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There are many rules and regulations in place in Washington State
to help protect workers of all ages. These regulations will differ
depending on your age and what kind of job you have. There are two
categories of jobs you can work in: NON-AGRICULTURAL JOBS and AGRICULTURAL
JOBS. This page contains information about NON-AGRICULTURAL JOBS only.
Information about agricultural jobs can be found at the Young
Workers in Agriculture web site.
Prohibited
Jobs - if you are 14 or 15
Prohibited Jobs - if you are 16 or 17
Legal Working Hours - if you are 14 or 15
Legal Working Hours - if you are 16 or 17
Meal and Rest Breaks
Minimum Wage
Workers' Compensation
Special Variance
Parent/School Authorization Forms
Student Volunteers
Prohibited Jobs
Labor laws are in place to protect teenagers from doing dangerous work. Because of the
possible hazards, some jobs in Washington are restricted based on age. The information below is divided into two sections:
Prohibited Jobs - if you are 14
or 15
If you are 14 or 15 years old, you cannot work in a job
that involves any of the following:
Loading or unloading trucks
Using any power driven machinery
Washing windows
Cooking or Baking
Working in manufacturing
Working in amusement parks
Being a public messenger
House to house sales
Working in transportation, warehouse, storage or construction
Working alone after 8:00 p.m. in a service business without an adult supervisor onsite
Working in jobs that require personal protective equipment (other than gloves, boots, eye protection and hard hat)
Driving a vehicle or forklift
Operating or cleaning meat slicers
Operating power driven machines
Using power-driven woodworking equipment such as saws or drills
Working as a maid or bellhop in assigned guest rooms
Being exposed to body fluids, radioactive substances or hazardous materials
Working as a nurses aid or assistant, unless they are in a state-certified training program
Working more than 10 feet above ground or floor level
Selling candy, flowers, etc. to passing motorists on public roads
Working in excavation or with earth-moving machines
Flagging traffic on public roads
Working in demolition, wrecking, or ship-breakin
Roofing
Fire fighting
Logging and sawmill work
Mining
Working in freezers, meat coolers and preparing meats for sale
Working in meat packing, slaughtering or meat processing
Working in engine rooms or boilers
Manufacturing brick, tile or similar products
Working in saunas or massage parlors, body painting or tattoo studios
Working with explosives
Repairing elevators
For more detailed information on prohibited or restricted jobs in Washington, see
http://www.lni.wa.gov/scs/workstandards/teenworker.htm
*Under certain conditions, a teenager can carry out some of these hazardous duties. In these cases, they must be a student that is participating in an approved vocational education program, diversified career experience program or work experience program through their school district or when involved in a registered apprenticeship program
Prohibited Jobs - if you are 16
or 17
If you are 16 or 17, you cannot work in a job that involves
any of the following:
Working alone after 8:00 p.m. in a service business without an adult supervisor onsite
Working in jobs that require personal protective equipment (other than gloves, boots, eye protection, and hard hat)
Driving a vehicle or forklift
Operating or cleaning meat slicers
Operating power driven machines
Using power-driven woodworking equipment such as saws or drills
Working as a maid or bellhop in assigned guest rooms
Being exposed to body fluids, radioactive substances or hazardous materials
Working as a nurses aid or assistant, unless in a state-certified training program
Working more than 10 feet above ground or floor level
Selling candy, flowers, etc. to passing motorists on public roads
Working in excavation or with earth-moving machines
Flagging traffic on public roads
Working in demolition, wrecking, or ship-breaking
Roofing
Fire fighting
Logging and sawmill work
Mining
Working in freezers, meat coolers and preparing meats for sale
Working in meat packing, slaughtering or meat processing
Working in engine rooms or boilers
Manufacturing brick, tile or similar products
Working in saunas or massage parlors, body painting or tattoo studios
Working with explosives
Repairing elevators
For more detailed information on prohibited or restricted jobs in Washington, see
http://www.lni.wa.gov/scs/workstandards/teenworker.htm
*Under certain conditions, a teenager can carry out some of these hazardous duties. In these cases, they must be a student that is participating in an approved vocational education program, diversified career experience program or work experience program through their school district or when involved in a registered apprenticeship program.
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Legal Working Hours
If you are 14 or 15
The number of hours you can work varies, based on the
time of year. For 14 and 15 year olds, non-school time is considered
to be from June 1 through Labor Day. How many hours can you work
per day?
Up to 3 hours a day on school days (Monday through Thursday)
Up to 8 hours a day (Saturday and Sunday, and non-school times)
How many days can you work per week?
Up to 16 hours in any week during the school year
Up to 40 hours per week during non-school times
Up to 6 days a week
How early can you start work?
On both weekdays and weekends you can start work no earlier than 7:00 a.m.
How late can you work?
On weekdays during school you can work no later than 7:00
p.m.
On non-school days you cannot work later than 9:00 p.m.
| Summary of Working Hour Rules - Ages 14 -15 |
| |
School |
Non-School |
| Hours a Day |
3 hours (Mon - Fri)
8 hours (Sat - Sun) |
8 hours |
| Hours a Week |
16 hours |
40 hours |
| Days a Week |
6 days |
6 days |
| Start Time |
7 a.m |
7 a.m |
| Quit Time |
7 p.m |
9 p.m |
If yous are 16 or 17
The number of hours you can work varies, based on school
vacations. For 16 and 17 year olds, non-school time is considered
to be during all school vacations. How many hours can you work per
day?
Up to 4 hours a day on school days (Monday through Thursday)
Up to 8 hours a day on non-school days (Friday through Sunday, school vacations)
How many hours can you work per week?
Up to 20 hours in any week during the school year (up to 28 hours if a special variance is applied for)
Up to 48 hours per week during non-school times.
