# Teen work rules in West Virginia

In West Virginia, you can start most non-farm jobs at 14. You need a work permit until you turn 16 (from West Virginia Division of Labor (age 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. There are no state hour limits at 16 and 17.

- Minimum age: 14
- Work permit: required under 16
- 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: no limits

## Recent changes

- 2026-06-08: HB 4005, Workforce Development Act of 2026 (passed 2026-03-10, in effect 90 days later). Students in the Youth Apprenticeship Program (11th–12th grade or age 16+) may operate machinery for any occupation not otherwise prohibited. 16+ students in cooperative vocational programs may do supervised above-ground roofing work with parental consent. 16–20-year-olds may make supervised retail alcohol sales, but under-18s still may not work in a bar. Hours and permits did not change.
- 2025-07-11: SB 427 replaced county-superintendent work permits for 14–15-year-olds. Employers now need written parental consent and an age certificate issued by the Commissioner of Labor. It also repealed blanket work permits.

## 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

- WV Division of Labor – Child Labor: https://labor.wv.gov/wage-hour/child-labor
- WV Division of Labor – Child Labor FAQ: https://labor.wv.gov/wage-hour/child-labor/child-labor-faq
- WV Division of Labor – Child Labor General Reference Guide (July 11, 2025): https://labor.wv.gov/media/31/download?inline
- W. Va. Code ch. 21, art. 6 (copy posted by Division of Labor; predates SB 427 for §§21-6-3 to -5): https://labor.wv.gov/media/237/download?inline
- Enrolled Committee Substitute for SB 427 (2025), passed April 12, 2025; approved by Governor April 24, 2025: https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb427%20sub1%20enr.pdf
- 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- US DOL WHD – Employment/Age Certification table, as of 2024-01-01 (lists WV as under 16, mandatory, school-issued; superseded by SB 427): https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/age-certificates

Page: https://hiringage.com/west-virginia/ — please cite with a link.