Working Under Eighteen
Child Labor Act 3 — 28 hours a school week at 16 and older, and a rest break after five hours
In Pennsylvania, no individual under 14 years of age may be employed outside the act's listed exceptions, and no minor may be employed for more than six consecutive days.
| 14 and 15 | The limit |
|---|---|
| 14 and 15The window | The limitNot before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m., or until 9 p.m. during a school vacation |
| 14 and 15A day | The limitNot more than three hours on a school day, or eight on a day with no school |
| 14 and 15A regular school week | The limitNot more than 18 hours |
| 14 and 15A week school is not in session | The limitNot more than 40 hours |
| 16 and older | The limit |
|---|---|
| 16 and olderA school week | The limitNot more than 28 hours |
| 16 and olderA day while school is in session | The limitNot more than eight hours |
| 16 and olderThe window while school is in session | The limitNot before 6 a.m. or after 12 midnight, or until 1 a.m. during a school vacation |
| 16 and olderA day of school vacation | The limitNot more than ten hours |
| 16 and olderA week of school vacation | The limitNot more than 48 hours; any hours over 44 must be voluntary, and the minor may refuse them without retaliation |
Five hours, then a rest break. No minor may be employed for more than five hours continuously without an interval of at least 30 minutes for a rest break, and a shorter interval does not break up the continuous period.
Who the limits at 16 and older leave out. A high school graduate, and a minor exempt from compulsory school attendance.
Work permits, performances, newspaper delivery and prohibited occupations 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 Pennsylvania attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Child Labor Act 3 — Time limitations on employment of minors
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.