Minnesota 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 Minnesota. 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 Minnesota child labor law rules and limitations.
- How old do you have to be to work in Minnesota?
- What days can a minor work in Minnesota?
- What times during the day can a minor work in Minnesota?
- How many hours can a minor work each day in Minnesota?
- How many hours can a minor work each week in Minnesota?
- What kinds of jobs can a minor work in Minnesota?
- Does a teen need to have a work permit or certificate to work in Minnesota?
- Are youth workers entitled to rest breaks or meal breaks?
How old do you have to be to work in Minnesota?
Under Minnesota child labor laws, youth must be 14-years-old or older to get a job and work in Minnesota with a few exceptions.
There are a few exceptions for children under the age 14. The exemptions for all children include:
- Newspaper carriers (11 years old or older)
- Actors, models, and performers
- Agriculture (12 years old or older with parental/guardian consent)
- Home chores
- Youth athletic program referee (11 years old or older with parental or guardian consent)
MN Statutes 181A – Child Labor, MN Department of Labor and Industry – Child Labor
What days can a minor work in Minnesota?
Minnesota child labor laws do not limit the days of the week youth may work in Minnesota. However, Minnesota rules limit the times during a day a minor may work.
What times during the day can a minor work in Minnesota?
The times during a day a minor may work in Minnesota 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 who are not high school graduates, Minnesota child labor laws restrict the times in which they can work to 11 p.m. on the day before a school day or before 5 a.m. on a school day. With a parent’s permission, the hours the 16 or 17-year-old may work is 11 p.m. on the day before a school day or before 4:30 a.m. on a school day. For 17-year-olds who are high school graduates, there are not time restrictions.
For youth that are 14-years-old and 15-years old, Minnesota child labor laws restrict the times during the day in which they work to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Also, an employer may not require 14-years-old and 15-year-olds to work when the minor is supposed to be in school, unless they have a employment certificate permitting it.
| Age | Night before school days to school days | Night before non-school days to non-school days |
|---|---|---|
| What times can a 14-year-old work? | 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. |
| What times can a 15-year-old work? | 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. |
| What times can a 16-year-old work? | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. 11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. with permission | No restriction |
| What times can a 17-year-old work? | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. 11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. with permission | No restriction |
Unlike Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 |
MN Statutes 181A – Child Labor, MN Department of Labor and Industry – Child Labor
How many hours can a minor work each day in Minnesota?
Minnesota child labor laws do not restrict the number of hours a 16 years old and 17 years old may work each day.
To the contrary, minors who are 14 years old or 15 years old cannot work more than 8 hours in a 24-hour period except in agriculture.
| Age | Max Hours Work Each Day |
|---|---|
| How many hours can a 14-year-old work each day? | 8 |
| How many hours can a 15-year-old work each day? | 8 |
| How many hours can a 16-year-old work each day? | No restriction |
| How many hours can a 17-year-old work each day? | No restriction |
Federal child labor laws have more strict rules than Minnesota 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 |
MN Statutes 181A – Child Labor, MN Department of Labor and Industry – Child Labor
How many hours can a minor work each week in Minnesota?
Minnesota child labor laws do not restrict the number of hours a 16 years old or 17 years old may work each day.
Under Minnesota child labor laws, minors who are 14 or 15 years old may work no more than 40 hours in a workweek.
