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Can you work at 14 in Indiana?

In Indiana, you can start most non-farm jobs at 14. Indiana does not require a state work permit. At 14 and 15 you can work up to 3 h on a school day, 18 h in a school week, 40 h in a summer week. There are no state hour limits at 16 and 17.

State law · checked October 2026

No work permitPermit until 16Permit until 18Most jobs from 16

Work permit in Indiana

Indiana no longer uses work permits. Schools stopped issuing them on July 1, 2021, and employers with 5 or more minors had to register them in the state Youth Employment System (YES) instead. HEA 1302 (2026) ended that registration and shut down the YES portal on July 1, 2026. Employers of 14–15-year-olds must still post the 'Work Restrictions for Youth Employees' poster. Official permit page →

Hour limits for teens in Indiana

Ages 14–15Ages 16–17
School day3 hNo limit
School week18 hNo limit
Non-school day8 hNo limit
Non-school week40 hNo limit
Time of day7 a.m.–7 p.m.; 9 p.m. June 1–Labor DayNo limit

Indiana DOL 'Work Restrictions for Youth Employees' poster (effective 2026-07-01). No work during school hours. Home-schooled and online students are treated like in-person students, and the local school district calendar sets school days and breaks. Matches federal FLSA. Since 2025-01-01: 'There are no hour restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds' (Indiana DOL). They may work the same hours and days as adults. The DOL WHD table (as of 2025-07-15) lists only under-16 limits for Indiana, which agrees.

Breaks: No break rule for minors. Indiana DOL says employers no longer have to give minors a break or lunch, however many hours they work.

Recent law changes

  1. HEA 1302 (2026): the Youth Employment System (YES) portal was shut down. Employers no longer register or report minor employees to the state, and the related late-reporting penalties were dropped. Source

  2. Youth employment rules revised to mirror federal law. 16–17-year-olds may now work the same hours and days as adults. 14–15-year-olds may work until 9 p.m. on any day from June 1 to Labor Day. Employers with 5 or more minors had to register them in YES and post monthly updates. Employers had to update the 14–15 youth employment poster. The bill number is not stated on the DOL page. Source

  3. Work permits (formerly issued by schools) ended for ages 14–17. Employers with 5 or more minor employees had to register them in the state Youth Employment System instead (IC 22-2-18.1-26). This predates the 2022–2026 window and is included for context. Source

Places that hire at 14 in Indiana

Places that hire at 15 in Indiana

Company minimums combined with Indiana law. Franchise locations can set a higher age. “✓ seen here” means we found a real posting in Indiana.

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Questions

What is the youngest age you can work in Indiana?

14 for most jobs. 14 for most non-farm jobs (federal FLSA floor; Indiana DOL says its rules now mirror federal law). Hazardous-occupation limits follow federal law.

Do you need a work permit in Indiana?

Indiana no longer uses work permits. Schools stopped issuing them on July 1, 2021, and employers with 5 or more minors had to register them in the state Youth Employment System (YES) instead. HEA 1302 (2026) ended that registration and shut down the YES portal on July 1, 2026. Employers of 14–15-year-olds must still post the 'Work Restrictions for Youth Employees' poster.

How many hours can a 15-year-old work in Indiana?

Up to 3 h on a school day, 18 h in a school week, 40 h in a summer week, between 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; 9 p.m. June 1–Labor Day.

How many hours can a 16-year-old work in Indiana?

Indiana has no hour limits for 16- and 17-year-olds; federal law doesn't either. Hazardous jobs are still off-limits until 18.

Which jobs hire at 14 in Indiana?

AMC Theatres, McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Publix, Culver's, Dairy Queen, Burger King, Hy-Vee and others hire at 14 at some locations.

Sources

State agency: Indiana Department of Labor, Youth Employment Division

  1. Indiana DOL – Youth Employment Home (YES decommissioned 2026-07-01 under HEA 1302) (2026)
  2. Indiana DOL – Changes to Youth Employment Laws (effective 2025-01-01) (2026)
  3. Indiana DOL – Work Restrictions for Youth Employees poster (effective 2026-07-01) (2026-07-01)
  4. US DOL WHD – State child labor laws applicable to non-farm employment (2025-07-15)
  5. US DOL WHD – Employment/Age Certification table (IN: not issued since 2021-07-01; employer database) (2024-01-01)

Federal rules (the Fair Labor Standards Act) apply too; where they differ, the stricter rule wins. General information, not legal advice.