{"id":357882,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/wage-and-hour-laws-for-minors-and-teens.html"},"modified":"2025-03-17T13:22:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T18:22:00","slug":"wage-and-hour-laws-for-minors-and-teens","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/wage-and-hour-laws-for-minors-and-teens.html","title":{"rendered":"Wage and Hour Laws for Minors and Teens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wage and Hour Laws for Minors and Teens<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lisa Burden, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Federal law restricts the types of jobs and hours that teens and minors can undertake. Additional state laws provide further protections. These laws are designed to prevent the exploitation of youth in the labor market and to prioritize their health, well-being and education.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that governs various aspects of employment, including pay and workplace standards. It plays a crucial role in safeguarding the rights and well-being of workers, including minors and teens. Child labor laws are in place to protect the safety, education, and well-being of young workers.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s natural to have concerns about your working teen\u2014especially if it\u2019s their first job. Contact an employment law attorney<\/a> to learn how you can help protect their rights and ensure their safety at work.<\/p>\n

There are restrictions on the types of jobs and hours minors can work. This ensures that youth have opportunities for education and safe working conditions.<\/p>\n

Covered employers, which include businesses engaged in interstate commerce or those with annual sales exceeding a certain threshold, are subject to the FLSA’s provisions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In addition to federal law, state laws<\/a> have rules for businesses and organizations that employ minors. The rules that provide the most protection to young workers prevail.<\/p>\n

The following is a summary of legal protections for minors and youth in the workplace.<\/p>\n

Youth Minimum Wage<\/h2>\n

Under the FLSA, covered employers can pay employees under 20 years of age a youth minimum wage<\/a> of $4.25 an hour during the first 90 days of employment. If an employee turns 20 during the 90 days, their pay must be raised to the applicable minimum wage.<\/p>\n

Some states and cities require a higher minimum wage<\/a> and don’t have an exception for youth workers. The higher state or local minimum wage would apply.<\/p>\n

Youth Worker Protections<\/h2>\n

The rules for the employment of minors vary by age and task.<\/p>\n

Youth workers under 14 can only engage in the following types of work:<\/p>\n