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MI · age-by-state job guide

What jobs can a 17 year old do in Michigan?

Quick answer for 17-year-olds in Michigan — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Michigan state labor code.

Updated:

Quick answer

Can a 17-year-old work?
Yes
Work permit
Required

Combined Application/Permit/Parental Consent for Minor (Form CA-6 or CA-7)

Minimum work age
14+

In Michigan

Legal work hours

Michigan sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.

During the school year

Hours per day
10 hr
Hours per week
48 hr
Time window
06:00 – 22:30

Combined school + work cap of 48 hours/week. Until 11:30 PM on nights not preceding a school day. Employers in resort/recreation may extend to 11:30 PM with parental consent during summer.

Summer / school breaks

Hours per day
10 hr
Hours per week
48 hr
Time window
06:00 – 23:30

Up to 11:30 PM during school breaks. Maximum 6 days per week.

Common allowed jobs for a 17-year-old

General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Michigan adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.

  • Full retail, food-service, and clerical work (with MI Combined Application / Permit, Form CA-7)

    Michigan still requires the CA-7 Combined Application/Permit at 16-17; it remains job-specific and must be reissued for each new employer through age 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

    Michigan's 30-minute rest break after every 5 continuous hours of work still applies through age 17 (state rule beyond the federal floor).

  • Hotel and hospitality front-of-house — host, busser, food runner (no alcohol service)

    Michigan Liquor Control Code § 436.1707 sets the minimum age for selling or serving alcohol on licensed premises at 18. 17-year-olds may host and bus but not serve alcohol.

  • Construction-trade pre-apprenticeship under registered apprenticeship programs

    Michigan allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs through the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. 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 Michigan

  • 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(MCL §409.116)
  • Working without a 30-minute rest after 5 continuous hours(MCL §409.112)

Read the full Michigan 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.