# Teen work rules in Iowa

In Iowa, you can start most non-farm jobs at 14. Iowa 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.

- Minimum age: 14
- Work permit: not required
- Hours at 14–15: 3 h on a school day, 18 h in a school week, 40 h in a summer week
- Hours at 16–17: no limits

## Recent changes

- 2023-07-01: SF 542 (2023 Iowa Acts ch. 92, approved 2023-05-26). It repealed work permits. It raised 14–15 limits to 6 hours on a school day and moved the end time from 7 to 9 p.m. in the school year and from 9 to 11 p.m. in summer (federal limits still apply). It added 92.7A: no hour limits for 16–17. It lets 16–17-year-olds in approved work-based learning programs do some otherwise-prohibited work, and allows a waiver for 15-year-olds to do light assembly. Effective date is Iowa's July 1 default; the act states no other date.

## Employers hiring at 14 here

- Fareway
- Arby's
- Jimmy John's
- Runza
- AMC Theatres
- McDonald's
- Chick-fil-A
- Publix
- Culver's
- Dairy Queen
- Burger King
- Hy-Vee
- Rita's Italian Ice
- Braum's

## Sources

- Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 92 – Child Labor: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/DOCS/ACO/IC/LINC/Chapter.92.pdf
- 2023 Iowa Acts ch. 92 (SF 542) – Youth employment, approved 2023-05-26: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/iactc/90.1/CH0092.pdf
- Iowa DIAL – Child Labor: https://dial.iowa.gov/hearings/wage-and-child-labor/child-labor
- US DOL WHD – State child labor laws applicable to non-farm employment: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/child-labor
- US DOL WHD – Employment/Age Certification table (outdated for IA: still lists mandatory certificate under 16): https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/age-certificates

Page: https://hiringage.com/iowa/ — please cite with a link.