TX · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 14 year old do in Texas?
Quick answer for 14-year-olds in Texas — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Texas state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 14-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Texas
Legal work hours
Texas sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.
During the school year
- Hours per day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 05:00 – 22:00
No work during school hours. Hour caps follow federal FLSA: 3 hours per school day, 8 per non-school day, 18 per school week.
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 05:00 – 00:00
Up to midnight on non-school nights. Federal FLSA cap of 40 hours per week applies when school is out.
Common allowed jobs for a 14-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Texas adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Retail cashier or sales clerk
Texas does not issue a state work permit; the employer keeps proof of age (driver's license, certified birth certificate, or TWC age certificate) on file.
- Counter food-service or drive-thru (no flame cooking)
Federal FLSA caps apply: 3 hrs per school day, 18 hrs per school week, 7 AM–7 PM (9 PM June 1–Labor Day).
- Office or clerical work
- Tutoring younger students
- Park, recreation, or community-center program assistant
- Hand-tool yard work for neighbors
- Newspaper delivery on a regular route
FLSA carve-out at 29 USC § 213(d).
Restricted in Texas
- All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17(29 CFR Part 570)
- Door-to-door sales for minors under 18 without bonded supervisor(TX Labor Code §51.014)
- Sexually oriented businesses (any minor)(TX Labor Code §51.016)
- Operating power-driven hoists(HO-7)
- Operating power-driven meat-processing machines(HO-10)
Related guides
Read the full Texas 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.