SD · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 14 year old do in South Dakota?
Quick answer for 14-year-olds in South Dakota — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from South Dakota state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 14-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In South Dakota
Legal work hours
South Dakota 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
- 20 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 22:00
South Dakota allows up to 4 hours on a school day and a 10:00 PM cutoff (looser than the federal 3-hour / 7:00 PM caps). School-week cap of 20 hours.
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 22:00
Summer hours apply when school is not in session. 10:00 PM evening cutoff applies year-round.
Common allowed jobs for a 14-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. South Dakota adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Retail cashier or sales clerk
Distinctive South Dakota rule: SD does not issue a state work permit for minors at any age — the employer keeps age verification on file. The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation enforces child-labor rules under SDCL § 60-12-1 et seq. via complaint and inspection.
- Counter food-service or drive-thru (no flame cooking)
South Dakota caps 14-15-year-olds at 4 hrs per school day, 20 per school week, 7 AM–7 PM during the school year (9 PM June 1–Labor Day) — slightly looser than the federal 3/18 daily/weekly cap but mirrors federal night-work limits.
- 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 South Dakota
- 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(SDCL §60-12-1)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 21(SDCL §35-9-1)
Related guides
Read the full South Dakota 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.