NM· State teen labor law
New Mexico teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
New Mexico requires an online Age Certificate for minors 14-15 and caps 16-17-year-olds at 44 hours per school week. Federal FLSA caps apply to 14-15-year-olds.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
New Mexico 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: Mirrors federal FLSA. 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
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 44 hr
- Time window
- 05:00 – 00:00
Note: Daily cap of 8 hours and weekly cap of 44 hours during the school year.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 05:00 – 00:00
Note: Summer cap rises to 48 hours.
Work permit
New Mexico requires a work permit for minors aged 14–15.
Minors 14-15 apply for an Age Certificate through the NM Department of Workforce Solutions online portal. The minor provides proof of age and parental consent; the certificate is issued electronically and kept on file by the employer. 16- and 17-year-olds do not need a certificate.
Form: New Mexico Age 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: NMSA §50-6-3
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 19
State: NMSA §60-7B-1
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 Mexico Statutes Annotated §§ 50-6-1 to 50-6-19 (Employment of Children)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Labor-Relations/Child-Labor
Informational only — verify with the New Mexico Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in New Mexico?
- Yes — under New Mexico 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 New Mexico work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in New Mexico?
- When school is in session, New Mexico 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 New Mexico require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — New Mexico requires a work permit for minors aged 14-15 (form: New Mexico Age Certificate). Minors 14-15 apply for an Age Certificate through the NM Department of Workforce Solutions online portal. The minor provides proof of age and parental consent; the certificate is issued electronically and kept on file by the employer. 16- and 17-year-olds do not need a certificate.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in New Mexico?
- During summer or school breaks, New Mexico allows a 16-year-old to work up to 8 hours per school day, up to 48 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 New Mexico?
- New Mexico 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 Mexico Statutes Annotated §§ 50-6-1 to 50-6-19 (Employment of Children) citation on this page for the statutory source.