TX· State teen labor law
Texas teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Texas follows the federal FLSA hour caps for 14-15-year-olds and imposes no state hour limit on 16-17-year-olds. No state-issued work permit is required, but employers must verify age.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Texas applies similar caps year-round, with small calendar adjustments shown below. 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
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 05:00 – 22:00
Note: No work during school hours. Hour caps follow federal FLSA: 3 hours per school day, 8 per non-school day, 18 per school week.
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: Up to midnight on non-school nights. Federal FLSA cap of 40 hours per week applies when school is out.
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
- No state limit
Note: Texas does not impose state-level hour limits on 16- and 17-year-olds; federal FLSA also has no hour limit for this age group in non-hazardous work.
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
Work permit
Texas does not require a state-issued work permit for minors.
Texas does not issue a state work permit. Employers must keep proof of age on file (driver's license, certified birth certificate, or school-issued age certificate from the Texas Workforce Commission).
Restricted occupations
All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17
Federal: 29 CFR Part 570
Door-to-door sales for minors under 18 without bonded supervisor
State: TX Labor Code §51.014
Sexually oriented businesses (any minor)
State: TX Labor Code §51.016
Operating power-driven hoists
Federal: HO-7
Operating power-driven meat-processing machines
Federal: HO-10
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: Texas Labor Code Chapter 51 (§§ 51.001-51.034)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.twc.texas.gov/programs/child-labor-law-information
Informational only — verify with the Texas Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Texas?
- Yes — under Texas law a 14-year-old can work up to 8 hours per school day, up to 48 hours per week, between 05:00 and 22:00.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Texas?
- When school is in session, Texas allows a 15-year-old to work up to 8 hours per school day, up to 48 hours per week, between 05:00 and 22:00. During summer or school breaks the cap rises to up to 8 hours per school day, up to 48 hours per week, between 05:00 and 00:00.
- Does Texas require a work permit for minors?
- Texas does not require a state-issued work permit for minors. Employers still must follow federal FLSA rules on hour caps and restricted occupations.
- What jobs can a minor not do in Texas?
- Texas prohibits minors from a number of hazardous occupations, including: all federal hazardous orders ho-1 through ho-17; door-to-door sales for minors under 18 without bonded supervisor; sexually oriented businesses (any minor). The full list of federal hazardous orders (HO-1 through HO-17) also applies. See the Texas Labor Code Chapter 51 (§§ 51.001-51.034) citation on this page for the statutory source.