WI· State teen labor law
Wisconsin teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Wisconsin requires an online state-issued permit for every minor under 18, with a $10 fee per job. A 2017 amendment raised the school-year hour cap for 16-17-year-olds to 50 hours with parental consent, while keeping an 11:00 PM curfew on school nights.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Wisconsin 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
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 26 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 23:00
Note: School-week cap of 26 hours. Up to 50 hours/week with parental consent under the 2017 amendment, but the 11:00 PM school-night curfew still applies.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 50 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 00:30
Note: Up to 12:30 AM on nights not preceding a school day.
Work permit
Wisconsin requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
Permits are issued online by the DWD. The minor pays a $10 fee, provides proof of age, a Social Security number, parental consent, and an employer's letter of intent. A separate permit is required for each new job. The DWD emails the permit to the minor and employer.
Form: Wisconsin Child Labor Permit
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: Wis. Stat. §103.23
Selling alcohol on premises licensed for sale (under 18)
State: Wis. Stat. §125.07(3)
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: Wisconsin Statutes §§ 103.64-103.82 (Employment of Minors)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/er/laborstandards/workpermit/
Informational only — verify with the Wisconsin Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Wisconsin?
- Yes — under Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Wisconsin?
- When school is in session, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Wisconsin requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Wisconsin Child Labor Permit). Permits are issued online by the DWD. The minor pays a $10 fee, provides proof of age, a Social Security number, parental consent, and an employer's letter of intent. A separate permit is required for each new job. The DWD emails the permit to the minor and employer.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Wisconsin?
- During summer or school breaks, Wisconsin allows a 16-year-old to work up to 8 hours per school day, up to 50 hours per week, between 06:00 and 00:30. 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 Wisconsin?
- Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Statutes §§ 103.64-103.82 (Employment of Minors) citation on this page for the statutory source.