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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)

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.