WY · age-by-state job guide
What jobs can a 17 year old do in Wyoming?
Quick answer for 17-year-olds in Wyoming — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Wyoming state labor code.
Updated:
Quick answer
- Can a 17-year-old work?
- Yes
- Work permit
- Not required
- Minimum work age
- 14+
In Wyoming
Legal work hours
Wyoming 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
Wyoming 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. Wyoming adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.
- Full retail, food-service, and clerical work — no state permit required
Wyoming does not require a state work permit at any age; the employer keeps age verification on file. The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Labor Standards Division enforces remaining child-labor rules under W.S. § 27-6-107 via complaint and inspection. No state daily/weekly cap or time-of-day restriction at 16-17.
- 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)
Distinctive Wyoming rule continues at 17: W.S. § 12-5-201 sets the alcohol-server age at 18 with a distinctive supervisor requirement — 18-20-year-olds may serve only under the direct supervision of someone 21+. 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
Wyoming allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs through the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services 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 Wyoming
- 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(W.S. §27-6-107)
- Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 21(W.S. §12-6-101)
Related guides
Read the full Wyoming 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.