Maryland child labor laws set forth the rules and limitations regarding the days and time children under the age of 18 years old may work in Maryland. They also clarify and limit the types of work children under the age of 14 and youth who are 14, 15, 16, and 17 year olds may work. It is also important to remember that businesses and youth workers must comply with the federal child labor laws set forth in the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Below is information about Maryland child labor law rules and limitations.
- How old do you have to be to work in Maryland?
- What days can a minor work in Maryland?
- What times during the day can a minor work in Maryland?
- How many hours can a minor work each day in Maryland?
- How many hours can a minor work each week in Maryland?
- What kinds of jobs can a minor work in Maryland?
- Does a teen need to have a work permit or certificate to work in Maryland?
- Are youth workers entitled to rest breaks or meal breaks?
How old do you have to be to work in Maryland?
Under Maryland child labor laws, youth must be 14-years-old or older to get a job and work in Maryland with a few exceptions.
There are a few exceptions for children under the age 14. The exemptions for all children include:
| Farm work performed on a farm | Caddying on a golf course | Delivery of newspapers to the consumer |
| Domestic work performed in or about a home | Employment as an instructor on an instructional sailboat | Work performed as a counselor, assistant counselor, or instructor in a youth camp certified under the Maryland Youth Camp Act |
| Work performed in a business owned or operated by a parent or one standing in the place of a parent | Manufacturing of evergreen wreaths in or about a home | Hazardous work performed by non-paid volunteers of a volunteer fire department or company or volunteer rescue squad who have completed or are taking a course of study relating to firefighting or rescue and who are 16 years of age or older |
| Work performed by non-paid volunteers, in a charitable or non- profit organization, employed with the written consent of a parent or one standing in the place of a parent |
MD Statutes, Labor and Employment, 3-201 to 3-216, MD Department of Labor and Industry – Minor Fact Sheet
What days can a minor work in Maryland?
Maryland child labor laws do not limit the days of the week youth may work in Maryland. However, Maryland rules limit the times during a day a minor may work.
What times during the day can a minor work in Maryland?
The times during a day a minor may work in Maryland varies based on 1) whether they are under 16 year old or not, and 2) whether the work will be during school weeks or non-school weeks.
For youth that are 16-years-old and 17-years-old, Maryland child labor laws do not restrict the times during a workday in which they may work, except an employer may not require a minor to work when the minor is supposed to be in school. Exempt, a minor, including 16 and 17-year-olds, may not work to transfer monetary funds in any amount or in any amount over $100.00 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. unless they are the owner or operator of the funds or the funds have been received in payment of goods or services and have been delivered by the minor.
For youth that are 14-years-old and 15-years old, Maryland child labor laws restrict the times during the day in which they work depending whether they will work when school is in session, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and when school is not in session, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
| Age | School Weeks (Labor Day to Memorial Day) | Non-School Weeks (Memorial Day to Labor Day) |
|---|---|---|
| What times can a 14-year-old work? | 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. | 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. |
| What times can a 15-year-old work? | 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. | 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. |
| What times can a 16-year-old work? | No restriction | No restriction |
| What times can a 17-year-old work? | No restriction | No restriction |
Unlike Maryland that does not have different times during a day when they may work based on whether it is during school weeks or during non-school weeks, federal child labor laws do. Because the federal rules are more restrictive, employers and youth in Maryland must comply with the time restriction. The FLSA restricts the times during the day in which they work depending whether the times are during school weeks, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or non-school weeks, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
| Age | School Weeks (Labor Day to June 1) | Non-School Weeks (June 1 to Labor Day) |
|---|---|---|
| What times can a 14-year-old work? | 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. | 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. |
| What times can a 15-year-old work? | 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. | 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. |
| What times can a 16-year-old work? | No restriction | No restriction |
| What times can a 17-year-old work? | No restriction | No restriction |
FLSA, MD Statutes, Labor and Employment, 3-201 to 3-216, MD Department of Labor and Industry
How many hours can a minor work each day in Maryland?
Under Maryland child labor laws, minors cannot work more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period when combining school hours and work hours. Also, all minors must be permitted 8 hours each day in which they are not in school or working. This includes teens who are 16 years old and 17 years old, except when they serve as an election judge. A 16 or 17-year-old may work more the 12 hours on early voting or election days if they have consent of a parent or guardian.
Moreover, under Maryland child labor laws, children that are 14-years-old and 15-years-old may work no more than 4 hours on a day when school is in session and no more than 8 hours on a day when school is out of session.
| Age | Max Hours Work Each Day (School in Session) | Max Hours Work Each Day (School out of Session) |
|---|---|---|
| How many hours can a 14-year-old work each day? | 4 | 8 |
| How many hours can a 15-year-old work each day? | 4 | 8 |
| How many hours can a 16-year-old work each day? | 12 hours when combining school and work hours | 12 |
| How many hours can a 17-year-old work each day? | 12 hours when combining school and work hours | 12 |
Federal child labor laws have more strict rules than Maryland regarding the number of hours 14 and 15 year olds can work in a work day. Businesses and teens must comply with the stricter rule for school days set forth by the federal FLSA.
| Age | Max Hours Work Each Day (School days) | Max Hours Work Each Day (Non-school days) |
|---|---|---|
| How many hours can a 14-year-old work each day? | 3 | 8 |
| How many hours can a 15-year-old work each day? | 3 | 8 |
| How many hours can a 16-year-old work each day? | No restriction | No restriction |
| How many hours can a 17-year-old work each day? | No restriction | No restriction |
FLSA, MD Statutes, Labor and Employment, 3-201 to 3-216, MD Department of Labor and Industry
How many hours can a minor work each week in Maryland?
