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SafeTeen Home > Teens > Legal Working Hours

How many HOURS can I work? How LATE can I work?

Labor laws protect teens from working too long, too late, or too early. (There are some exceptions to the hours listed. Call for details.)

16-17 Years Old (enrolled in school, including home school)

You can work:

  • Up to 4 hours on a school day; 8 hours on the last school day of the week
  • Up to 20 hours in any week with 3 or more school days
    • Except: 8 hours each day with unscheduled school closure for a total of 28 hours that week (e.g., storm day, broken furnace, etc.)
  • Up to 50 hours each week with less than 3 scheduled school days, or during the first or last week of the school year
  • Up to 10 hours a day on weekends, holidays, vacations, teacher workshop days
  • No more than 6 days in a row

How early? How late?

  • Not before 7 a.m. on a school day
  • Not before 5 a.m. on a non-school day
  • Not after 10 p.m. the night before a school day
  • Until midnight if there is no school the next day

Minors under 17 cannot work during school hours

Under 16 (work permit required!)

You can work:

  • Up to 3 hours a day on school days, including Fridays
  • Up to 18 hours in any week with one or more school days
  • Up to 8 hours on days without school (during weekends, holidays, vacations, storm days, etc.)
  • Up to 40 hours in a week with no school days
  • Never more than 6 days in a row

How early? How late?

  • Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
  • Between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. during summer vacations only
  • Not during school hours

Respect yourself. Protect yourself.

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