NH · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 17 year old do in New Hampshire?
Quick answer for 17-year-olds in New Hampshire — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from New Hampshire state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 17-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 12+
New Hampshire Youth Employment Certificate
In New Hampshire
Legal work hours
New Hampshire sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.
During the school year
- Hours per school day
- 8 hr
- Hours per non-school day
- 10 hr
- Hours per week
- 30 hr
- Time window
- 05:30 – 00:00
School-week cap of 30 hours (under 2024 amendment HB 1115). Up to 8 hours on a school day, 10 on a non-school day. Up to 6 days/week.
Summer / school breaks
- Hours per day
- 10 hr
- Hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 05:30 – 00:00
Summer cap of 48 hours per week with 10-hour daily ceiling.
Common allowed jobs for a 17-year-old
General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. New Hampshire adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Full retail, food-service, and clerical work — parent permission still required, no state permit
Distinctive New Hampshire rule continues at 17: NH does not require a state work permit, but the employer keeps the parent's written permission on file under RSA 276-A:4-a. NH caps 17-year-olds at 30 hrs per school week and 6 days per week under RSA 276-A:14; not before 6 AM, not after 10 PM school nights — stricter than the federal floor.
- 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)
New Hampshire follows the typical state alcohol-server-age of 18 under RSA 179:23 for beer / wine service in licensed restaurants. 17-year-olds may host, bus, and run food but cannot serve any alcohol until 18; bartending in a licensed establishment requires 21.
- Construction-trade pre-apprenticeship under registered apprenticeship programs
New Hampshire allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs through the New Hampshire Department of Education Office of Workforce Learning and Apprenticeship NH. 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 New Hampshire
- 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(RSA 276-A:4)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18(RSA 179:23)
Related guides
Read the full New Hampshire 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.