WA· State teen labor law
Washington teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Washington has one of the strictest school-week hour caps in the country: 16 hours for 14-15-year-olds and 20 hours for 16-17-year-olds. Employers register as minor-work employers with WA L&I rather than the minor applying for a permit.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Washington 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
- 16 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 19:00
Note: Maximum 3 hours on a school day, 8 on a non-school day, 16 per school week — stricter than the federal 18-hour cap. No work during school hours. Maximum 6 days per week.
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 when school is not in session for the full week.
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
- 20 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 22:00
Note: School-week cap of 20 hours (rising to 28 with special variance). Maximum 6 days per week. Up to midnight on Friday and Saturday with parental consent.
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 during the summer and school breaks. Maximum 6 days per week.
Work permit
Washington requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
Washington does not issue a state work permit to the minor. Instead, the employer must register as a minor-work employer with the WA Department of Labor & Industries and obtain a signed Parent/School Authorization form from the minor's parent or guardian (and school, if school is in session). The form must be kept on file at the worksite.
Form: Parent/School Authorization for a Minor to Work
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
State: WAC 296-125-033
Logging, sawmilling, and timber processing for minors under 18
State: WAC 296-125-030
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: Washington Administrative Code WAC 296-125 (Child Labor Rules)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/youth-employment/
Informational only — verify with the Washington Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Washington?
- Yes — under Washington law a 14-year-old can work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 16 hours per week, between 07:00 and 19:00. A Washington work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Washington?
- When school is in session, Washington allows a 15-year-old to work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 16 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 Washington require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Washington requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Parent/School Authorization for a Minor to Work). Washington does not issue a state work permit to the minor. Instead, the employer must register as a minor-work employer with the WA Department of Labor & Industries and obtain a signed Parent/School Authorization form from the minor's parent or guardian (and school, if school is in session). The form must be kept on file at the worksite.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Washington?
- During summer or school breaks, Washington 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 Washington?
- Washington 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 Washington Administrative Code WAC 296-125 (Child Labor Rules) citation on this page for the statutory source.