MD· State teen labor law
Maryland teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Maryland requires an online job-specific work permit for every minor under 18. The state caps combined school + work at 12 hours per 24-hour period for 16-17-year-olds, with a mandatory 8 consecutive hours of rest — a unique 'sleep guarantee' not found in most states.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Maryland 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)
- 4 hr
- Hrs/day (Sat / Sun / holiday)
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 23 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 20:00
Note: Maryland allows up to 4 hours on a school day (1 hour more than the federal cap). 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 Memorial Day through Labor Day; evening cutoff extends to 9:00 PM.
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Max hours per day
- 12 hr
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: Combined hours of work and school may not exceed 12 in any 24-hour period. Minors must have at least 8 consecutive non-work hours each day.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 12 hr
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: Same 12-hours-in-24 and 8-hours-rest rules apply year-round.
Work permit
Maryland requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
The minor applies online at the Maryland Department of Labor portal with proof of age, an employer offer, and a parent or guardian's electronic signature. The permit is job-specific and emailed to the minor and employer. A new permit is required for each job.
Form: Maryland Work Permit (Form MW-1)
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 18 without bonded supervisor
State: MD Code, Labor and Employment §3-211
Selling alcoholic beverages or working in a bar (under 18)
State: MD Code, Alcoholic Beverages §6-307
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: Maryland Code, Labor and Employment §§ 3-201 to 3-218
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wages/empm.shtml
Informational only — verify with the Maryland Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Maryland?
- Yes — under Maryland law a 14-year-old can work up to 4 hours per school day, up to 23 hours per week, between 07:00 and 20:00. A Maryland work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Maryland?
- When school is in session, Maryland allows a 15-year-old to work up to 4 hours per school day, up to 23 hours per week, between 07:00 and 20:00. 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 Maryland require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Maryland requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Maryland Work Permit (Form MW-1)). The minor applies online at the Maryland Department of Labor portal with proof of age, an employer offer, and a parent or guardian's electronic signature. The permit is job-specific and emailed to the minor and employer. A new permit is required for each job.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Maryland?
- During summer or school breaks, Maryland allows a 16-year-old to work up to 12 hours per school day. 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 Maryland?
- Maryland 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 Maryland Code, Labor and Employment §§ 3-201 to 3-218 citation on this page for the statutory source.