MO · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 17 year old do in Missouri?
Quick answer for 17-year-olds in Missouri — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Missouri state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 17-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
Missouri Work Certificate
In Missouri
Legal work hours
Missouri 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
Missouri imposes no state hour or time-of-day restriction on 16-17-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. Missouri adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Full retail, food-service, and clerical work — no state permit required
Missouri does not require a state Work Certificate at 16 or 17 (the certificate is required only at 14-15). The 16-17 cohort also faces no state weekly hour cap and no state time-of-day restriction — only the federal HO-1 to HO-17 list still applies.
- 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
Adult-entertainment establishments remain off-limits for any minor under RSMo § 294.040 — the ban continues at 17.
- Hotel and hospitality front-of-house — host, busser, food runner (no alcohol service)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 311.060 sets the minimum age to sell or serve alcoholic beverages at 18. 17-year-olds may host, bus, and run food but cannot serve or pour alcohol until 18; mixing drinks behind a bar stays 21+.
- Construction-trade pre-apprenticeship under registered apprenticeship programs
Missouri allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs through the Missouri Division of Workforce Development. 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 Missouri
- 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(RSMo §294.040)
- Adult entertainment establishments (any minor)(RSMo §294.040)
Related guides
Read the full Missouri 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.