WV· State teen labor law
West Virginia teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
West Virginia requires a school-issued Work Permit for minors 14-15 and follows federal FLSA caps for that age group. 16-17-year-olds face no state restrictions. Coal-mining work remains prohibited for any minor under state statute.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
West Virginia 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
- 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
- No state limit
Note: West Virginia imposes no state hour or time-of-day restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds.
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
West Virginia requires a work permit for minors aged 14–15.
Minors 14-15 must obtain a Work Permit from their school superintendent before starting any employment. The minor presents the employer's Promise of Employment along with proof of age and parental consent. The permit is job-specific. 16- and 17-year-olds do not need a permit.
Form: West Virginia Work Permit (Form WV WP-1)
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
Coal mining and underground mining (any minor)
State: WV Code §21-6-2
Door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision
State: WV Code §21-6-3
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18
State: WV Code §60-3A-25
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: West Virginia Code §§ 21-6-1 to 21-6-13 (Child Labor)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://labor.wv.gov/Wage-Hour/Child_Labor/Pages/default.aspx
Informational only — verify with the West Virginia Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in West Virginia?
- Yes — under West Virginia 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 West Virginia work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in West Virginia?
- When school is in session, West Virginia 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 West Virginia require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — West Virginia requires a work permit for minors aged 14-15 (form: West Virginia Work Permit (Form WV WP-1)). Minors 14-15 must obtain a Work Permit from their school superintendent before starting any employment. The minor presents the employer's Promise of Employment along with proof of age and parental consent. The permit is job-specific. 16- and 17-year-olds do not need a permit.
- What jobs can a minor not do in West Virginia?
- West Virginia prohibits minors from a number of hazardous occupations, including: all federal hazardous orders ho-1 through ho-17; operating power-driven meat-processing machines; coal mining and underground mining (any minor). The full list of federal hazardous orders (HO-1 through HO-17) also applies. See the West Virginia Code §§ 21-6-1 to 21-6-13 (Child Labor) citation on this page for the statutory source.