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Can you work at 14 in Minnesota?

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

No general work permit. Employers must keep proof of age on file: an age certificate, birth record, driver's license or Form I-9 (181A.06). The school superintendent issues an age certificate on request. An employment certificate from the school district is needed only for under-16s to work during school hours (181A.05). Official permit page →

Hour limits for teens in Minnesota

Ages 14–15Ages 16–17
School day3 h—
School week18 h—
Non-school day8 h—
Non-school week40 h—
Time of day7 a.m.–7 p.m. in the school year (federal); 9 p.m. in summer (state law allows 7 a.m.–9 p.m. all year)High school students: not after 11 p.m. on a night before a school day or before 5 a.m. on a school day; 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. with a signed parent note.

Minnesota's own limits are 8 hours a day, 40 a week and 7 a.m.–9 p.m. year-round, with no work during school hours. Minnesota has no school-week limit, so the stricter federal FLSA limits apply in the school year (3 a day, 18 a week, 7 p.m.), as the Minnesota DLI page itself notes. Minn. Stat. 181A.04 subd. 6. No daily or weekly hour caps for 16–17. Seventeen-year-old graduates have no hour limits.

Breaks: No minor-specific rule. General Minnesota law from 2026-01-01 (Minn. Stat. 177.253–177.254): a rest break of at least 15 minutes within each 4 consecutive hours, and a meal break of at least 30 minutes for shifts of 6 or more consecutive hours. Breaks under 20 minutes must be paid.

Recent law changes

  1. 2025 legislation updated the meal and rest break law for all workers, minors included. Rest break: at least 15 minutes every 4 consecutive hours. Meal break: at least 30 minutes for shifts of 6 or more consecutive hours (previously 8). Source

  2. HF 3488 (2024 Minn. Laws ch. 103) bars minors under 14 from paid online content creation and requires creators who feature minors to set aside earnings for them (Minn. Stat. 181A.13). Source

  3. SF 3852 (2024 Minn. Laws ch. 110, art. 2) toughens child labor enforcement. Fines are now up to the listed amounts per violation, with $1,000 for high school night-hour violations. It also adds employer liability for costs, liquidated damages for hazardous-job violations, and anti-retaliation protection. No effective date is stated in the act, so the default (August 1) is assumed. Source

Places that hire at 14 in Minnesota

Places that hire at 15 in Minnesota

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

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Questions

What is the youngest age you can work in Minnesota?

14 for most jobs. Under 14 may not work (Minn. Stat. 181A.04 subd. 1). Exceptions (181A.07): newspaper carriers (11+), farm work (12+ with parental consent), actors and models, youth sports referees (11+ with parental consent), and home chores, babysitting or work for a parent. Under-14s may not do paid online content creation (181A.13, from 2025-07-01).

Do you need a work permit in Minnesota?

No general work permit. Employers must keep proof of age on file: an age certificate, birth record, driver's license or Form I-9 (181A.06). The school superintendent issues an age certificate on request. An employment certificate from the school district is needed only for under-16s to work during school hours (181A.05).

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

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. in the school year (federal); 9 p.m. in summer (state law allows 7 a.m.–9 p.m. all year).

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

Minnesota limits 16- and 17-year-olds: High school students: not after 11 p.m. on a night before a school day or before 5 a.m. on a school day; 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. with a signed parent note..

Which jobs hire at 14 in Minnesota?

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

Sources

State agency: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Labor Standards

  1. Minnesota DLI – Age, hours restrictions (2026)
  2. Minn. Stat. ch. 181A (2025 edition) – Child labor standards (2025)
  3. Minnesota DLI – Work breaks, rest periods (2026)
  4. US DOL WHD – State child labor laws: hours and nightwork (2025-07-15)
  5. US DOL WHD – Employment/age certification under state child labor laws (2024-01-01)

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