ALERT FOR EMPLOYERS: Some state child labor laws, including some of the provisions of state law listed below, are inconsistent with the federal child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. 212(c), and its implementing regulations at 29 CFR Part 570. Where a state child labor law is less restrictive than the federal law, the federal law applies. Where a state child labor law is more restrictive than the federal law, the state law applies. See 29 U.S.C. 218(a).

 

 

Historical Tables

 
 
 

 
Table of Selected State Child Labor Standards for Children Under 18 in Non-farm Employment

State or other jurisdiction 

Maximum daily and weekly hours and days per week for minors of age: a

Nightwork prohibited for minors of age: a

Under 16

16 and 17

Under 16

16 and 17

Federal (FLSA)

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week b

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

 

Alabama

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3-18-6 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. during summer vacation) to 7 a.m.

10 p.m. before school day to 5 a.m., if enrolled in school (to age 19)

For 16/17 year-olds, exemptions may be granted when the individual circumstances are found to be in the best interests of the minor.

Alaska

9 - 23-6 c

6-day week

9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

 

Arizona

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

9:30 p.m. (11 p.m. before non-school day) to 6 a.m. 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. in door-to-door sales or deliveries

 

Arkansas

8-48-6

16-year-old children cannot work more than 10 hours consecutive or more than 10 hours in a 24 hours period.

7 p.m. (9 p.m. before non-school day) to 6 a.m.

11 p.m. to 6 a.m. before school day (for 16 year-olds only; no requirements for 17 year-olds)

California

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

8-48 non-school day/-week: 3-18 school day/week

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

10 p.m. (12:30 a.m. before non-school day) to 5 a.m.

Colorado

8-40 non-school day/week
6-40 school day/week

8-40

9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. before school day

 

Connecticut

8-40 during periods of school vacation of 5 days or more

Enrolled in and not graduated from a secondary institution. 8-48-6, non-school days/weeks. 6-32 school day/week, in restaurant, recreational, amusement, theater, manufacturing, mechanical, retail, hairdressing, bowling alley, pool hall, or photography gallery establishments.

Not enrolled in and not graduated from a secondary institution. 8-48-6 in retail/mercantile establishments.

9-48-6 in restaurant, manufacturing, mechanical, recreation, amusement and theater establishments

7 p.m. (9 p.m. July 1 to the first Monday in September) to 7 a.m.

11 p.m. (midnight if school vacation, not prior to a school day, or not attending school) to 6 a.m. in restaurants, recreational, amusement and theater establishments.
10 p.m. (11 p.m. if school vacation, not prior to a school day, or not attending school; midnight in a supermarket of 3,500 square feet or more when no school the next day) to 6 a.m. in manufacturing, mechanical and retail establishments.
10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in hairdressing, bowling alley, pool hall, or photography gallery establishments.

Delaware

8-40-6 non-school day/week
4-18-6 school day/week

12 c

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

8 consecutive hours of non-work, non-school time required in each 24-hour day.

Florida

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3-15-6 school day/week

Minors under 16 may work 8-40 during non-school day or week.

8-30-6 school day/week

7 p.m. before school day to 7 a.m. on school day (9 p.m. during holidays and summer vacations to 7 a.m.)

11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., before school day.

Georgia

8-40 non-school day/week
4-40 school day/week

 

9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

 

Hawaii

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3-18-6 school day/week

 

7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (9 p.m. to 6 a.m. during authorized school breaks).

 

Idaho

9-54

 

9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

 

Illinois

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

 

Indiana

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p/m/ June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

 

Iowa

8-40 non-school day/week
6-28 school day/week

 

9 p.m. (11 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

 

Kansas

8-40

 

10 p.m. before school day to 7 a.m.

 

Kentucky

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

6-30 school day/week
(6- 40 school day/week with parental permission and at least a 2.0 school grade point average)

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

11 p.m. (1 a.m. Friday and Saturday) to 6 a.m. when school in session.

Louisiana

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3-18-6 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

Non-graduate (7 p.m.-7 a.m. on any school day, 9 p.m.-7 a.m. on any non-school day)

Non-graduate 16 year old (11 p.m. - 5 a.m. prior to start of school day)

Non-graduate 17 year old (12a.m.-5a.m.) prior to start of any school day.

Maine

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3-18-6 school day/week

If enrolled in school:

10-50-6 non-school day/week

6 (except 8 on last scheduled day of school week)- 24-6 school day/week

7 p.m. (9 p.m. during summer vacation) to 7 a.m.

If enrolled in school:

10:15 p.m. (12 a.m. before non-school day) to 7 a.m. on day the minor’s school is in session, and to 5 a.m. otherwise.

Maryland

8-40 non-school day/week
4-23 school day/week

12 c

8 p.m. (9 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

8 consecutive hours of non-work, non-school day time required in each 24-hour day.

Massachusetts

8-48-6

9-48-6

Only between 6:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the school year.

Only between 6:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. during the summer (from July 1 through Labor Day).

Only between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. (on nights preceding a regularly scheduled school day) - if the establishment stops serving clients or customers at 10:00 p.m., the minor may be employed until 10:15 p.m.

Only between 6 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. (on nights not preceding a regularly scheduled school day).

Exception for restaurants and racetracks: only between 6 a.m. and 12:00 midnight (on nights not preceding a regularly scheduled school day).

Michigan

40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

10-48 non-school day/week
10/24 school day/week 

7 p.m.(9 p.m. June 1 to Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

10:30 p.m. (11:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and during school vacations) to 6:30 a.m., if attending school. 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., if not attending school.

Minnesota

8-40

 

9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

11 p.m. to 5 a.m. before school day (11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. with written parental permission).

