MN · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 14 year old do in Minnesota?
Quick answer for 14-year-olds in Minnesota — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Minnesota state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 14-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Minnesota
Legal work hours
Minnesota sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.
During the school year
- Hours per school day
- 3 hr
- Hours per non-school day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 18 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 21:00
No work during school hours. Minnesota allows a 9:00 PM cutoff (federal cap is 7:00 PM).
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 21:00
Hours apply when school is not in session.
Common allowed jobs for a 14-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Minnesota adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Retail cashier or sales clerk
Minnesota does not require a state work permit. Employers keep proof of age on file; on request, an Age Certificate can be issued by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
- Counter food-service or drive-thru (no flame cooking)
Minnesota caps 14-15-year-olds at 3 hrs per school day, 18 per school week, 7 AM–9 PM (9 PM is later than the federal 7 PM cutoff).
- Office or clerical work — filing, data entry, reception
- Tutoring younger students
- Park, recreation, or community-center program assistant
- Hand-tool yard work for neighbors
Power-driven mowers, weed-whackers, and chainsaws stay 16+ under federal HO-6 / HO-12.
- Newspaper delivery on a regular route
Federal FLSA carve-out at 29 USC § 213(d).
Restricted in Minnesota
- 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 without adult supervision(Minn. Stat. §181A.04)
- Working alone in a retail store between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM (under 18)(Minn. Stat. §181A.04)
Related guides
Read the full Minnesota 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.