MS· State teen labor law
Mississippi teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Mississippi has no comprehensive state child-labor statute — federal FLSA governs hour caps, occupations, and time-of-day rules for all minors. No state work permit is required.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Mississippi 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: Mississippi has no separate state law for this age group; federal FLSA caps apply.
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 per federal FLSA; evening cutoff extends to 9:00 PM.
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Max hours per day
- No state limit
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: Mississippi imposes no state hour or time-of-day restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds; federal FLSA also has no hour cap for this age group in non-hazardous work.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- No state limit
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
Work permit
Mississippi does not require a state-issued work permit for minors.
Mississippi does not require a state-issued work permit. The state has no child-labor statute beyond a minimum-age law; federal FLSA rules apply to all hour caps, occupations, and time-of-day restrictions. Employers must keep proof of age 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
Mill, cannery, workshop, factory, or manufacturing for minors under 14
State: Miss. Code §71-1-19
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18
State: Miss. Code §67-3-53
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: Mississippi Code §§ 71-1-17 to 71-1-37 (limited child-labor provisions)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.mdes.ms.gov/employers/labor-market-information/labor-market-news/child-labor-laws/
Informational only — verify with the Mississippi Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Mississippi?
- Yes — under Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
- When school is in session, Mississippi 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 Mississippi require a work permit for minors?
- Mississippi does not require a state-issued work permit for minors. Employers still must follow federal FLSA rules on hour caps and restricted occupations.
- What jobs can a minor not do in Mississippi?
- Mississippi 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 Mississippi Code §§ 71-1-17 to 71-1-37 (limited child-labor provisions) citation on this page for the statutory source.