Up to 6 days per week
How early can you start work?
On weekdays during school you can start work no earlier than
7:00 a.m.
On non-school days you can start at 5:00 a.m.
How late can you work during the school year?
During school you can work until 10:00 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday
On Friday and Saturday you can work until Midnight
How late can you work during non-school times?
You may work no later than Midnight.
When does an adult supervisor need to be present at the workplace?
Anyone who is age 17 or younger and working past 8:00 p.m. in some type of service job (such as in a restaurant or retail business), must have an adult supervisor on site.
| Summary of Working Hour Rules - Ages 16 -17 |
| |
School |
Non-School |
| Hours a Day |
4 hours (Mon - Fri)
8 hours (Sat - Sun) |
8 hours |
| Hours a Week |
20/28* hours |
48 hours |
| Days a Week |
6 days |
6 days |
| Start Time |
7 a.m |
5 a.m |
| Quit Time |
10 p.m
Midnight (Fri-Sat) |
Midnight |
* 16 and 17 year old students who want or need to work more than 4 hours per day or more than 20 hours per week can obtain a special variance.
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Meal and Rest Breaks
You are permitted to take meal breaks and rest breaks depending on
how many hours you work and your age. Their meal breaks must be uninterrupted
and separate from their rest breaks.
If you are 14 or 15:
Rest Breaks: If you work a 4 hour shift,
you are entitled to a paid rest break at least 10 minutes long.
You cannot be required to work more than 2 hours without a 10 minute
break.
Meal Breaks: You cannot work more than 4 hours
without a 30 minute meal break.
| Hours Worked |
Rest Break |
Meal Break |
| 4 or more |
10 minutes |
30 minutes |
If you are 16 or 17:
Rest Breaks: If you work a 4 hour shift,
you are entitled to a paid rest break at least 10 minutes long.
You cannot be required to work more than 3 hours without a 10 minute
break.
Meal Breaks: You are entitled to an uninterrupted
meal break when working more than 5 hours a day
| Hours Worked |
Meal Break |
| 5 or more |
30 minutes |
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Minimum Wage
The amount a teenager is paid can depend on both your age and the
type of work you are doing. The minimum wage in Washington increases
on January 1st each year.
If you are 16 or older:
The current minimum wage in Washington for both agricultural
and non-agricultural jobs is $7.35 per hour worked.
What if you receive tips?
Under state law, tips cannot be counted toward your minimum wage.
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Overtime Pay
You must be paid one and a half times their regular rate of pay if
you work over 40 hours a week.
Example: Isabella is 17 years old and works in a restaurant bussing tables. She earns minimum wage. During summer break she worked 45 hours in one week. Because she has worked more than 40 hours she is entitled to overtime pay.
To calculate her wages for the week:
Washington's Minimum Wage ($7.35) x 40 hours=$294.00
She worked 5 hours overtime, so she gets overtime pay
$7.35 + $3.68=$11.03 (overtime pay)
$10.03 x 5 hours overtime = $55.15 (overtime earned)
$294.00 + $55.15 = $349.15 (total pay for the week)
If you are 14 or 15
An employer may pay a 14 or 15 year old employee less
than the minimum wage, but it cannot be less than 85% of the minimum
wage, which is $6.25 per hour worked.
Example: Isabella is 15 years old and works in a restaurant bussing tables. But because of her age, her employer only has to pay her 85% of Washington states minimum wage.
To calculate her wage:
Washington's Minimum Wage x 0.85 = Maria's wage
$7.35 x 0.85 =$6.25
So Maria makes $6.25 per hour
What if you receive tips?
Under state law, tips cannot be counted toward your minimum wage.
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Overtime Pay
For more information on overtime in Washington, see:
http://www.lni.wa.gov/scs/workstandards/minwage.htm
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Workers' Compensation
Anyone who is injured on the job requiring more than first aid is entitled to file an injury claim to cover the costs of medical care. If the injury results in lost work time of more than 3 days, wage replacement is provided.
For more information about how workers' compensation applies to student volunteers in Washington, see:
http://www.lni.wa.gov/ipub/213-023-000.htm
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Special Variances
In some cases a 16 or 17 year old student may want or need to work more than 4 hours a day or 20 hours a week. In order to do this a special variance must be completed. A special variance requires approval by the student's parent or guardian, the student's school district representative, and the student's employer. Only students who are 16 or 17 years old may apply for a special variance.
If all three parties approve the special variance, it will allow the student to work 6 hour shifts, up to 28 hours per week in a non-agricultural job during the school year. A special variance does not require approval of the Department of Labor & Industries.
In order for a teacher to approve a special variance for a student, the school district must first apply with the Department of Labor & Industries to be part of the special variance program.
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Parent/School Authorization Forms
In Washington the responsibility for getting a minor work permit falls
to your employer. As part of the work permit process, your employer
must keep a copy of the Parent/School Authorization form on file.
This form is available at: http://www.lni.wa.gov/forms/pdf/700002af.pdf.
In order for you to work during the school year, a Parent/School Authorization
form must first be signed by both your parent or guardian and the
authorized teacher at your school. It is the responsibility of your
employer to provide the form to you.
The employer needs to include the following information on the form:
The location of the workplace
A description of your job duties
The earliest and latest hours you will be working
The total number of hours you will work per week
Because these forms expire on September 30th of each year, your
employer will need to provide you with a new form that needs authorized
signatures each year.
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Student Volunteers
In some cases you may volunteer with an employer. Labor & Industries
has a fact sheet that provides you with more information about how
workers' compensation applies to student volunteers in Washington.
It is available at
http://www.lni.wa.gov/ipub/213-023-000.htm
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