Working Under Eighteen
Minn. Stat. 181A.04 — 9:00 p.m. under 16, and 11:00 p.m. before a school day for a high school student
In Minnesota, no minor under the age of 14 may be employed except as the chapter authorizes, and no minor under 16 may work during school hours on school days except as the chapter provides.
| Under 16 | The limit |
|---|---|
| Under 16The window | The limitNot before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. |
| Under 16A week | The limitNot more than 40 hours |
| Under 16A day | The limitNot more than eight hours in any 24-hour period |
High school students. A high school student may not work after 11:00 p.m. on an evening before a school day, or before 5:00 a.m. on a school day. With a note signed by a parent or guardian, a student under 18 may work until 11:30 p.m. and from 4:30 a.m.
Hazardous work. No minor under the age of 18 may work in an occupation the commissioner finds particularly hazardous or detrimental to their well-being.
The exceptions for agriculture and newspaper delivery, amusement rides and the hazardous occupation list are not all on this page. How these rules apply to a particular job, and the federal rules that may also apply, are questions for the state's labor department or a licensed Minnesota attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Minn. Stat. 181A.04 — Minimum age and maximum hours
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Minnesota attorney.