AK· State teen labor law
Alaska teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Alaska requires a Work Permit for every minor under 18 and caps 14-15-year-olds at 23 hours per school week with a unique 9-hour combined school + work daily ceiling. 16-17-year-olds face no state restrictions beyond federal hazardous-occupation rules.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Alaska 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
- Max hours per day
- 9 hr
- Max hours per week
- 23 hr
- Time window
- 05:00 – 21:00
Note: Alaska caps combined school + work at 9 hours per day. School-week cap of 23 hours total. No work during school hours.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 9 hr
- Max hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 05:00 – 21:00
Note: Summer hours apply when school is not in session. 9-hour daily cap remains.
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
- No state limit
Note: No state hour or time-of-day restriction on 16-17-year-olds. Federal FLSA hazardous-occupation rules still apply.
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
Work permit
Alaska requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
Every minor under 18 must obtain a Work Permit from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development before starting work. The minor's parent or guardian completes the application along with the employer's signed offer. Permits are job-specific and reissued for each new employer.
Form: Alaska Work Permit (Form 09-1206)
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
Commercial fishing and crab-pot retrieval for minors under 16
State: AS §23.10.350
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 21
State: AS §04.16.049
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: Alaska Statutes §§ 23.10.325-23.10.370 (Employment of Minors)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://labor.alaska.gov/lss/whyouth.htm
Informational only — verify with the Alaska Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Alaska?
- Yes — under Alaska law a 14-year-old can work up to 9 hours per school day, up to 23 hours per week, between 05:00 and 21:00. A Alaska work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Alaska?
- When school is in session, Alaska allows a 15-year-old to work up to 9 hours per school day, up to 23 hours per week, between 05:00 and 21:00. During summer or school breaks the cap rises to up to 9 hours per school day, up to 40 hours per week, between 05:00 and 21:00.
- Does Alaska require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Alaska requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Alaska Work Permit (Form 09-1206)). Every minor under 18 must obtain a Work Permit from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development before starting work. The minor's parent or guardian completes the application along with the employer's signed offer. Permits are job-specific and reissued for each new employer.
- What jobs can a minor not do in Alaska?
- Alaska 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 Alaska Statutes §§ 23.10.325-23.10.370 (Employment of Minors) citation on this page for the statutory source.