Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts child labor law rules and limitations.
- How old do you have to be to work in Massachusetts?
- What days can a minor work in Massachusetts?
- What times during the day can a minor work in Massachusetts?
- How many hours can a minor work each day in Massachusetts?
- How many hours can a minor work each week in Massachusetts?
- What kinds of jobs can a minor work in Massachusetts?
- Does a teen need to have a work permit or certificate to work in Massachusetts?
- Are youth workers entitled to rest breaks or meal breaks?
How old do you have to be to work in Massachusetts?
Under Massachusetts child labor laws, youth must be 14-years-old or older to get a job and work in Massachusetts with a few exceptions including working as news carriers, on farms, and in entertainment (with a special permit).
MA Office of Labor and Workforce Development – Minor Work Laws
What days can a minor work in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts child labor laws do not limit the days of the week youth may work in Massachusetts. However, minors may only work 6 days each workweek. Morevoer, Massachusetts rules limit the times during a day a minor may work. MA Office of Labor and Workforce Development – Minor Work Laws
What times during the day can a minor work in Massachusetts?
The times during a day a minor may work in Massachusetts 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, Massachusetts child labor laws restrict the times during the day in which they work if they work the day before a school day, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (10:30 p.m. if the business stops serving customers at 10:00 p.m.). For days not preceding a regularly scheduled school days, 16 and 17 year olds may work between 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. unless they work for restaurants or racetracks which allows the teens to work until 12:00 a.m.
For youth that are 14-years-old and 15-years old, Massachusetts child labor laws restrict the times during the day in which they work depending whether school is in session, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or school is not in session, 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. |
| Age | Day before a School Day | Day before a Non-School Day |
|---|---|---|
| What times can a 16-year-old work? | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. except 10:30 p.m. if business closes at 10 p.m. | 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. except to 12:00 a.m. for restaurants or racetracks |
| What times can a 17-year-old work? | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. except 10:30 p.m. if business closes at 10 p.m. | 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. for restaurants or racetracks |
The FLSA also 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. When Massachusetts child labor laws are more restrictive than the federal laws, the Massachusetts rules apply.
| Age | Federal Law School Weeks (Labor Day to June 1) | Federal Law 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 |
MA Office of Labor and Workforce Development – Minor Work Laws
How many hours can a minor work each day in Massachusetts?
Under Massachusetts child labor laws, children that are 16-years-old and 17-years-old may work no more than 9 hours each day regardless of whether is a school day or non-school day.
Moreover, under Massachusetts child labor laws, children that are 14-years-old and 15-years-old may work no more than 3 hours on a school day and 8 hours on a non-school day.
| Age | School Day | Non-School Day |
|---|---|---|
| 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? | 9 | 9 |
| How many hours can a 17-year-old work each day? | 9 | 9 |
MA Office of Labor and Workforce Development – Minor Work Laws
The FLSA also restricts the how many hours a youth may work each day. When Massachusetts child labor laws are more restrictive than the federal laws, the Massachusetts rules apply.
| Max Hours Work Each Day | Federal Law School days | Federal Law 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 |
How many hours can a minor work each week in Massachusetts?
Under Massachusetts child labor laws, children that are 16-years-old and 17-years-old may work no more than 48 hours each workweek regardless of whether is a school day or non-school day.
Also, children that are 14-years-old and 15-years-old may work no more than 18 hours in a workweek during school weeks and 40 hours during non-school weeks.
| Max Hours Worked Each Week | School Weeks (Labor Day to June 1) | Non-School Weeks (June 1 to Labor Day) |
|---|---|---|
| How many hours can a 14-year-old work each week? | 18 | 40 |
| How many hours can a 15-year-old work each week? | 18 | 40 |
| How many hours can a 16-year-old work each week? | 48 | 48 |
| How many hours can a 17-year-old work each week? | 48 | 48 |
MA Office of Labor and Workforce Development – Minor Work Laws
The FLSA also restricts the how many hours a youth may work each workweek. When Massachusetts child labor laws are more restrictive than the federal laws, the Massachusetts rules apply.
| Age – Max Hours Worked Each Week | 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? | 18 | 40 |
| How many hours can a 15-year-old work each week? | 18 | 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 |
What kinds of jobs can a minor work in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, youth under 16 years old may not work in the following jobs.