Under Maryland child labor laws, minors may work no more than 40 hours in a workweek. This covers 14, 15, 16, and 17 year olds and does not change regardless of whether the children are in school or out of school. This is different from the federal law that does not have an daily hours worked restriction for 16 and 17 year olds.
Under Maryland child labor laws, children that are 14-years-old and 15-years-old may work no more than 23 hours a workweek when school is in session for 5 days and no more than 40 hours a workweek when school is out of session.
| Max Hours Worked Each Week | School in Session for 5 days | School out of Session |
|---|---|---|
| How many hours can a 14-year-old work each week? | 23 | 40 |
| How many hours can a 15-year-old work each week? | 23 | 40 |
| How many hours can a 16-year-old work each week? | No restriction | No restriction |
| How many hours can a 17-year-old work each week? | No restriction | No restriction |
Also, under federal child labor laws, however, children that are 14-years-old and 15-years-old may work no more than 24 hours in a workweek during school weeks and 48 hours during non-school weeks.
| Age – Max Hours Worked Each Week | Maryland Law | Federal Law School Weeks (Labor Day to June 1) | Federal Law Non-School Weeks (June 1 to Labor Day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| How many hours can a 14-year-old work each week? | 40 | 18 | 40 |
| How many hours can a 15-year-old work each week? | 40 | 18 | 40 |
| How many hours can a 16-year-old work each week? | 40 | No restriction | No restriction |
| How many hours can a 17-year-old work each week? | 40 | No restriction | No restriction |
FLSA, MD Statutes, Labor and Employment, 3-201 to 3-216, MD Department of Labor and Industry
What kinds of jobs can a minor work in Maryland?
In Maryland, youth 14 years old and older may work in the following jobs
- manufacturing, mechanical, or processing occupations including occupations in workrooms, workplaces, or storage areas where goods are manufactured or processed
- operation, cleaning, or adjusting of any power-driven machinery other than office machines
- occupations causing dust or gases in injurious quantities
- any occupation deemed injurious by the MD Depart. of Labor
- occupations in, about, or in connection with (except office or sales work not performed on site):
| scaffolding | railroads | lumberyard | boats engaged in navigation or commerce |
| acids | hoisting apparatus | lye | certain poultry activities |
| construction | brickyard | airports | certain baking and cooking |
| dyes | gases | public messaging service | transportation of persons or property |
Under the Maryland child labor laws and/or the FLSA child labor laws, employees under 18 years old may not work in jobs that are considered hazardous. Here is a list of the jobs that are considered hazardous.
| Occupations in or about plants or establishments manufacturing or storing explosives or articles containing explosive components. | Occupations involved in the operation of power-driven metal forming, punching, and shearing machines | Occupations involved in wrecking, demolition, and shipbreaking operations | Erection and repair of electrical wires |
| Occupations of motor-vehicle driver and outside helper | Occupations in connection with mining, other than coal | Occupations involved in roofing operations | Any distillery where alcoholic beverages are manufactured, bottled, wrapped, or packed |
| Coal-mine occupations | Occupations involving slaughtering, meat-packing or processing, or rendering | Occupations involved in excavation operations | The manufacturing of dangerous or toxic chemicals or compounds |
| Logging occupations and occupations in the operation of any sawmill, lathe mill, shingle mill, or cooperage-stock mill | Occupations involved in the operation of certain power- driven bakery machines | Blast furnaces | Cleaning, oiling, or wiping of machinery |
| Occupations involved in the operation of power-driven woodworking machines | Occupations involved in the operation of certain power-driven paper products machines | Docks or wharves, other than marinas where pleasure boats are sold or served | Any occupation forbidden by any local, state, or federal law |
| Occupations involving exposure to radioactive substances and to ionizing radiations | Occupations involved in the manufacture of brick, tile, and kindred products | Pilots, firemen, or engineers on any vessel or boat engaged in commerce | Any occupation which after investigation by the MD Dept. of Labor is deemed injurious to the health and welfare of the minor |
| Occupations involved in the operation of elevators and other power-driven hoisting apparatus | Occupations involved in the operation of circular saws, band saws, and guillotine shears | Railroads |
FLSA, MD Statutes, Labor and Employment, 3-201 to 3-216, MD Department of Labor and Industry – Minor Fact Sheet
Does a teen need to have a work permit or certificate to work in Maryland?
Maryland child labor laws require teens to a have work permit to work in Maryland. This includes all teens including those who are 14, 15, 16, and 17 year olds. The MD Department of Labor and Industry issues the work permit. Minors can request a work permit by filing an application online.
The MD Department of Labor has created an YouTube video explaining the work permit process:
Are youth workers entitled to rest breaks or meal breaks?
In Maryland, employers are required to provide minors with a unpaid meal period lasting 30 minutes or more if the minor works 5 consecutive hours in a shift. MD Department of Labor and Industry
