Think back to that first paycheck. Maybe it came from lifeguarding at the community pool, shelving books at the library, or running orders at a burger stand. Work can be a confidence boost for teens, and a relief for parents who want them to learn money habits early. Then the big question lands: how many hours a week can a minor work in California? As Nakase Law Firm Inc. hears again and again, families keep asking how many hours a week can a minor work in California, and what that means for school nights, weekends, and summer.
Jobs teach more than clocking in on time. They teach patience with cranky customers, teamwork on a busy shift, and pride in buying something with your own money. Even so, school and sleep still matter. California Business Lawyer & Corporate Lawyer Inc. frequently fields a version of the same question—how many hours can a minor work—and points people to a set of limits built to keep teens safe, rested, and on track for class.
Work Permits: The Green Light From School
Before a teen starts, a work permit from the school is step one for ages 12 through 17. Think of it as the school’s way of saying, “Yes, this schedule looks doable.” Permits usually renew each school year. Picture Sofia, age 15, who picks up a snack-bar job at the public pool. She brings the form home, gets signatures, and turns it back in at the office. No permit, no shift—simple as that.
State Rules vs. Federal Rules (Follow the Stricter One)
Two sets of laws shape teen work: federal rules (FLSA) and California rules. When they don’t match, the tighter rule is the one that counts here. That’s why employers double-check California’s specifics. A quick review up front saves grief later.
Hours for 16- and 17-Year-Olds
Older teens get the widest range, and still have clear caps. During the school term, they can work up to 4 hours on a school day and up to 8 hours on a non-school day, with a weekly limit of 48 hours. Now picture Marcus, 17, stocking produce at a grocery store. On a Tuesday in October, his shift might run 4 hours in the evening. In July, he can step up to 8-hour days, yet the 48-hour weekly ceiling still holds. That way he can earn, rest, and keep a life outside the time clock.
Hours for 14- and 15-Year-Olds
For younger teens, the limits feel tighter but sensible. During school weeks, they can work up to 3 hours on a school day and up to 18 hours per week. On non-school days and school breaks, they can work up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Add time-of-day rules to the mix: not before 7 a.m. and not after 7 p.m. during the school year, stretching to 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day. If Alex, age 15, has soccer practice and weekend yogurt-shop shifts, those caps help keep his week from turning into a blur.
Ages 12-13: Very Limited Options
Work options for 12- and 13-year-olds are rare and narrow—think certain farm roles or family businesses, and only outside school hours. You won’t see many middle-schoolers behind a cafe register. The point is to keep the youngest kids focused on school and growing up at a reasonable pace.
Jobs That Are Off-Limits
Some work is simply not allowed for minors. Anything with heavy machinery, roofing, demolition, or dangerous chemicals stays off the table. Even a motivated 17-year-old doesn’t get a pass here. No job is worth a life-changing injury. Employers who keep a clear list of restricted duties avoid accidents and fines in one sweep.
School Comes First—No Exceptions
Grades slide, attendance dips, and that permit can be pulled. It’s not meant to be a surprise; it’s a guardrail. Picture a teen working late dish shifts who starts dozing in first period. A teacher flags it, a counselor calls, and the family trims the schedule. After all, a paycheck helps today; a diploma helps for decades.
What Happens When Employers Miss the Mark
Penalties sting. Fines add up, and a business can lose the right to hire teen workers. On top of that, word spreads fast in a community. To stay on the safe side, smart managers keep copies of permits, set schedules that match the law, and train shift leads to watch hours carefully. One more tip: post the rules in the break area so everyone knows the boundaries.
Special Cases: Entertainment, Agriculture, Family Businesses
Some fields have unique structures. On a film set, for example, learning time is built right into the workday, and shifts can be shorter with required breaks. Agriculture has its own framework, with safeguards stacked in. Family businesses can hire their kids, and even then the same hour caps and safety rules apply. A last name on the storefront doesn’t remove the limits.
Breaks and Rest: Not Optional
Teens need downtime just like adults. California requires a 30-minute meal break once a shift passes 5 hours, and paid 10-minute rest breaks for 4-hour stretches. Busy lunch rush? The breaks still happen. A sandwich shop may be packed with orders, yet that 16-year-old still gets time to eat and breathe. Skipping breaks is a bad habit that tends to snowball, so teams should plan ahead.
Summer and Holiday Schedules
Summer shifts feel bigger, and that’s part of the appeal. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds can approach full-time hours during long breaks. Fourteen- and fifteen-year-olds get more time too, though not as much. Even with extra availability, the daily and weekly caps still stand. Theme parks, camps, and shops build teen schedules around those lines every year.
Tips That Keep Everyone Sane
Parents: keep an eye on sleep, grades, and mood. If your teen seems fried on Sundays, pull back a little. A brief reset beats burnout. Teens: track your week on your phone—classes, practice, homework, and shifts in one view. That quick snapshot tells you if Wednesday is getting too crowded. Employers: set up a simple hour tracker for minors and share it with shift leads. A little structure saves a lot of back-and-forth later.
A Few Lived-In Moments
- A pizza place posts end-of-shift checklists. Teens clock out only after a manager confirms the time is within legal limits. It becomes routine, like washing hands.
• A robotics kid needs a lighter March schedule before regionals. The boss trims hours for two weeks, then adds one extra shift once the tournament wraps. No drama, just teamwork.
• A family talks about money at Sunday dinner. The teen picks one savings goal (a used guitar), one fun goal (concert tickets), and one giving goal. The job feels bigger than a paycheck.
Quick Recap You Can Use Today
- Work permit first for ages 12–17.
• Ages 16–17: up to 4 hours on a school day, up to 8 on a non-school day, max 48 per week; more options on long breaks, same weekly cap.
• Ages 14–15: up to 3 hours on a school day, max 18 per school week; up to 8 hours on non-school days and 40 per week during breaks; time-of-day limits apply.
• Hazardous jobs are out.
• Breaks are required.
• School stays at the center; permits can be pulled if academics slip.
Bringing It All Together
Teen jobs can be the start of lifelong habits—showing up, pitching in, and taking pride in a job done well. Set the hours inside the lines, keep school at the heart of the plan, and make room for rest. The result is a teen who learns, earns, and still has time to be a kid. And that’s the goal most families, schools, and employers share.
