KY· State teen labor law
Kentucky teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Kentucky caps 16-17-year-olds at 30 hours per school week with a unique academic-performance trigger: schools can further restrict hours for minors with grades below a 'C' average. No state-issued work permit is required.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Kentucky 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
- Hrs/day (school day)
- 6 hr
- Hrs/day (Sat / Sun / holiday)
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 30 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 22:30
Note: School-week cap of 30 hours (8 hours on a non-school day, 6 hours on a school day). 'C' average requirement: minors with grades below 'C' may have hours further restricted by the school.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 01:00
Note: Up to 1:00 AM on nights not preceding a school day.
Work permit
Kentucky does not require a state-issued work permit for minors.
Kentucky does not require a state-issued work permit. Employers must keep proof of age on file (driver's license, state ID, or certified birth certificate). For minors under 18 still enrolled in school, the employer should keep a written notification from the parent or guardian acknowledging the work schedule.
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: KRS 339.230
Working in coal or other mining operations (any minor)
State: KRS 339.230
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: Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 339 (Child Labor)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://labor.ky.gov/standards/Pages/Child-Labor.aspx
Informational only — verify with the Kentucky Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Kentucky?
- Yes — under Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
- When school is in session, Kentucky 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 Kentucky require a work permit for minors?
- Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
- During summer or school breaks, Kentucky allows a 16-year-old to work up to 8 hours per school day, up to 40 hours per week, between 06:00 and 01:00. 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 Kentucky?
- Kentucky 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 Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 339 (Child Labor) citation on this page for the statutory source.