AL· State teen labor law
Alabama teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Alabama uses an employer-based permit system — the employer (not the minor) applies for the Child Labor Certificate. 16-17-year-olds face only a midnight-to-5:00 AM school-night curfew with no weekly hour cap.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Alabama tightens daily and weekly limits while school is in session, then eases them during summer and school breaks. Each age band below shows both calendars side-by-side — a distinction federal summaries and most state-comparison tables skip.
Ages 14–15
School year
When school is in session
- Hrs/day (school day)
- 3 hr
- Hrs/day (Sat / Sun / holiday)
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 18 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 19:00
Note: No work during school hours.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 21:00
Note: Summer hours apply June 1 through Labor Day; evening cutoff extends to 9:00 PM.
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Max hours per day
- No state limit
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- 05:00 – 00:00
Note: No state weekly hour cap. 16-17-year-olds may not work between midnight and 5:00 AM on nights preceding a school day.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- No state limit
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: Time-of-day restrictions lift on non-school nights; federal FLSA has no cap for this age group.
Work permit
Alabama requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
Alabama uses an employer-based permit system: the employer (not the minor) applies online to the Alabama Department of Labor for a Child Labor Certificate covering all minors at that worksite. The minor presents an Eligibility-to-Work form signed by a parent/guardian and the minor's school. Permits are renewed annually.
Form: Class I or Class II Eligibility-to-Work Form
Restricted occupations
All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17
Federal: 29 CFR Part 570
Operating power-driven meat-processing machines
Federal: HO-10
Roofing operations and work on or about a roof
Federal: HO-16
Door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision
State: Ala. Code §25-8-43
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 19
State: Ala. Code §28-3A-25
See the full federal hazardous orders (HO-1 to HO-17) for plain-English summaries and cross-state additions.
Where these rules come from
State code: Alabama Code §§ 25-8-31 to 25-8-60 (Child Labor Law)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://labor.alabama.gov/childlabor/
Informational only — verify with the Alabama Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Alabama?
- Yes — under Alabama law a 14-year-old can work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 18 hours per week, between 07:00 and 19:00. A Alabama work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Alabama?
- When school is in session, Alabama allows a 15-year-old to work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 18 hours per week, between 07:00 and 19:00. During summer or school breaks the cap rises to up to 8 hours per school day, up to 40 hours per week, between 07:00 and 21:00.
- Does Alabama require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Alabama requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Class I or Class II Eligibility-to-Work Form). Alabama uses an employer-based permit system: the employer (not the minor) applies online to the Alabama Department of Labor for a Child Labor Certificate covering all minors at that worksite. The minor presents an Eligibility-to-Work form signed by a parent/guardian and the minor's school. Permits are renewed annually.
- What jobs can a minor not do in Alabama?
- Alabama prohibits minors from a number of hazardous occupations, including: all federal hazardous orders ho-1 through ho-17; operating power-driven meat-processing machines; roofing operations and work on or about a roof. The full list of federal hazardous orders (HO-1 through HO-17) also applies. See the Alabama Code §§ 25-8-31 to 25-8-60 (Child Labor Law) citation on this page for the statutory source.