MA· State teen labor law
Massachusetts teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Massachusetts requires a job-specific work permit for every minor under 18 and enforces a 48-hour weekly cap on 16-17-year-olds even when school is out, making it one of the stricter New England states.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Massachusetts 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: From the last day of school in June through Labor Day.
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Max hours per day
- 9 hr
- Max hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 22:00
Note: Up to 11:30 PM on nights not preceding a school day. Maximum 6 days per week.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 9 hr
- Max hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 23:30
Note: From July 1 through Labor Day, restaurants and racetracks may employ 16-17-year-olds until 12:00 AM with on-site adult supervision.
Work permit
Massachusetts requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
The minor obtains a Promise of Employment from the prospective employer, then applies at their school superintendent's office. A parent or guardian must sign for minors under 18. Permits are job-specific and must be reissued for each new employer.
Form: Permit to Work / Youth Employment 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
Operating elevators and other power-driven hoists
Federal: HO-7
Working in connection with mining, logging, or sawmilling
Federal: HO-2 and HO-4
Door-to-door sales for minors under 16
State: MGL c.149 §65
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: Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 149 §§ 56-104
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.mass.gov/topics/youth-employment-and-labor-laws
Informational only — verify with the Massachusetts Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Massachusetts?
- Yes — under Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Massachusetts?
- When school is in session, Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Massachusetts requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Permit to Work / Youth Employment Permit). The minor obtains a Promise of Employment from the prospective employer, then applies at their school superintendent's office. A parent or guardian must sign for minors under 18. Permits are job-specific and must be reissued for each new employer.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Massachusetts?
- During summer or school breaks, Massachusetts allows a 16-year-old to work up to 9 hours per school day, up to 48 hours per week, between 06:00 and 23:30. 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 Massachusetts?
- Massachusetts prohibits minors from a number of hazardous occupations, including: all federal hazardous orders ho-1 through ho-17; operating power-driven meat-processing machines; operating elevators and other power-driven hoists. The full list of federal hazardous orders (HO-1 through HO-17) also applies. See the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 149 §§ 56-104 citation on this page for the statutory source.