ME· State teen labor law
Maine teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Maine caps 16-17-year-olds at 24 hours per school week (6 hours/day on school days) and a permit is required for every minor 14-15. Logging and sawmilling are prohibited for all minors under 18 — a state-specific addition to federal hazardous orders.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Maine 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)
- 10 hr
- Max hours per week
- 24 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 22:15
Note: School-week cap of 24 hours (6 hours on a school day, 10 on a non-school day). Up to 50 hours/week when school is closed for the full week.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 10 hr
- Max hours per week
- 50 hr
- Time window
- 05:00 – 00:00
Note: Summer cap of 50 hours per week. Up to midnight on nights not preceding a school day.
Work permit
Maine requires a work permit for minors aged 14–15.
Minors 14-15 obtain a Work Permit from their school superintendent. The minor presents the employer's Statement of Intent to Employ along with proof of age and parental consent. The permit is job-specific. 16- and 17-year-olds do not need a permit but must keep age verification on file with the employer.
Form: Maine Work Permit
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: 26 MRSA §775
Logging and sawmilling for minors under 18
State: 26 MRSA §774
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: Maine Revised Statutes Title 26 Chapter 7 (§§ 771-781) (Employment of Minors)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/childlabor.html
Informational only — verify with the Maine Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Maine?
- Yes — under Maine 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 Maine work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Maine?
- When school is in session, Maine 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 Maine require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Maine requires a work permit for minors aged 14-15 (form: Maine Work Permit). Minors 14-15 obtain a Work Permit from their school superintendent. The minor presents the employer's Statement of Intent to Employ along with proof of age and parental consent. The permit is job-specific. 16- and 17-year-olds do not need a permit but must keep age verification on file with the employer.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Maine?
- During summer or school breaks, Maine allows a 16-year-old to work up to 10 hours per school day, up to 50 hours per week, between 05:00 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 Maine?
- Maine 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 Maine Revised Statutes Title 26 Chapter 7 (§§ 771-781) (Employment of Minors) citation on this page for the statutory source.