At 14 years old in the United States, you can legally work in a defined list of non hazardous jobs under federal child labor law, including retail roles, food service that does not involve cooking with open flames, lifeguarding under certain conditions, lawn care, tutoring, babysitting, and certain office work. The hours you can work are capped by federal law and sometimes further by state law.
Most 14 and 15 year olds asking where they can work are looking for two things at once. They want a job that is legal at their age. They want a job that does not require experience they do not yet have. The good news is that both conditions point to the same short list of employers and roles. The bad news is that adults around them often answer the question vaguely, because they do not remember the specifics. This article is built on the actual federal rules.
Child labor protections in the United States are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act, with details maintained by the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor. State laws sometimes add stricter rules on top, particularly around hours and required work permits. The combination of federal and state rules defines exactly which jobs are open to a 14 year old.
What jobs can 14 year olds legally do?
A 14 year old in the United States can legally work in retail and food service jobs that do not involve cooking with open flames, baking, or operating power equipment. Common allowed roles include grocery store bagger, retail cashier in stores without dangerous equipment, food server in establishments that do not require open flame cooking, office or clerical assistant, tutor, lifeguard at age 15 with appropriate certification, theatre usher, ride operator at amusement parks under certain conditions, and lawn care or yard work outside of dangerous machinery use.
The Department of Labor maintains specific guidance on what 14 and 15 year olds can and cannot do. The agency's youth employment overview details prohibited occupations, including most manufacturing, mining, work with power driven machinery, and operating motor vehicles. Even within a permitted industry, certain tasks remain off limits. A 14 year old can work in a restaurant but cannot operate a deep fryer or work the grill.
What jobs can 14 year olds do in the United States?
Permitted jobs for 14 year olds in the United States include retail sales associate in non hazardous stores, grocery store bagger and cashier, restaurant host and food server in places without open flame cooking, office clerical assistant, tutor, lifeguard from age 15 with certification, theater usher, amusement park ride operator under certain conditions, lawn care without power driven equipment, dog walker, pet sitter, babysitter, and certain agricultural work permitted under separate provisions.
How many hours can a 14 year old work?
A 14 year old in the United States can work no more than 3 hours on a school day, no more than 18 hours in a school week, no more than 8 hours on a non school day, and no more than 40 hours in a non school week. Work cannot begin before 7 in the morning and cannot end after 7 in the evening, except during the summer when work can continue until 9 in the evening from June 1 through Labor Day.
These limits are set by the Fair Labor Standards Act and apply nationwide. States sometimes layer stricter rules on top. The Department of Labor maintains a state by state summary that explains which limits in your state are stricter than the federal floor. When state and federal limits differ, the stricter limit applies.
Do 14 year olds need a work permit?
Some states require a work permit for 14 and 15 year olds before they can begin a job. Other states do not. Whether you need one depends on the state, not on the employer. The work permit is usually issued by the school district or the state department of labor. Common requirements include a parent or guardian signature, a letter from the employer describing the job, and a verification of school enrollment. The application process takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so apply before you start interviewing.
Which employers regularly hire 14 and 15 year olds?
Employers that regularly hire workers under 16 include grocery store chains, fast food restaurants that have been adapted to permit 14 and 15 year old roles, ice cream and frozen yogurt shops, movie theaters, amusement parks, retail clothing stores that do not require operating power equipment, public libraries, recreation departments, and family run businesses. Local community pools and parks departments hire 15 year olds as lifeguards once they have completed the required training and certification.
Babysitting, lawn care, dog walking, tutoring younger students, and similar self employment arrangements remain the most accessible options because they do not require an employer to navigate child labor paperwork. Many 14 year olds earn their first money this way before moving into a formal job at 15 or 16.
What does a 14 year old put on a resume?
A 14 year old resume should include name, contact information including a parent or guardian phone number if appropriate, school name and current grade, any volunteer work, any informal jobs like babysitting or lawn care with simple descriptions, classes and grades that are relevant, hobbies that show responsibility or skill, and any awards or recognitions from school or community organizations. The resume should be one page, easy to read, and free of grammatical errors.
