UT · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 14 year old do in Utah?
Quick answer for 14-year-olds in Utah — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Utah state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 14-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Utah
Legal work hours
Utah 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
- 05:00 – 21:30
Utah allows up to 4 hours on a school day (vs. federal 3) and a 5:00 AM start. School-week cap of 20 hours.
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- 8 hr
- Hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 05:00 – 21:30
Time-of-day window applies year-round. Summer cap matches federal 40-hour limit.
Common allowed jobs for a 14-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Utah adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Retail cashier or sales clerk
Utah does not require a state work permit. Employers must keep proof of age on file (driver's license, certified birth certificate, or state ID); the Utah Labor Commission enforces child-labor rules via complaint and inspection.
- Counter food-service or drive-thru (no flame cooking)
Distinctive Utah rule: 14-15-year-olds may work up to 4 hrs on a school day (vs. federal 3 hrs) and 20 hrs per school week, with a 5:00 AM earliest start (earliest in the nation) and 9:30 PM cutoff. Summer cap matches federal 40 hrs.
- 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 Utah
- 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(Utah Admin. Code R610-3)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 21(Utah Code §32B-1-407)
Related guides
Read the full Utah 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.