How many hours can teens work? How early and late can they work?
Employers must keep daily time records for minors (under 18). The records must
show what time the minor began work, total hours worked, and what time the minor
finished for the day. Following are the hours and times minors may work.16-17
Years Old (enrolled in school, including home-school)
16 & 17 year olds can work:
Up to 4 hours on a school day; 8 hours on the last school day of the week
Up to 20 hours in any week with 3 or more school days
Except: 8 hours each day with unscheduled school closure for a total
of 28 hours that week (e.g., storm day, broken furnace, etc.)
Up to 50 hours each week with less than 3 scheduled school days, or during
the first or last week of the school year
Up to 10 hours a day on weekends, holidays, vacations, teacher workshop
days
No more than 6 days in a row
How early? How late?
Not before 7 a.m. on a school day
Not before 5 a.m. on a non-school day
Not after10 p.m. the night before a school day
Until midnight if there is no school the next day
Minors under 17 cannot work during school hours
Under 16 (work permit required!)
Minors under 16 can work:
Up to 3 hours a day on school days, including Fridays
Up to 18 hours in any week with one or more school days
Up to 8 hours on days without school (during weekends, holidays, vacations,
storm days, etc.)
Up to 40 hours in a week with no school days
Never more than 6 days in a row
How early? How late?
Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. during summer vacations only
Not during school hours
NOTE: There are some exceptions to the hours listed; call the Maine Department
of Labor at 1-877-SAFE-345 for details. TTY: 1-800-794-1110 (for deaf and hard of hearing)
