How many hours can a 17 year old work in New Jersey during summer?

During summer or school breaks, a 17-year-old in New Jersey can work up to 8 hr per day and 48 hr per week, time window 06:00 – 23:30.

Does a 17 year old need a work permit in New Jersey?

Yes. New Jersey requires a work permit for 17-year-olds. Since the 2023 'Working Papers Modernization' law, New Jersey uses a single combined application. The minor, parent, and employer each complete sections online through the NJ Department of Labor portal; the school then verifies enrollment and issues the working papers electronically. Required for every new job.

NJ · age-by-state job guide

What jobs can a 17 year old do in New Jersey?

Q: What jobs can a 17 year old do in New Jersey?

Yes — a 17-year-old can work in New Jersey with the following limits during the school year: 8 hr per school day, 40 hr per week, time window 06:00 – 23:00. Work permit required.

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

Updated: 2026-05-26

Quick answer

Can a 17-year-old work?: Yes
Work permit: Required
Minimum work age: 14+

Legal work hours

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

During the school year

Hours per day: 8 hr
Hours per week: 40 hr
Time window: 06:00 – 23:00

Maximum 6 consecutive days of work. Up to 11:30 PM on nights not preceding a school day with written parental consent.

Summer / school breaks

Hours per day: 8 hr
Hours per week: 48 hr
Time window: 06:00 – 23:30

Up to 11:30 PM during the summer. Restaurants and seasonal recreation employers may extend to 12:30 AM with parental consent.

Common allowed jobs for a 17-year-old

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

Full retail, food-service, and clerical work (with NJ Combined Working Papers, Form A300)
New Jersey still requires the A300 Combined Working Papers for every minor under 18 through the NJDOL online portal. The permit remains job-specific and reissued for each new employer at 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
Hotel and hospitality front-of-house — host, busser, food runner (no alcohol service)
New Jersey ABC Title 33:1-26 sets the minimum age for alcohol service in licensed establishments at 18. 17-year-olds may host and bus but not pour or serve alcoholic beverages.
Construction-trade pre-apprenticeship under registered apprenticeship programs
NJ allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs through the NJ Department of Labor. HO-16 roofing and HO-2 on-road driving remain barred for minors under 18.
Door-to-door sales with a bonded adult supervisor
New Jersey requires a bonded adult supervisor for door-to-door sales by any minor under 18 — that rule continues through age 17 (stricter than the federal under-16 floor).

Restricted in New Jersey

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 18 without bonded supervisor(N.J.S.A. 34:2-21.17)
Beach and pool lifeguard for minors under 16(NJAC 12:58-3.4)

Other ages in New Jersey

Same age, other states

Read the full New Jersey 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.

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