Working Under Sixteen
MCA 41-2-115 — at 14 and 15, no work in school hours, 3 hours on a school day and 18 in a school week
A minor under 14 may not be employed, apart from the exemptions the law lists. A minor 14 or 15 may not work during school hours unless in a school supervised work program.
Who handles this in Montana: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Montana directory.
| For 14 and 15 | Limit |
|---|---|
| For 14 and 15Hours of the day | LimitNot before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m., or 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day |
| For 14 and 15A school day | Limit3 hours |
| For 14 and 15A school week | Limit18 hours |
| For 14 and 15A nonschool day | Limit8 hours |
| For 14 and 15A nonschool week | Limit40 hours |
Jobs closed to them include manufacturing, power driven machinery, construction, and in a store or restaurant, slicers, freezers and ladders over 20 feet. Cashiering, shelving, bagging and kitchen work are allowed outside school hours.
Sources for this section (4)
- MCA 41-2-105 — Prohibited employment of minors under 14 years of age
- MCA 41-2-106 — Prohibited employment of minors who are 14 and 15 years of age
- MCA 41-2-108 — Employment of minors who are 14 and 15 years of age
- MCA 41-2-115 — Working hours
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Montana attorney.