| Operate, clean, or repair power-driven machinery (except office machines or machines for retail, cleanup, or kitchen work not otherwise prohibited | Filter, transport, or dispose of cooking oil or grease hotter than 100 degrees Fahrenheit | Work in barber shops |
| Cook (except on electric or gas grills that do not have open flames) | Work in freezers or meat coolers | Work in door-to-door street sales, including work as a sign waiver (except directly outside employer establishment) |
| Operate fryolators, rotisseries, NEICO broilers, or pressure cookers | Work in a manufacturing facility or occupation (e.g., in a factory, as an assembler) | Work in construction, transportation, communications, or public utilities (except doing clerical work away from heavy machinery off the job site) |
| Operate clean or repair power-driven food slicers, grinders, choppers, processors, cutters, and mixers | Work on or use ladders, scaffolds, or their substitutes | Work in warehouses (except doing clerical work) |
| Perform any baking activities | Work in garages, except dispensing gas and oil | Load or unload trucks, railroad cars, or conveyors |
| Operate microwave ovens (except to heat food in microwave ovens with a maximum capacity of 140 degrees Fahrenheit) | Work in brick or lumber yards | Ride in or on a motor vehicle (except in passenger seat if wearing a seatbelt) |
| Clean kitchen surfaces that are hotter than 100 degrees Fahrenheit | Work in amusement places (e.g., pool or billiard room, or bowling alley) | Work doing laundry in a commercial laundry or dry cleaning establishment |
| Work as a public messenger | Do industrial homework | Work in any of the occupations or tasks prohibited for persons under age 18 |
| Work at processing operations (e.g., in meat or fish, poultry catching, cooping, cracking nuts, bulk or mass mailing) | Work with dangerous electrical machinery or appliances | Engage in work that is determined by the Massachusetts Attorney General to be dangerous to the health and well-being of minors |
| Work around boilers or in engine rooms |
In Massachusetts, youth under 16 years old may not work in the following jobs.
| Drive a vehicle, forklift, or work assist vehicle (except golf carts in certain circumstances) | Operate or load power-driven balers, compactors, or paper processing machines | Work in railway operations |
| Ride as a passenger on a forklift | Use power-driven metal-forming, punching, or shearing machines | Work in roofing or on or about a roof |
| Operate, clean, or repair power-driven meat slicers, grinders, or choppers | Use buffing or polishing equipment | Work in foundries or around blast furnaces |
| Operate, clean, or repair power-driven bakery machines (except for certain countertop models and pizza dough rollers) | Manufacture brick, tile, or kindred products | Work manufacturing phosphorus or phosphorus matches |
| Work 30 feet or more above ground or water | Manufacture or store explosives | Work where they are exposed to radioactive substances |
| Handle, serve, or sell alcoholic beverages | Work in excavation, wrecking, demolition, or shipbreaking | Work as a firefighter or engineer on a boat |
| Use circular, chain, or band saws; guillotine shears; wood chippers; and abrasive cutting discs | Work in forest fire fighting, forest fire prevention, timber track operations, and forestry service | Oil or clean hazardous machinery in motion |
| Use power-driven woodworking machines | Work in logging, sawmilling, or mining | Work in any job requiring the possession or use of a firearm |
| Use, service, drive, or work from hoisting machines | Work slaughtering, packing, or processing meat and poultry |
MA Office of Labor and Workforce Development – Minor Work Laws
Under 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.
| manufacturing or storing explosives or articles containing explosive components | operating sawmills, lath mills, shingle mills, or cooperage stock mills | operating power-driven meat-processing machines and occupations involving slaughtering, meat and poultry packing, processing, or rendering | operating power-driven woodworking machines |
| motor-vehicle driver and outside helper | work involving exposure to radioactive substances and to ionizing radiations | operating of bakery machines | wrecking, demolition, and shipbreaking operations |
| coal mine occupations | operating power-driven hoisting apparatus | operating balers, compactors, and paper-products machines | roofing operations and on or about a roof |
| forest fire fighting and prevention, timber tract occupations, and forestry service occupations | operating power-driven metal forming, punching, and shearing machines | manufacturing brick, tile, and kindred products | excavation operations |
| logging occupations | mining | operating circular saws, band saws, guillotine shears, chain saws, reciprocating saws, wood chippers, and abrasive cutting discs |
Does a teen need to have a work permit or certificate to work in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts child labor laws require all teens under 18 years of age to have work permit to work in Massachusetts. Youth may obtain a work permit by completing an employment permit application and presenting it to the superintendent of schools for the municipality in which the minor lives or attends school
MA Department of Labor Standards – Youth Employment Permit
Are youth workers entitled to rest breaks or meal breaks?
In Massachusetts, employers are required to provide all employees, including employees under the 18 years of age, with meal and rest breaks. For more information, visit our Massachusetts Labor Laws page.
