Legal minimum age to work
The minimum age that you are legally allowed to work varies in the United States by city, county and state and in Canada by province.
The most common answer to the question: How old do you have to be to work?
The most common starting age for workers is…14 years old The exception is if you work in agriculture, then you need to be at least 12 years old.
How old do you have to be to work in the United States:
The U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets 14 years of age as the minimum age for employment. It also limits the number of hours worked by minors under the age of 16.
There are restrictions however. You can work in non-agricultural jobs at 14. Under the age of 16, there is a restiction on the number of hours you may work. You cannot work in hazardous occupations until you turn 18.
Age related facts:
- Fourteen- and 15-year-olds are not allowed to work more than three hours per day. They can work up to 18 hours per week during the school year.
- You can work in agricultural jobs at the age of 12. See this site for state specific age rates.
- In some states, a teen under 18 needs to obtain an age certificate provided by the school or the Labor Department to work.
How old do you have to be to work in Canada:
You can work at 14 years of age, however if you are under 18 years old, you are not allowed to work during school hours. That is unless your job is considered part of your school curriculum or program.
What hours can teens under 18 work?
Younger workers are limited on how much they can work. This varies based on time of day and whether school is in session or is out. Often the can onl work after 7am and until 7pm except in the summer when that is extended to 9pm.
What type of jobs can teens work at?
Teens can work at agricultural jobs at age 12. At 14 the can broaden their work to service jobs and other non-hazardous work. The cannot operate machinery or work in hazardous environments until the are 18 years. Labor laws do not prohibit younger children from being paid for chores, babysitting or delivering newspapers.
How do I figure to what to do for a career?
The best way to discover what you want to do in your life maybe a lifelong career is to try a lot of things. Volunteer for jobs that interest you. Get experience and see if you can land a part time job that pays you to do something you like to do. That will give you the experience you need to decide if it is something you want to make your life about. You might even decide to std that topic at school so you can get a well paying job in the area of interest once you graduate.