TN · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 14 year old do in Tennessee?
Quick answer for 14-year-olds in Tennessee — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Tennessee state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 14-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Tennessee
Legal work hours
Tennessee 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 – 19:00
No work during school hours.
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 21:00
Summer hours apply from the day after school closes through Labor Day.
Common allowed jobs for a 14-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Tennessee adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Retail cashier or sales clerk
Tennessee does not require a state work permit. Employers must keep age verification on file (driver's license, certified birth certificate, or state ID).
- Counter food-service or drive-thru (no flame cooking)
Tennessee caps 14-15-year-olds at 3 hrs per school day, 18 per school week, 7 AM–7 PM during the school year (9 PM June 1–Labor Day).
- 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 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 Tennessee
- 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(T.C.A. §50-5-107)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18(T.C.A. §57-3-406)
Related guides
Read the full Tennessee 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.