| Age | Max Hours Work Each Day |
|---|---|
| How many hours can a 14-year-old work each workweek? | 40 |
| How many hours can a 15-year-old work each workweek? | 40 |
| How many hours can a 16-year-old work each workweek? | No restriction |
| How many hours can a 17-year-old work each workweek? | 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 | Minnesota 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 |
MN Statutes 181A – Child Labor, MN Department of Labor and Industry – Child Labor
The MN Department of Labor and Industry has produced a YouTube video explaining the Minnesota child labor laws and restrictions:
What kinds of jobs can a minor work in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, youth under 16 years old may not work in the following jobs except 1) a minor employed by a business solely owned and daily supervised by one or both parents; and 2) a minor employed at tasks away from or outside the area of hazardous operation, equipment or materials:
| any agricultural operation declared by the U.S. Secretary of Labor to be particularly hazardous for employment of children less than age 16 | oiling, cleaning or maintaining any power-driven machinery | in a processing plant |
| operating or assisting in the operation of machinery | using pits, racks or lifting apparatus at service stations or in mounting tires on rims | in or around an airport landing strip and maintenance aprons |
| operating laundry, rug cleaning or dry-cleaning equipment | in a car wash to attach cars to or detach them from mechanized conveyor lines or to operate or contact the car while it is connected to the conveyor | as an outside helper on a motor vehicle |
| operating power-driven snowblowers, lawn mowers or garden equipment | welding | lifting, carrying or caring for patients in hospitals or nursing homes |
| operating drill presses, milling machines, grinders, lathes and portable power-driven machinery such as drills, sanders, and polishing and scrubbing equipment for floor maintenance | as a loader or launcher for skeet- or trap-shooting | in walk-in meat freezers or meat coolers, except for occasional entrance |
| operating meat slicers, textile-making machines or bakery machinery | in a manufacturing or commercial warehouse |
MN Department of Labor and Industry – Child Labor Prohibitions under 16
In Minnesota, in addition to any prohibition under the FLSA, youth under 18 years old may not work in the following jobs except 1) a 17-year-old high school graduate; 2) and 2) a minor employed by a business solely owned and daily supervised by one or both parents; and 3) a minor employed at tasks away from or outside the area of hazardous operation, equipment or materials:
| where chemicals or other substances are present at excessive temperatures or in injurious, explosive, toxic or flammable quantities | operating or assisting in the operation of power-driven machinery, such as forklifts, meat saws and grinders, milling machines, punch presses, press brakes and shears, and woodworking machinery | on boats or vessels used for commercial purposes, except if performing guide or other non-operational duties |
| where explosives or fireworks are manufactured, stored, handled or fired | operating any non-automatic elevator, lift or hoisting machine | driving buses, cabs or other passenger-carrying vehicles as a driver |
| on construction or building projects of any size | serving, dispensing or handling intoxicating liquors that are consumed on the premises | in certain railway occupations |
| in or around logging or lumbering operations; paper, saw, lathe and shingle mills; mines, quarries and sand or gravel pits; construction or building projects; and ice harvesting operations | working in rooms where liquor is served or consumed except busing, dishwashing or hosting duties in a restaurant where the presence of intoxicating liquors is incidental to food service and preparation | in aerial or other acrobatic acts |
| in building maintenance, window washing, painting or repair higher than 12 feet above ground or floor level using ladders, scaffolding, safety belts, outside vertical conveyors or similar equipment | working in rooms where liquor is served or consumed except provide musical entertainment in a restaurant where the presence of intoxicating liquors is incidental to food service and preparation | as a lifeguard, except for a minor with a Red Cross lifesaving certificate who works with uninterrupted adult supervision |
| in oxy-acetylene or oxy-hydrogen welding |
MN Department of Labor and Industry – Child Labor Prohibitions under 18
Does a teen need to have a work permit or certificate to work in Minnesota?
Minnesota child labor laws require 14- and 15-year-olds to obtain an employment certificate (work permit) before they can work. A minor may obtain the certificate from their school district. A school district will issued the certificate if:
- a minor will work in an occupation that is not prohibited
- a signed statement from the prospective employer indicating the work to be performed by the teen
- the parent or guardian consents
- the issuing officer believes the minor is physically capable of handling the job and believes that working is in the best interests of the minor
MN Statutes 181A – Child Labor, MN Department of Labor and Industry – Child Labor
Are youth workers entitled to rest breaks or meal breaks?
In Minnesota, employers are required to provide minors with breaks consistent with it meal and rest break laws. For more information, visit our Minnesota Labor Laws page.
