NY· State teen labor law
New York teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
New York requires working papers for every minor under 18. School-week hour caps for 16-17-year-olds are tighter than the federal floor (28 hours vs. unlimited under FLSA), and an evening curfew applies on school nights.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
New York 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: Hours apply June 21 through Labor Day.
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Hrs/day (school day)
- 4 hr
- Hrs/day (Sat / Sun / holiday)
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 28 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 22:00
Note: Up to midnight on evenings preceding a non-school day with written parental + school consent.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 00:00
Note: Up to midnight during school vacations.
Work permit
New York requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
Apply at your local school district office or guidance counselor. The student fills out the application; a physician must sign the physical-fitness portion. A parent or guardian must sign for minors under 18.
Form: Employment Certificate (AT-19, AT-20, or AT-25 by age)
Restricted occupations
All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17
Federal: 29 CFR Part 570
Construction work for minors under 18
State: NY Labor Law §133
Operating power-driven bakery machines
Federal: HO-11
Door-to-door sales after dark for minors under 18
State: NY Labor Law §137
Roofing operations and work on or about a roof
Federal: HO-16
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: NY Labor Law Article 4 (§§ 130-145-a)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://dol.ny.gov/child-labor
Informational only — verify with the New York Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in New York?
- Yes — under New York 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 York work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in New York?
- When school is in session, New York 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 York require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — New York requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Employment Certificate (AT-19, AT-20, or AT-25 by age)). Apply at your local school district office or guidance counselor. The student fills out the application; a physician must sign the physical-fitness portion. A parent or guardian must sign for minors under 18.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in New York?
- During summer or school breaks, New York allows a 16-year-old to work up to 8 hours per school day, up to 48 hours per week, between 06:00 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 York?
- New York prohibits minors from a number of hazardous occupations, including: all federal hazardous orders ho-1 through ho-17; construction work for minors under 18; operating power-driven bakery machines. The full list of federal hazardous orders (HO-1 through HO-17) also applies. See the NY Labor Law Article 4 (§§ 130-145-a) citation on this page for the statutory source.