NJ · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 15 year old do in New Jersey?
Quick answer for 15-year-olds in New Jersey — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from New Jersey state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 15-year-old work?
- Yes
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In New Jersey
Legal work hours
New Jersey 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 last day of school in June through Labor Day.
Common allowed jobs for a 15-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. New Jersey adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Retail cashier or sales clerk (with NJ Combined Working Papers, Form A300)
- Counter food-service or drive-thru (no flame cooking)
- Office or clerical work
- Tutoring younger students
- Park, recreation, or community-center program assistant
NJ bans beach and pool lifeguarding for any minor under 16, even at non-elevated pools (stricter than the federal 15+ rule). Lifeguarding opens at 16.
- Hand-tool yard work for neighbors
- Newspaper delivery on a regular route
Restricted in New Jersey
- 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 18 without bonded supervisor(N.J.S.A. 34:2-21.17)
- Beach and pool lifeguard for minors under 16(NJAC 12:58-3.4)
Related guides
Read the full New Jersey 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.