How to Get a Work Permit at 14: Documents, Hours, and Pay

To get a work permit at 14, you’ll typically line up a job offer, gather proof of age and a parent’s consent, get your school to verify your enrollment and grades, and submit the application through your school’s issuing officer or your state labor department. The certificate confirms you meet your state’s age and schooling rules, and most employers won’t schedule your first shift without it. Federal law sets 14 as the minimum age for most non-agricultural work, and roughly two-thirds of states require some form of certificate before a minor can start.¹

First, Check Whether Your State Issues One

Not every state requires a work permit, and a few don’t issue them at all. The U.S. Department of Labor groups states three ways:¹

Mandated. A certificate is required before you can work. California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, and many others take this approach. Some require certificates for all minors under 18; others only for those under 16.
On request. The state doesn’t require a certificate but will issue one if you ask. Florida and Colorado handle certain age groups this way.
Not issued. Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, and Kentucky are among the states that don’t issue employment certificates under state law.

Even where the state doesn’t issue certificates, federal law provides a separate federal certificate of age that an employer can request to verify you’re old enough for the job.² Start on your state Department of Labor’s website to see which system applies to you.

What You Need Before You Apply

Turning 14 clears the federal age floor for most non-agricultural jobs.³ Beyond that, states that issue certificates generally want to see three things:

You’re enrolled in school and doing okay. The certificate system exists to make sure a job doesn’t derail your education, so slipping grades or attendance problems can hold up your paperwork until they’re resolved. A school official will need to sign off.

Your parent or guardian consents. Every state requires this, either as a signature on the application itself or on a separate form.

You have a job lined up. Most states require a specific job offer before they’ll issue the certificate, because the permit is tied to that employer and those duties. Switch jobs later, and you’ll need a new certificate.

If You’re Homeschooled

There’s no guidance office to walk into, so the process varies. Some states let a parent who serves as the homeschool educator act as the issuing officer. Others route homeschooled students through the local school district office or directly through the state labor department. Contact your state Department of Labor to find out which path applies.

Documents to Gather

The exact list varies, but expect to bring:

Proof of age. A birth certificate or passport is the standard. Some states accept a baptismal record or a school enrollment record showing your date of birth.
Parent or guardian consent. A signed application or a separate consent letter.
School verification. A statement or signature from a principal, guidance counselor, or designated issuing officer confirming your enrollment and academic standing.
Job details. Employer name and address, type of business, a description of your duties, and your expected hours and wages.
Social Security number. Your employer needs this for payroll even if the state application doesn’t ask for it directly.

Most states don’t charge a fee. Application forms come from your school’s main office or guidance department, or from the state labor department’s website.

Where to Submit and How Long It Takes

In mandate states, the most common route runs through your school. A designated school issuing officer reviews the application, confirms enrollment and grades, and either issues the certificate directly or forwards the paperwork to the state labor department for approval. Several states have moved the whole process online, where you, your parent, and your employer each complete and sign your portions electronically.

If your school doesn’t handle certificates, the state labor department office is your fallback. You can usually submit in person, by mail, or through an online portal if one exists. Processing runs from same-day with electronic systems to a week or more for paper applications sent by mail.

Some states set expiration dates or require renewal at the start of each school year, so note when yours runs out.

What Jobs You Can Actually Take

Federal rules spell out which occupations are open to 14- and 15-year-olds. If a job isn’t on the permitted list, it’s off-limits regardless of what a certificate says.³ The main categories:

Office and clerical work: filing, answering phones, data entry, and standard office machines.
Retail: cashiering, stocking shelves, price tagging, packing orders, and window trimming.
Intellectual and creative work: tutoring, writing, and other creative tasks.
Errands and deliveries on foot, by bike, or by public transportation.
Cleaning and light maintenance, but no power-driven equipment like riding mowers or leaf blowers.
Restaurant work: bussing tables, taking orders, running a register, dishwashing, and preparing food with equipment like toasters, coffee grinders, and microwaves.⁴

Off-limits at 14: manufacturing, mining, construction, warehousing, transportation, any job involving power-driven machinery beyond standard office equipment, any work on ladders or scaffolding, freezers and meat coolers, and communications and public utilities.⁵ The ladder rule trips people up most often. Stocking retail shelves is fine, but the moment the job requires climbing a ladder, it crosses the line.

Hours You’re Allowed to Work

Federal law caps both how many hours and what time of day a 14- or 15-year-old can work:⁵

School days: no more than 3 hours, including Fridays.
School weeks: no more than 18 hours total.
Non-school days: up to 8 hours.
Non-school weeks (summer, winter break): up to 40 hours.

All work must fall between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. during the school year. Between June 1 and Labor Day, the evening cutoff extends to 9:00 p.m.⁶ Your state may impose tighter limits, and where it does, the stricter rule wins.

What It Pays

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour and applies to most jobs a 14-year-old would hold.⁷ Many states set a higher minimum, and when they do, you’re entitled to the higher amount.

One exception to watch for: federal law lets employers pay a youth minimum wage of $4.25 per hour to workers under 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days on the job. Those are 90 calendar days from your hire date, not 90 days you actually worked. After that window closes, the employer must pay at least the full federal or state minimum wage.⁸ Not every employer uses the lower rate, but it’s legal, so don’t assume $4.25 on your first paycheck is a mistake.

Why Employers Care About the Certificate

Penalties for child labor violations fall on the employer, not on you. Federal civil penalties can reach $16,035 per child for each hour or occupation violation, and they climb sharply when a violation causes serious injury or death.⁹ Many states pile on their own penalties.

The certificate is what protects the employer if a worker’s age is later questioned. Having one on file is a key legal defense against liability.² That’s why a legitimate employer will insist on it before your first shift, and why the paperwork is worth handling before your start date rather than after.

1
U.S. Department of Labor. Employment/Age Certificate
2
eCFR. 29 CFR 570.5 – Certificates of Age and Their Effect
3
eCFR. 29 CFR Part 570 – Child Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation
4
U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet #2A: Child Labor Rules for Employing Youth in Restaurants
5
U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet #43: Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for Nonagricultural Occupations
6
U.S. Department of Labor. eLaws – Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor – Hours Restrictions
7
U.S. Department of Labor. State Minimum Wage Laws
8
U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet #32: Youth Minimum Wage – Fair Labor Standards Act
9
eCFR. 29 CFR Part 579 – Child Labor Violations – Civil Money Penalties