WV · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 17 year old do in West Virginia?
Quick answer for 17-year-olds in West Virginia — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from West Virginia state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 17-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
West Virginia Work Permit (Form WV WP-1)
In West Virginia
Legal work hours
West Virginia 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
West Virginia imposes no state hour or time-of-day restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds.
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. West Virginia 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
West Virginia's Working Permit applies only to minors 14-15. At 17 the employer keeps age verification on file; no state daily/weekly cap or time-of-day restriction. The West Virginia Division of Labor 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, beer/wine server
W. Va. Code § 60-7-12 sets the minimum age to sell or serve alcoholic beverages at 18 (typical floor). 17-year-olds may host, bus, run food, and serve beer/wine but bartending in a licensed bar typically requires 21+.
- Construction-trade pre-apprenticeship under registered apprenticeship programs
West Virginia allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs through WorkForce West Virginia's Apprenticeship and Training Division. 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 West Virginia
- All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17(29 CFR Part 570)
- Operating power-driven meat-processing machines(HO-10)
- Coal mining and underground mining (any minor)(WV Code §21-6-2)
- Door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision(WV Code §21-6-3)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18(WV Code §60-3A-25)
Related guides
Read the full West Virginia 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.