NH· State teen labor law
New Hampshire teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
New Hampshire allows 12-13-year-olds to work in limited categories (newspaper delivery, casual yard work, family business). 14-15 caps at 23 hours per school week; 16-17 caps at 30 hours per school week. A school-issued certificate is required under 16.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
New Hampshire 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 12–13
School year
When school is in session
- Max hours per day
- Not permitted
- Max hours per week
- Not permitted
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: 12-13-year-olds may work only in non-hazardous limited categories: agriculture with parent, casual yard work, newspaper carriers, and household tasks. No general employment.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- Not permitted
- Max hours per week
- Not permitted
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: Same exceptions year-round; no general employment permitted.
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
- 23 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 21:00
Note: School-week cap of 23 hours (5 more than the federal 18). NH allows a 9:00 PM cutoff vs. federal 7:00 PM.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 21:00
Note: Summer cap of 48 hours per week (8 more than federal).
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Hrs/day (school day)
- 8 hr
- Hrs/day (Sat / Sun / holiday)
- 10 hr
- Max hours per week
- 30 hr
- Time window
- 05:30 – 00:00
Note: School-week cap of 30 hours (under 2024 amendment HB 1115). Up to 8 hours on a school day, 10 on a non-school day. Up to 6 days/week.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 10 hr
- Max hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 05:30 – 00:00
Note: Summer cap of 48 hours per week with 10-hour daily ceiling.
Work permit
New Hampshire requires a work permit for minors aged 12–15.
Minors under 16 obtain a Youth Employment Certificate from their school principal. The minor presents the employer's offer plus parental consent. The certificate is job-specific. 16- and 17-year-olds need only a written employer-signed agreement and parental permission on file.
Form: New Hampshire Youth Employment Certificate
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: RSA 276-A:4
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18
State: RSA 179:23
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: New Hampshire RSA 276-A (Youth Employment Law)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.nh.gov/labor/inspection/youth-employment.htm
Informational only — verify with the New Hampshire Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in New Hampshire?
- Yes — under New Hampshire law a 14-year-old can work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 23 hours per week, between 07:00 and 21:00. A New Hampshire work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in New Hampshire?
- When school is in session, New Hampshire allows a 15-year-old to work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 23 hours per week, between 07:00 and 21:00. During summer or school breaks the cap rises to up to 8 hours per school day, up to 48 hours per week, between 07:00 and 21:00.
- Does New Hampshire require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — New Hampshire requires a work permit for minors aged 12-15 (form: New Hampshire Youth Employment Certificate). Minors under 16 obtain a Youth Employment Certificate from their school principal. The minor presents the employer's offer plus parental consent. The certificate is job-specific. 16- and 17-year-olds need only a written employer-signed agreement and parental permission on file.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in New Hampshire?
- During summer or school breaks, New Hampshire allows a 16-year-old to work up to 10 hours per school day, up to 48 hours per week, between 05:30 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 New Hampshire?
- New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire RSA 276-A (Youth Employment Law) citation on this page for the statutory source.