IL · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 15 year old do in Illinois?
Quick answer for 15-year-olds in Illinois — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Illinois state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 15-year-old work?
- Yes
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Illinois
Legal work hours
Illinois 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
- 24 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 19:00
Maximum 24 hours during a school week (combined school + work) under the Child Labor Law of 2024. 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 (June 1 through Labor Day) extend evening cutoff to 9:00 PM.
Common allowed jobs for a 15-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Illinois adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Lifeguard at a non-elevated traditional swimming pool
Illinois follows the federal 15+ threshold; elevated pools, water parks, and natural water stay 16+.
- Retail cashier or sales clerk (with IL Employment Certificate)
- Counter food-service or drive-thru (no flame cooking)
- 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
Restricted in Illinois
- All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17(29 CFR Part 570)
- Operating power-driven meat-processing machines(HO-10)
- Door-to-door sales for minors under 16(820 ILCS 205/2.1)
- Roofing operations and work on or about a roof(HO-16)
- Excavation operations(HO-17)
Related guides
Read the full Illinois rules
This page summarizes the rules for 15-year-olds. For all ages, age-band breakdown, statute citation, and DOL references, see the full state page.