Mississippi

8-44 in factory, mill, cannery, workshop, or manufacturing establishment.

 

7 p.m. to 6 a.m. in factory, mill, cannery, workshop, or manufacturing establishment.

 

Missouri

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3-40-6 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) (10:30 p.m. at regional Fairs or expositions where entity is not covered by FLSA) to 7 a.m.

 

Montana

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. during periods outside the school year (June 1 through Labor Day, depending on local standards)) to 7 a.m.

 

Nebraska

8-48

 

8 p.m. to 6 a.m., under 14. 10 p.m. (beyond 10 p.m. before non-school day with special permit) to 6 a.m., 14 and 15.

 

Nevada

8-48

 

----

 

New Hampshire

8-48 non-school days/week
3-23 school days/week

A 48-hour work week, with work up to 6-days per week, is permitted during vacation, if enrolled in school. A 30-hour work week, with work up to 6-days per week, is permitted if enrolled in school.

9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

 

New Jersey

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3-18-6 school day/week

8-40-6 - Workers 16 and up may work up to 50 hours in one week and up to 10 hours a day only between the last day of school and Labor Day.

7 p.m. (9 p.m. from last day of school through Labor Day in non-school weeks with written permission) to 7 a.m.

11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during school term, with specified variations

New Mexico

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. outside of the calendar school year) to 7 a.m.

 

New York

8-40-6 non- school day/week
3-18-6 school day/week

8-48-6 school day/week: 4 before school day, 8 Friday, Saturday, Sunday or holiday-28, if enrolled in school.

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 21 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

10 p.m. (midnight before school days with written permission from both parent and school and before non-school day with written parental consent) to 6 a.m., while school is in session. Midnight to 6 a.m. while school is not in session.

North Carolina

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. during summer vacation) to 7 a.m.

11 p.m. to 5 a.m. before school day while school is in session. Not applicable with written permission from both parent and school.

North Dakota

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

 

Ohio

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 to Sept. 1 and during school holidays of 5 school days or more) to 7 a.m., 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in door-to-door sales.

11 p.m. before school day to 7 a.m. on school day (6 a.m. if not employed after 8 p.m. previous night) if required to attend school. 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. in door-to-door sales.

Oklahoma

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week (if employer is not covered by FLSA, may work 8 hours on a school day which precedes a non-school day and 40 hours in a week when school is in session if attendance is not compulsory)

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.(if employer is not covered by FLSA, may work 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on a day followed by a non-school day)

 

Oregon

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3-18-6 school day/week

44-hour week

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

 

Pennsylvania

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

10-48-6 non-school day/week
8-28-6 school day/week

7 p.m. (9 p.m. during vacation from June to Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

12 a.m. (1 a.m. before non-school day) to 6 a.m., if enrolled in regular day school.

Rhode Island

8-40

9-48

7 p.m. (9 p.m. during school vacation) to 6 a.m.

11:30 p.m. (1:30 a.m. before non-school day) to 6 a.m., if regularly attending school.

South Carolina

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. during summer break of the school district in which the minor resides) to 7 a.m.

 

South Dakota

8-40 non-school day/week
4-20 school day/week

 

After 10 p.m. before school day

 

Tennessee

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (9 p.m. to 6 a.m. before non-school days)

10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Sunday - Thursday before school days) (midnight with parental permission up to 3 nights a week)

Texas

8-48

 

10 p.m. (midnight before non-school day or in summer if not enrolled in summer school) to 5 a.m.

 

Utah

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

 

Vermont

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3-18-6 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

 

Virginia

8-40 non-school day/week 
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

 

Washington

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3 (8 Saturday and Sunday)
16-6 school day/week

8-48-6 non-school day/week
4-20-6 school day/week

7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1st to Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

An adult must supervise minors working after 8 p.m. in service occupations, such as restaurants and retail businesses.

10 p.m. Sunday - Thursday (midnight Friday and Saturday and when school is not in session) to 7 a.m. (5 a.m. when school is not in session). 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. in door-to-door sales.

An adult must supervise minors working after 8 p.m. in service occupations, such as restaurants and retail businesses.

West Virginia

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

Supervision permit may be issued allowing 14 and 15 year old minors to work until 11:00p.m. when school is not in session.

 

Wisconsin

8-40-6 non-school day/week
3-18-6 school day/week

 

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

 

Wyoming

May not work more than 8 hours during any 12 hour period

 

10 p.m. (midnight before non-school day and for minors not enrolled in school) to 5 a.m.

 

District of Columbia

8-48-6

8-48-6

7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Guam

8-40 non-school day/week
3-18 school day/week

8-40

7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1st through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.

10 p.m. (midnight on non-school nights (Sunday through Thursday, except nights preceding a holiday during a school week) to 6 a.m.

Puerto Rico

8-40-6 c

8-40-6

6 p.m. to 8 a.m.

10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

a State hours limitations on a school day and in a school week usually apply only to those enrolled in school. Several states exempt high school graduates from the hours and/or nightwork or other provisions, or have less restrictive provisions for minors participating in various school-work programs. Separate nightwork standards in messenger service and street trades are common, but are not displayed in table. Some states have exceptions or special conditions for minors engaged in specific employments, such as street trades, recreation and entertainment, and jobs in establishments offering alcoholic beverages for sale.

b Students of 14 and 15 enrolled in approved Work Experience and Career Exploration programs may work during school hours up to 3 hours on a school day and 23 hours in a school week.

c Combined hours of work and school.

Prepared By:

Division of Fair Labor Standards Act and Child Labor
Wage and Hour Division
U.S. Department of Labor

This document was last revised in July 15, 2025.

The Department of Labor does not administer State laws. Please consult your State’s Department of Labor for details on your State’s requirements.