TX · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 15 year old do in Texas?
Quick answer for 15-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 15-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 15-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Texas adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Lifeguard at a non-elevated traditional swimming pool
Texas mirrors the federal 15+ threshold. Elevated pools, water parks, and natural water stay 16+.
- Retail cashier or sales clerk
- 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 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 15-year-olds. For all ages, age-band breakdown, statute citation, and DOL references, see the full state page.