What hours are teens under 18 allowed to work in non-agricultural jobs?
Check the chart below for the hours 14- through 17-year-olds can work.
Find out how to apply for a variance to these requirements, if necessary.
Note: Minors working in restaurants and retail businesses after 8 p.m. must be supervised by an adult.
| Hours and Schedules Minors are Permitted to Work in Non-Agricultural Jobs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours a Day | Hours a Week | Days a Week | Begin | Quit | |
| 14-15 year-olds | |||||
| School weeks |
3 hours (8 hours Sat.-Sun.) |
16 hours |
6 days |
7 a.m. |
7 p.m. |
| Non-school weeks | 8 hours | 40 hours | 6 days | 7 a.m. | 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 to Labor Day) |
| 16-17 year-olds | |||||
| School weeks | 4 hours (8 hours Fri.-Sun.) |
20 hours |
6 days |
7 a.m. |
10 p.m. (Midnight Fri.-Sat.) |
| School weeks with a special variance |
6 hours (8 hours Fri.-Sun.) |
28 hours | 6 days | 7 a.m. | 10 p.m. (Midnight Fri.-Sat.) |
| Non-school weeks | 8 hours | 48 hours | 6 days | 5 a.m. | Midnight |
For more information, see the L&I publication:
Teens at Work: Facts for Employers,
Parents and Teens.
For more detail, see L&I Administrative Policy:
School
Week and Work Week for Minors (ES.C.4.1) (55 KB PDF)
For more detail, see Washington Administrative Code:
Hours of work for minors (WAC 296-125-027)
Non-agricultural
Employment of Minors (WAC 296-125)
