MI · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 14 year old do in Michigan?
Quick answer for 14-year-olds in Michigan — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Michigan state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 14-year-old work?
- Yes
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Michigan
Legal work hours
Michigan sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.
During the school year
- Hours per school day
- 4 hr
- Hours per non-school day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 24 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 21:00
Combined school + work may not exceed 48 hours per week. Daily on-site shift cap is 10 hours total (school + work).
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 21:00
When school is not in session for the full week, weekly cap rises to 48 hours.
Common allowed jobs for a 14-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Michigan adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Retail cashier or sales clerk (with MI Combined Application / Permit, Form CA-6)
Michigan's CA-6 work-permit form is job-specific and must be reissued for each new employer. Federal FLSA hour caps apply at 14-15.
- Counter food-service or drive-thru (no flame cooking)
Michigan requires a 30-minute rest break after every 5 continuous hours of work (state rule beyond the federal floor).
- Office or clerical work — filing, reception, data entry
- Tutoring younger students
- Park, recreation, or community-center program assistant
- Hand-tool yard work for neighbors
Michigan bans door-to-door sales for minors under 16. Power mowers and weed-whackers stay 16+ under federal HO-6.
- Newspaper delivery on a regular route
Federal FLSA carve-out at 29 USC § 213(d).
Restricted in Michigan
- All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17(29 CFR Part 570)
- Operating power-driven meat-processing machines(HO-10)
- Roofing operations and work on or about a roof(HO-16)
- Door-to-door sales for minors under 16(MCL §409.116)
- Working without a 30-minute rest after 5 continuous hours(MCL §409.112)
Related guides
Read the full Michigan rules
This page summarizes the rules for 14-year-olds. For all ages, age-band breakdown, statute citation, and DOL references, see the full state page.