Most 14 year olds do not have formal work experience. That is fine. Employers who hire 14 year olds know that. What they screen for is reliability, willingness to learn, parent or guardian support, and a pleasant first impression. The resume's job is to give the employer enough to call you in for a short interview. The interview, more than the resume, decides whether you get hired.
A sample resume for a 14 year old
The example below is structured for a 14 year old applying for a first formal job. Adapt the structure rather than copying the words.
Jordan Patel
Phone: 555 0188 (parent) | jordan.patel@email.example | City, State
Objective
Hard working 14 year old high school student looking for a first part time job in a grocery store, ice cream shop, or community recreation program. Available evenings and weekends. Eager to learn and reliable about showing up on time.
Education
Lincoln High School, current grade 9. Grade point average 3.8. Active in student government and the school recycling club.
Experience
Babysitter for neighborhood families, 2023 to present
Cares for children aged 4 to 10 for 4 regular families. Plans simple meals, supervises homework, and reads aloud at bedtime. Trusted with house keys and emergency contacts.
Lawn care, summer 2024 and 2025
Mowed lawns and trimmed hedges for 6 neighbors using equipment provided by clients. Earned $640 over 2 summers. Built a list of repeat customers by being on time and finishing the work without being asked.
Volunteer Work
Volunteers 2 hours per week at the city library, shelving books and helping with the summer reading program. Served as a peer tutor in middle school math during grade 8.
Skills
Reliable. Comfortable speaking with adults. Strong reader. Basic Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Speaks English and Gujarati. Certified in basic first aid through community recreation department.
References
References available on request, including teachers, neighbors, and community volunteer coordinators.
What jobs cannot a 14 year old do?
A 14 year old cannot legally work in occupations that the Department of Labor classifies as hazardous. This list includes manufacturing, mining, work with power driven machinery, work involving operating motor vehicles, work on a construction site, work in a meat processing facility, work involving explosives, and work that involves serving alcohol. The full list of prohibited occupations is set out in federal regulations and applies regardless of parental consent.
The Department of Labor maintains the full list of hazardous occupations for minors. Some agricultural work is permitted under separate provisions for younger workers. A 14 year old can perform certain agricultural tasks outside of school hours that would be prohibited in other industries. Parents and guardians should review the specific rules for any agricultural job before consenting.
Implications for Practice
Start by asking your school counselor whether your state requires a work permit. If it does, request the paperwork before you begin interviewing. Then list every responsibility you already hold, including chores, volunteer roles, school commitments, and informal paid work. This list is the raw material for the experience and skills sections of your resume.
Next, identify 3 to 5 employers in your area who hire 14 or 15 year olds. Walk in or apply online if they have an online application. Bring your resume on paper to the in person applications. Dress neatly. Be prepared to answer simple questions about your availability, your school schedule, and how you would handle a difficult customer.
Finally, remember that the most important signal you can send at 14 is reliability. Show up early. Follow instructions. Treat coworkers and customers with respect. The first job is rarely the highest paying one. It is the job that builds the record that makes the second and third jobs easier to get.
Key Takeaways
1. Federal law allows 14 year olds to work in a defined list of non hazardous jobs, including retail, food service without open flame cooking, lifeguarding at age 15, office work, and lawn care without power equipment.
2. Hours are capped. A 14 year old may work no more than 3 hours on a school day, 18 hours in a school week, 8 hours on a non school day, and 40 hours in a non school week. Work hours are limited to 7 in the morning through 7 in the evening, extended to 9 in the evening during summer.
3. Some states require a work permit for 14 and 15 year olds. Check your state. Apply before you begin interviewing.
4. Babysitting, lawn care, dog walking, and tutoring remain the most accessible options because they do not require employer child labor paperwork.
5. A 14 year old resume should be one page, include school, volunteer work, informal jobs, and skills. Employers screen for reliability and pleasant first impressions, not formal work experience.
6. Manufacturing, mining, power driven machinery operation, motor vehicle operation, construction sites, and most hazardous work remain off limits for 14 year olds under federal law.
7. The job is the start of a record. Showing up early and finishing tasks without being reminded is the most useful skill a 14 year old can demonstrate.
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