# Teen work rules in North Carolina

In North Carolina, you can start most non-farm jobs at 14. You need a work permit until you turn 18 (from North Carolina Department of Labor (online Youth Employment Certificate)). 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: required under 18
- 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

## Employers hiring at 14 here

- McDonald's
- Chick-fil-A
- 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

- NCDOL – Youth Employment Rules: https://www.labor.nc.gov/workplace-rights/youth-employment-rules
- NCDOL – Work Hour Limitations for Youths: https://www.labor.nc.gov/workplace-rights/youth-employment-rules/work-hour-limitations-youths
- NCDOL – Youth Employment Certificate: https://www.labor.nc.gov/workplace-rights/youth-employment-rules/apply-youth-employment-certificate
- US DOL WHD – Selected State Child Labor Standards (non-farm), as of 2025-07-15: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/child-labor
- US DOL WHD – Employment/Age Certification table, as of 2024-01-01: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/age-certificates

Page: https://hiringage.com/north-carolina/ — please cite with a link.