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

During summer or school breaks, a 17-year-old in Texas 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 Texas?

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

TX · age-by-state job guide

What jobs can a 17 year old do in Texas?

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

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

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

Texas 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

Texas does not impose state-level hour limits on 16- and 17-year-olds; federal FLSA also has no hour limit 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. Texas adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.

Full retail, food-service, and clerical work — no state permit required
Texas does not issue a state work permit at any age. Employer keeps proof of age (driver's license, certified birth certificate, or TWC age certificate) on file.
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
Texas mirrors the federal floor — no additional state restriction on 17-year-olds in warehouses beyond the federal HO list.
Hotel, hospitality, and tourism front-of-house — server, host, bell (no alcohol service)
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 106.09 sets the alcohol-server age at 18 (not 17). On-premises alcohol service stays 18+; front-of-house tasks not involving alcohol are open.
Construction-trade pre-apprenticeship under registered apprenticeship programs
Texas allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs. HO-16 roofing and HO-2 on-road driving remain barred for minors under 18.
Door-to-door sales with a bonded supervisor
Texas Health & Safety Code § 51 keeps the bonded-supervisor requirement for door-to-door sales until 18.
Office, data-entry, internship, and customer-support roles

Restricted in Texas

All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17(29 CFR Part 570)
Door-to-door sales for minors under 18 without bonded supervisor(TX Labor Code §51.014)
Sexually oriented businesses (any minor)(TX Labor Code §51.016)
Operating power-driven hoists(HO-7)
Operating power-driven meat-processing machines(HO-10)

Other ages in Texas

Same age, other states

Read the full Texas 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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