as little as $4.25 per hour. This has to jump up to the regular minimum wage once they’ve worked for 90 consecutive calendar days or they reach 20 years old, whichever comes first.

Again, though, states can have differing laws on this, and when that happens, the law setting the higher wage applies.

Employers hiring full-time students, student learners, apprentices, or workers with disabilities can often pay these employees the sub-minimum wage, so teenagers need to be aware of this when they’re looking for these types of jobs. The employer does have to get certifications from the Secretary of Labor to do this, though.

How to Find a Job As a Teenager

Even with all of these restrictions, jobs that will hire teenagers usually abound. While few are glamorous, they all will provide great experience that will look good on a resume or college application. Plus, you’ll come away with some life skills and some cash.

Here are some types of establishments to check for job openings:

1. Grocery Stores

   Grocery stores often need stockers, baggers, and cleaners. You might even be able to get a gig as a cashier. Many grocery stores are set up to be able to hire employees who are 16 or younger, so do some research or ask around about job applications.

2. Restaurants

   There are some restaurant jobs that you won’t be able to work until you’re 21 since they can often involve serving alcohol, but most establishments also have dishwashers, prep cooks, or bussers, not to mention servers and hosts. In addition, many fast food and walk-up service restaurants like smoothie bars also hire minors to serve customers.

3. Retail Stores

   Clothing stores, drug stores, box stores, and even some banks will often hire minors to help stock shelves, fold clothes, clean the building, and run cash registers. Plus, working at your favorite place to shop could get you some handy discounts.

4. Movie Theaters

   Movie theaters need workers to scan tickets, serve concessions, and clean up theaters in between showings, making them a great place to find a job as a minor. You might even be able to get some discounts or special movie viewing privileges.

5. Nonprofits

   Nonprofits such as community centers and religious organizations are often operating under tight budgets and lean workforces, which means they’re often happy to have you come work for them part-time. There’s no telling what kind of work they’ll have for you, which means these jobs are often challenging, fun, and rewarding.

6. Pools

   You can become a certified lifeguard at age 15, which opens up a world of employment opportunities at pools, recreation centers, and gyms. Waterparks and neighborhood pools often need staffing for summer only, making this a great job if you don’t want to work year-round.

7. Parks and Beaches

   National, state, and city parks, including beaches and lakes, often need help running snack stands, cleaning up trash, handing out parking permits, or promoting the area on social media. Check online or at a ranger’s station to find out what jobs might be available.

8. Your School

   Often schools have or know of jobs and programs designed for students who want to work. Talk to your school counselor about opportunities and even about how to spruce up your application.

9. Libraries

   Local libraries never run out of books that need to be shelved and organized, which means there’s often lots of busy work for teens to help out with. Many libraries have paid and volunteer positions available for minors, so talk with yours to find out your options.

10. Your Neighborhood

    Neighbors often need help weeding gardens, mowing lawns, cleaning, completing house projects, or watching their kids. Even if they don’t advertise it, you may be surprised at how many people decide to take you up on your help if you just ask.

    Just remember that these jobs aren’t usually subject to minimum wage laws, so you’ll either have to set your own rate or just take what you’re given.

11. Local Businesses

    Small business owners are often swamped with work and try to handle it all by themselves or with as few full-time employees as possible. As a result, many would be all too willing to pay you to come in a few hours a week to help them with filing, cleaning, or other odd jobs.

12. Your Parents’ Friends

    There’s a good chance that a number of your parents’ friends need help at home or their businesses, and you’ll never know unless you ask. Just be polite when you ask, and consider talking to your parents about the best way to go about talking with their particular friends.

Author

Abby McCain

Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.