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

During summer or school breaks, a 17-year-old in Vermont can work up to 8 hr per day and 50 hr per week, time window No state limit.

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

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

VT · age-by-state job guide

What jobs can a 17 year old do in Vermont?

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

Yes — a 17-year-old can work in Vermont with the following limits during the school year: 8 hr per school day, 50 hr per week, time window No state limit. Work permit not required.

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

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

During the school year

Hours per day: 8 hr
Hours per week: 50 hr
Time window: No state limit

Vermont's only state-specific cap on 16-17 is a 50-hour weekly limit during the school year and a daily 8-hour cap on school days.

Summer / school breaks

Hours per day: 8 hr
Hours per week: 50 hr
Time window: No state limit

Same 50-hour weekly cap year-round.

Common allowed jobs for a 17-year-old

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

Full retail, food-service, and clerical work — no state permit required at 16-17
Vermont's Work Permit applies only to 14-15-year-olds under 21 V.S.A. § 431. At 17, the employer keeps age verification on file; no state daily/weekly cap or time-of-day restriction. The VT DOL enforces remaining 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)
Vermont follows the typical state alcohol-server-age of 18 under 7 V.S.A. § 658 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
Vermont allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs through the Vermont Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program. 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 Vermont

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(21 V.S.A. §433)
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18(7 V.S.A. §658)

Other ages in Vermont

Same age, other states

Read the full Vermont 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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