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Can you work at 14 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.

State law · checked October 2026

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

Work permit in Kentucky

No state work permit. Employers must get proof of age from every worker and keep it on file (KRS 339.360). The local school board issues an age certificate on request.

Hour limits for teens in Kentucky

Ages 14–15Ages 16–17
School day3 h6 h
School week18 h30 h
Non-school day8 h—
Non-school week40 h—
Time of day7 a.m.–7 p.m.; 9 p.m. June 1–Labor DaySchool year: 6 a.m.–10:30 p.m. on nights before a school day (11 p.m. with written parental permission); 6 a.m.–1 a.m. on nights before a non-school day. No state limits when school is not in session.

803 KAR 1:100 §2. Outside school hours only, unless in a supervised work-experience program. Non-school days during a school week are capped at 8 hours. 803 KAR 1:100 §3 (amended effective 2017-12-01). School day: 6 hours, or 6.5 with written parental permission. Non-school days in a school week: 8 hours. School week: 30 hours, or 32.5 with parental permission, or 40 with parental permission plus a school-certified GPA of 2.0 or higher. Conflict: the DOL table (as of 2025-07-15) gives an 11 p.m. cutoff (1 a.m. Fri/Sat) when school is in session; the regulation text says 10:30 p.m. (11 p.m. with parental permission) before a school day and 1 a.m. before a non-school day. Used the regulation.

Breaks: Under 18 (KRS 339.270): a 30-minute lunch period after no more than 5 continuous hours, plus a 10-minute paid rest period in every 4 hours worked.

Recent law changes

  1. 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 HB 255 (2024), which would have repealed the state's limits for 16- and 17-year-olds, passed the House but never cleared the Senate, so it is not law. Source

Places that hire at 14 in Kentucky

Places that hire at 15 in Kentucky

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

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Questions

What is the youngest age you can work in Kentucky?

14 for most jobs. KRS 339.220 bars work under 14. Exceptions (KRS 339.210): farm work, domestic service in a private home, casual household chores, newspaper delivery routes, actors/performers, and work for a parent outside manufacturing, mining and hazardous jobs. Youth sports referees from age 12 with parental consent. Since July 15, 2024, 12–13-year-olds may also work in approved nonprofit work programs (KRS 339.335).

Do you need a work permit in Kentucky?

No state work permit. Employers must get proof of age from every worker and keep it on file (KRS 339.360). The local school board issues an age certificate on request.

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

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 Kentucky?

Kentucky limits 16- and 17-year-olds: 6 h on a school day, 30 h in a school week, School year: 6 a.m.–10:30 p.m. on nights before a school day (11 p.m. with written parental permission); 6 a.m.–1 a.m. on nights before a non-school day. No state limits when school is not in session..

Which jobs hire at 14 in Kentucky?

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

Sources

State agency: Kentucky Department of Workplace Standards (Labor Cabinet)

  1. US DOL WHD – State child labor laws: hours and nightwork (2025-07-15)
  2. US DOL WHD – Employment/age certification under state child labor laws (2024-01-01)
  3. 803 KAR 1:100 – Child labor (hours) (2026)
  4. KRS Chapter 339 – Child Labor (339.210, 339.230, 339.270, 339.335, 339.360) (2026)
  5. HB 255 (2024) bill record – did not pass (2024-09-26)

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