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
- 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)
Related guides
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.