OR· State teen labor law
Oregon teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Oregon uses an annual employer-applied Employment Certificate from BOLI rather than a per-minor permit. Unique features: 10-hour daily cap and 44-hour weekly cap (with mandatory time-and-a-half) on 16-17-year-olds, with no time-of-day curfew.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Oregon 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
- 10 hr
- Max hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 21:00
Note: Oregon allows up to 10 hours per non-school day (vs. federal 8). Summer hours apply June 1 through Labor Day.
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Max hours per day
- 10 hr
- Max hours per week
- 44 hr
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: Daily cap of 10 hours, weekly cap of 44 hours including overtime. Time-and-a-half required for hours over 40/week or 10/day.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 10 hr
- Max hours per week
- 44 hr
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: Same 10/44 caps year-round. No state time-of-day restriction.
Work permit
Oregon requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
Oregon uses an employer-based permit: the employer applies online with BOLI for an annual Employment Certificate covering all minor employees at that worksite. The certificate must be renewed yearly. Individual minors do not apply, but the employer must keep age verification on file for each.
Form: Annual Employment Certificate to Employ Minors
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: ORS 653.345
Working alone in a retail establishment for minors under 18
State: OAR 839-021-0210
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: Oregon Revised Statutes §§ 653.305-653.370 (Employment of Minors)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/employers/Pages/minor-workers.aspx
Informational only — verify with the Oregon Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Oregon?
- Yes — under Oregon 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 Oregon work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Oregon?
- When school is in session, Oregon 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 10 hours per school day, up to 40 hours per week, between 07:00 and 21:00.
- Does Oregon require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Oregon requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Annual Employment Certificate to Employ Minors). Oregon uses an employer-based permit: the employer applies online with BOLI for an annual Employment Certificate covering all minor employees at that worksite. The certificate must be renewed yearly. Individual minors do not apply, but the employer must keep age verification on file for each.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Oregon?
- During summer or school breaks, Oregon allows a 16-year-old to work up to 10 hours per school day, up to 44 hours per week. 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 Oregon?
- Oregon 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 Oregon Revised Statutes §§ 653.305-653.370 (Employment of Minors) citation on this page for the statutory source.