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

During summer or school breaks, a 17-year-old in Tennessee can work up to No state limit per day and No state limit per week, time window No state limit.

Does a 17 year old need a work permit in Tennessee?

No. Tennessee does not require a state-issued work permit for 17-year-olds. Employers must keep proof of age on file.

TN · age-by-state job guide

What jobs can a 17 year old do in Tennessee?

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

Yes — a 17-year-old can work in Tennessee with the following limits during the school year: No state limit per school day, No state limit per week, time window 06:00 – 22:00. Work permit not required.

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

Updated: 2026-05-26

Quick answer

Can a 17-year-old work?: Yes
Work permit: Not required
Minimum work age: 14+

Legal work hours

Tennessee 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: 06:00 – 22:00

No state hour cap, but 16-17-year-olds may not work between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM on nights preceding a school day. Up to midnight with written parental consent.

Summer / school breaks

Hours per day: No state limit
Hours per week: No state limit
Time window: No state limit

Time-of-day restrictions lift on non-school nights; federal FLSA has no cap for this age group.

Common allowed jobs for a 17-year-old

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

Full retail, food-service, and clerical work — no state permit required
Tennessee does not issue a state work permit at any age. The employer keeps age verification on file (driver's license, certified birth certificate, or state ID); the TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development enforces child-labor rules via complaint and inspection.
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)
Tennessee Code § 57-3-301 sets the minimum age to serve beer or wine in licensed restaurants at 18. 17-year-olds may host, bus, and run food but cannot serve any alcoholic beverages until 18; pouring liquor at a bar stays 21+.
Construction-trade pre-apprenticeship under registered apprenticeship programs
Tennessee allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs through the Tennessee Apprenticeship Initiative (TN Department of Labor and 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 Tennessee

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(T.C.A. §50-5-107)
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18(T.C.A. §57-3-406)

Other ages in Tennessee

Same age, other states

Read the full Tennessee 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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