NC· State teen labor law
North Carolina teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
North Carolina requires a Youth Employment Certificate for every minor under 18, issued online by the NC Department of Labor and reissued for each new job. 16-17-year-olds face no weekly hour cap but cannot work between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM on school nights without a written waiver.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
North Carolina 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: 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
- No state limit
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- 05:00 – 23:00
Note: No state hour cap, but 16-17-year-olds may not work between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM when a school day follows. Parent and principal may waive the time-of-day restriction in writing.
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
Note: Time-of-day restrictions lift when no school day follows; federal FLSA has no hour cap for this age group.
Work permit
North Carolina requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
The minor and a parent or guardian apply online through the NC Department of Labor's youth-employment portal. The certificate is electronic, free, and reissued for each new employer. The employer must keep a copy on file.
Form: Youth Employment Certificate (YEC)
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
Tobacco harvesting for minors under 14
State: NC Gen Stat §95-25.5(j)
Door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision
State: NC Gen Stat §95-25.5(h)
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: NC General Statutes §§ 95-25.5 and 95-25.5A (Wage and Hour Act)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.labor.nc.gov/workplace-rights/youth-employment-rules
Informational only — verify with the North Carolina Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in North Carolina?
- Yes — under North Carolina 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 North Carolina work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in North Carolina?
- When school is in session, North Carolina 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 North Carolina require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — North Carolina requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Youth Employment Certificate (YEC)). The minor and a parent or guardian apply online through the NC Department of Labor's youth-employment portal. The certificate is electronic, free, and reissued for each new employer. The employer must keep a copy on file.
- What jobs can a minor not do in North Carolina?
- North Carolina 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 NC General Statutes §§ 95-25.5 and 95-25.5A (Wage and Hour Act) citation on this page for the statutory source.