Hiring ages › States › New Hampshire

Can you work at 14 in New Hampshire?

In New Hampshire, you can start most non-farm jobs at 14. You need a work permit until you turn 16 (from School (principal or designee); a parent or guardian for some youth (e.g. home-schooled)). 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 New Hampshire

Under 16: a New Hampshire Youth Employment Certificate. The employer fills in a request form, and the youth takes it to school to be signed after an academic check (RSA 276-A:5). It's due within 3 business days of starting, and certificates from other states don't count. 16–17: no certificate, but the employer must have signed written permission from a parent or guardian on file before the first day. Official permit page →

Hour limits for teens in New Hampshire

Ages 14–15Ages 16–17
School day3 h—
School week18 h35 h
Non-school day8 h—
Non-school week40 h—
Time of day7 a.m.–7 p.m.; 9 p.m. June 1–Labor Day (federal)—

These are the federal FLSA limits, which are stricter. The DOL state table lists New Hampshire's own law for under 16 as 3 hours a school day, 23 a school week, 8 a non-school day, 48 a non-school week, with no work 9 p.m.–7 a.m. Enrolled 16–17-year-olds may work up to 35 hours in a week with 5 school days (SB 345, 2022, raised this from 30 and removed the 4-day and fewer-day tiers and the night-work section). During vacations and June 1–Labor Day: up to 48 hours a week and 6 consecutive days. The US DOL table (as of 2025-07-15) still shows the pre-2022 30-hour week. Daily caps for youth not in school: 10 hours in manufacturing, 10¼ in other non-exempt work (McLane summary, 2021).

Recent law changes

  1. SB 345 (Chapter 221, Laws of 2022): school-week limit for enrolled 16–17-year-olds raised from 30 to 35 hours, with the 6-consecutive-day limit and the 4-day-week tiers removed. The youth night-work restriction (RSA 276-A:13) and special-agreement section (276-A:14) were repealed. 14-year-olds may now clear tables at alcohol-licensed restaurants. Source

Places that hire at 14 in New Hampshire

Places that hire at 15 in New Hampshire

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Questions

What is the youngest age you can work in New Hampshire?

14 for most jobs. Under 14 may not work except casual work and newspaper delivery. Under-16s may work without a certificate for a parent, grandparent or guardian, in casual work, or in farm labor. Since 2022, 14-year-olds may clear tables at alcohol-licensed restaurants (RSA 179:23).

Do you need a work permit in New Hampshire?

Under 16: a New Hampshire Youth Employment Certificate. The employer fills in a request form, and the youth takes it to school to be signed after an academic check (RSA 276-A:5). It's due within 3 business days of starting, and certificates from other states don't count. 16–17: no certificate, but the employer must have signed written permission from a parent or guardian on file before the first day.

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

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).

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

New Hampshire limits 16- and 17-year-olds: 35 h in a school week.

Which jobs hire at 14 in New Hampshire?

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

Sources

State agency: New Hampshire Department of Labor

  1. NH SB 345 (2022) bill status and enrolled text (2022-06-17)
  2. N.H. Admin. Code Lab 1002.01 – Youth Employment Certificate Requirements (2026)
  3. NH DOL – Youth Employment FAQ (blocked when fetched; content seen only via search snippet)
  4. McLane Middleton – Summer Hiring and Youth Employment Laws in New Hampshire (pre-SB 345) (2021-06-25)
  5. US DOL WHD – Selected State Child Labor Standards (non-farm), as of 2025-07-15 (2025-07-15)
  6. US DOL WHD – Employment/Age Certification table, as of 2024-01-01 (2024-01-01)

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