KS · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 17 year old do in Kansas?
Quick answer for 17-year-olds in Kansas — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Kansas state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 17-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Kansas
Legal work hours
Kansas sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.
During the school year
- Hours per day
- No state limit
- Hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
Kansas imposes no state hour or time-of-day restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds; federal FLSA also has no hour cap for this age group in non-hazardous work.
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- No state limit
- Hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
Common allowed jobs for a 17-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Kansas adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Full retail, food-service, and clerical work — no state permit required
Kansas does not require a state work permit at any age; the employer keeps age verification on file. The Kansas Department of Labor enforces remaining child-labor rules under K.S.A. § 38-602 et seq. via complaint and inspection. No state daily/weekly cap or time-of-day restriction at 16-17.
- Cooking, baking, and short-order line work with grills, fryers, and HO-11 bakery equipment
- Lifeguard at any pool, water park, beach, or natural-water venue (with valid certification)
- Warehouse and stockroom work without HO-7 power-driven hoists or HO-2 driving
- Hotel and hospitality front-of-house — host, busser, food runner (no alcohol service)
Distinctive Kansas rule continues at 17: K.S.A. § 41-2706 sets the minimum age to sell, serve, mix, or dispense alcoholic liquor in a drinking establishment at 21 — well above the typical 18 floor. 17-year-olds (and 18-20-year-olds) may host, bus, and run food but cannot serve any alcohol in a bar/restaurant licensed as a drinking establishment until 21.
- Construction-trade pre-apprenticeship under registered apprenticeship programs
Kansas allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs through the Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Registered Apprenticeship. HO-16 roofing and HO-2 on-road driving remain barred for minors under 18.
- Office, data-entry, internship, and customer-support roles
Restricted in Kansas
- 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(K.S.A. §38-602)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 21(K.S.A. §41-727)
Related guides
Read the full Kansas rules
This page summarizes the rules for 17-year-olds. For all ages, age-band breakdown, statute citation, and DOL references, see the full state page.