Can a 14-Year-Old Work in Iowa? Teen Work Rules 2026

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

Work permit in Iowa

Iowa no longer requires work permits. SF 542 (2023) repealed the work-permit sections (Iowa Code 92.10–92.16). Employers should still verify age. Official permit page →

Hour limits for teens in Iowa

	Ages 14–15	Ages 16–17
School day	3 h	No limit
School week	18 h	No limit
Non-school day	8 h	No limit
Non-school week	40 h	No limit
Time of day	7 a.m.–7 p.m.; 9 p.m. June 1–Labor Day (federal, stricter). State law alone: 7 a.m.–9 p.m.; 11 p.m. June 1–Labor Day.	No limit

Numbers shown are the effective limits: federal FLSA rules are stricter and apply to nearly all employers. The state statute alone allows schoolDay 6, schoolWeek 28, nonSchoolDay 8, nonSchoolWeek 40. Iowa Code 92.7, as amended by SF 542 (2023). Federal FLSA is stricter (3 hours on a school day, 18 a school week, 7 p.m. end in the school year, 9 p.m. in summer) and wins for covered employers. Iowa's DIAL page shows both side by side. Iowa Code 92.7A (added by SF 542, 2023): 16–17-year-olds 'may work the same hours as a person who is eighteen years of age.'

Breaks: Under 16: a break of at least 30 minutes for a shift of 5 hours or more. It may be paid or unpaid (Iowa Code 92.7).

Recent law changes

July 1, 2023
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 It repealed work permits.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. Source

Places that hire at 14 in Iowa

Places that hire at 15 in Iowa

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

Questions

What is the youngest age you can work in Iowa?

14 for most jobs. No one under 14 may be employed in any work activity, paid or unpaid (Iowa Code 92.3). Under-16s may not work during school hours, except minors legally out of school, in supervised school-work programs, or in some part-time school/work arrangements (92.4). Exceptions for farm work and other activities are listed in 92.17.

Do you need a work permit in Iowa?

Iowa no longer requires work permits. SF 542 (2023) repealed the work-permit sections (Iowa Code 92.10–92.16). Employers should still verify age.

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

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 (federal, stricter). State law alone: 7 a.m.–9 p.m.; 11 p.m. June 1–Labor Day..

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

Iowa 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 Iowa?

Fareway, Arby's, Jimmy John's, Runza, AMC Theatres, McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Publix and others hire at 14 at some locations.

Sources

State agency: Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Wage and Child Labor Unit

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

Can you work at 14 in Iowa?