IN· State teen labor law
Indiana teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Indiana eliminated the work-permit requirement in 2021 in favor of an employer-registration system (YES). HEA 1093 (2025) loosened weekly caps for 16-17-year-olds to match federal flexibility while keeping daily and evening protections in place.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Indiana applies similar caps year-round, with small calendar adjustments shown below. 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
- 9 hr
- Max hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 22:00
Note: Under HEA 1093 (2025), 16-17-year-olds may work up to 9 hours/day and 40 hours/week during the school year. Up to midnight on nights not preceding a school day with parental consent.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 9 hr
- Max hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 00:00
Note: Up to midnight during the summer and school breaks. Weekly cap rises to 48 hours.
Work permit
Indiana does not require a state-issued work permit for minors.
Indiana repealed the work-permit (employment certificate) requirement in 2021. Employers now register minor employees with the Indiana Department of Labor's online Youth Employment System (YES) within 3 days of hire. Employers must also keep age verification (driver's license, certified birth certificate, or state ID) on file.
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: IC 20-33-3-31
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 19 (servers) or 21 (bartenders)
State: IC 7.1-5-7-10
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: Indiana Code §§ 20-33-3-1 to 20-33-3-43 (Child Labor)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.in.gov/dol/wage-and-hour/youth-employment/
Informational only — verify with the Indiana Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Indiana?
- Yes — under Indiana 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.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Indiana?
- When school is in session, Indiana 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 Indiana require a work permit for minors?
- Indiana does not require a state-issued work permit for minors. Employers still must follow federal FLSA rules on hour caps and restricted occupations.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Indiana?
- During summer or school breaks, Indiana allows a 16-year-old to work up to 9 hours per school day, up to 48 hours per week, between 06:00 and 00:00. Federal FLSA caps for 16- and 17-year-olds do not limit weekly hours, so the stricter state rule (if any) applies.
- What jobs can a minor not do in Indiana?
- Indiana 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 Indiana Code §§ 20-33-3-1 to 20-33-3-43 (Child Labor) citation on this page for the statutory source.