# Teen work rules in Kentucky

In Kentucky, you can start most non-farm jobs at 14. Kentucky 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. 16- and 17-year-olds also have hour limits.

- 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: limited

## Recent changes

- 2024-07-15: SB 128 (2024 Ky. Acts ch. 119) lets approved nonprofit organizations employ 12- and 13-year-olds in work programs. Limits: not on school days, at most 3 hours a day and 18 a week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. (KRS 339.335). HB 255 (2024), which would have repealed the state's limits for 16- and 17-year-olds, passed the House but never cleared the Senate, so it is not law.

## Employers hiring at 14 here

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

## Sources

- US DOL WHD – State child labor laws: hours and nightwork: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/child-labor
- US DOL WHD – Employment/age certification under state child labor laws: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/age-certificates
- 803 KAR 1:100 – Child labor (hours): https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/803/001/100/
- KRS Chapter 339 – Child Labor (339.210, 339.230, 339.270, 339.335, 339.360): https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/chapter.aspx?id=38900
- HB 255 (2024) bill record – did not pass: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/24RS/hb255.html

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