How long a high school student can work depends almost entirely on age. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, a 14- or 15-year-old is capped at 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week, with an 8-hour day and 40-hour week allowed when school is out. A 16- or 17-year-old has no federal hour limit at all, though most states add their own caps during the school year. Whichever rule gives the young worker more protection, federal or state, is the one that controls.
Hour Limits at Ages 14 and 15
The strictest federal rules apply to the youngest legal workers. If you are 14 or 15 and working a non-farm job, the FLSA controls both how many hours you can put in and when during the day you can be on the clock:1U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet 43 Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act for Nonagricultural Occupations
- Up to 3 hours on a school day, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- Up to 18 hours total in a school week.
- Up to 8 hours on a non-school day.
- Up to 40 hours in a non-school week (summer, winter break).
- From June 1 through Labor Day, the evening cutoff extends to 9 p.m.
“School day” and “school week” follow the local school calendar. A Friday is still a school day even if your shift starts after the last bell, and a week with a holiday closure may or may not count as a school week depending on what your district calls it.
Hour Rules at Ages 16 and 17
Once you turn 16, federal hour limits and time-of-day restrictions fall away completely. A 16- or 17-year-old can work unlimited hours, at any time of day or night, in any job that isn’t classified as hazardous.2U.S. Department of Labor. Hours Restrictions Federally, a 17-year-old could work a 40-hour week on top of full-time high school, including overnight shifts. That is why the state layer matters so much for this age group.
How State Laws Change the Answer
Federal law sets a floor. When a state gives a young worker more protection than the FLSA does, the state rule wins.3U.S. Department of Labor. YouthRules – Resources on Young Workers Rights For 14- and 15-year-olds, states rarely loosen the federal caps; for 16- and 17-year-olds, states are often the only source of hour limits at all.
State restrictions on older teens vary, but common ones include weekly caps somewhere between 18 and 30 hours during the school year, cutoffs at 10 or 11 p.m. on school nights, and required rest between a late shift and the next school day. Many states also require a meal break for minors that federal law does not require, most commonly 30 minutes after five straight hours of work. To know exactly what applies to you, check the child labor page on your state Department of Labor’s website.
Do You Need a Work Permit First?
There is no federal work permit, but most states either require or offer some kind of employment certificate for minors.4U.S. Department of Labor. Employment/Age Certificate In some states the school district issues the permit; in others the state labor department does. A few states use an employer registration system instead. The paperwork typically involves a parent signature and, in many states, a school official. Fees are zero or minimal. Your employer will usually tell you before your first shift whether one is required.
Jobs That Are Off Limits Regardless of Hours
Hour caps are only part of the picture. Some work is prohibited outright.
Hazardous Work Barred for Everyone Under 18
The Secretary of Labor has designated 17 categories of non-farm work as too dangerous for anyone under 18. These include work in or around explosives; most driving as a job duty; mining; logging and sawmill jobs; operating power-driven woodworking, meat-processing, and paper-product machinery; roofing; and excavation.5eCFR. 29 CFR Part 570 – Child Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation
Driving has one narrow exception. A 17-year-old may do occasional, incidental driving on public roads for a job if the vehicle is under 6,000 pounds gross weight, the driving takes up no more than one-third of the workday or 20 percent of the workweek, and several other conditions are met.6U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet 34 Hazardous Occupations Order No 2 Youth Employment Provision and Driving Automobiles and Trucks under the FLSA A 16-year-old cannot drive at all as part of a job.
Extra Restrictions for 14- and 15-Year-Olds
On top of the 17 hazardous categories, 14- and 15-year-olds are barred from work in manufacturing, processing, construction, warehousing, and most transportation roles. In restaurants they cannot bake or do most cooking, operate a commercial slicer or grinder, or work in freezers and meat coolers. They cannot run any power-driven machinery beyond ordinary office equipment, and they cannot use power-driven lawn mowers or trimmers for a business.7U.S. Department of Labor. Prohibited Occupations for Non-Agricultural Employees What is left is generally retail, office, limited food service tasks (taking orders, cleaning, drink prep), and light outdoor work like raking or car washing.
Farm Work Is a Separate System
If you work on a farm, an entirely different set of federal rules applies, and it is more permissive. Children as young as 12 can do non-hazardous farm work outside school hours with parental consent, and children of any age can work on a farm owned or operated by their parents. At 16, every agricultural hour and occupation restriction lifts.8U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet 40 Overview of Youth Employment Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act for Agricultural Occupations
When the Hour Rules Don’t Apply
A handful of narrow situations sit outside the standard FLSA framework. They are narrower than most people think.
Working for a Parent-Owned Business
A child under 16 employed in a business solely owned by a parent can work any hours at any time of day, free of the usual FLSA time limits. But the hazardous-work bar still applies, and manufacturing and mining are still off the table. A parent who owns a roofing company cannot put a 15-year-old on the crew.9eCFR. 29 CFR 570.126 – Child Labor Regulations The exemption also requires sole ownership; a parent bringing their child to a job they work for someone else does not qualify.
Acting and Performing
Work as an actor or performer in movies, television, or theater is exempt from the FLSA’s child labor rules.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 29 USC 213 – Exemptions States with significant entertainment industries typically impose their own limits on hours, tutoring, and earnings, and the federal exemption does not override those.
Newspaper Delivery
Delivering newspapers to the consumer is exempt from federal child labor provisions, including hour limits.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 29 USC 213 – Exemptions The exemption is specific to consumer delivery and doesn’t reach warehouse or distribution roles.
School-Approved Work Programs
A 14- or 15-year-old enrolled in an approved Work Experience and Career Exploration Program (WECEP) may work up to 23 hours in a school week and may work during school hours, both of which would otherwise be prohibited.5eCFR. 29 CFR Part 570 – Child Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation These programs require school district approval and a structured educational component, and they aren’t widely available.
Emancipation Doesn’t Change the Hour Rules
Legal emancipation does not exempt a young worker from federal child labor rules. The FLSA applies by age. An emancipated 15-year-old faces the same 3-hour school-day cap as any other 15-year-old. Some states let emancipated minors obtain work permits without a parent signature, but the underlying hour and job protections still apply.
If an Employer Is Breaking the Rules
If your employer is scheduling you past legal hours or putting you on prohibited work, you or a parent can file a complaint with the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division online or by calling 1-866-487-9243. The nearest field office typically follows up within two business days. You do not need a lawyer, and it is illegal for an employer to retaliate against you for reporting a violation.11Worker.gov. Filing a Complaint with the US Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division