Last update: June 10, 2023
Minimum Hiring Age in California
What is the minimum age to be employed in California? The legal age to work in California is 12, but governed by state and federal child labor laws and varies based on:
- The type of work (e.g., agricultural or non-agricultural)
- Whether the job is considered hazardous or has prohibited duties.
- Whether school is in session.
- The legal status of the minor (e.g., emancipated minors).
- Whether the job is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
According to Federal Law (FLSA), a minor must be at least 14 years old to work for an employer (e.g. retail stores, food service establishments and gasoline service stations), with an exception for minors working for a parent or legal guardian who owns the business. This is the reason why you will never see job postings for children under the age of 14.
Age Restrictions
- 12 Minimum age to work: in connection with the occupation of selling or distributing newspapers, magazines, periodicals or circulars.
- 16 Minimum age to work: in any type of mechanical work or any work in a gasoline service establishment; with Dispensing gas or oil, as Courtesy service and for Car cleaning, washing, and polishing; In an establishment that sells alcoholic beverages for consumption off the premises if supervised by someone over the age of 21.
- 18 Minimum age to: perform an act in a premises where alcohol is served; serve alcohol in a bona fide public eating establishment if the person is no employed as a bartender and the service is in that part of the establishment used for the sale and service of food; To sell lottery tickets if supervised by someone over the age of 21.
- 21 Minimum age to: sell or serve alcoholic beverages unrestricted; sell lottery tickets unrestricted.
Minimum age to drive motor vehicles (cars and small trucks) on public roads as part of jobs is basically 17 years old, with certain requirements.
Minimum age to serve and bartend alcohol in California:
| Beer | Wine | Spirits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serve | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Bartend | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Work Hours
- 12: School in session: May be employed only during school holidays and vacations (usually construed to include weekends). May never be employed on any schoolday, either before or after school.
School not in session: 8 hours per day; 40 hours per week
Spread of hours: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., except that from June 1 through Labor Day, until 9 p.m. - 14: (Must have completed 7th grade to work while school in session) School in session: 3 hours per schoolday outside of school hours; 18 hours per week
School not in session: 8 hours per day; 40 hours per week
Spread of hours: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., except that from June 1 through Labor Day, until 9 p.m - 16: (Must have completed 7th grade to work while school in session) School in session: 4 hours per day on any schoolday; 48 hours per week
School not in session: 8 hours per day; 48 hours per week
Spread of hours: 5 a.m. – 10 p.m. However, until 12:30 a.m. on any evening preceding a nonschoolday. - 18: Unrestricted
Maximum daily and weekly hours and days per week for minors ages 14 and 15:
8-40 school day/week: 3-18
Nightwork prohibited for minors ages 14 and 15:
7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Maximum daily and weekly hours and days per week for ages 16 and 17:
8-48 school day-week: 4-28 (Combined hours of work and school) except 8 before non-school day
Maximum hours/days when school is not in session:
- 8 hours daily / 50 hours weekly/ 6 days weekly.
- Workers 16 and up may work up to 50 hours in one week and up to 10 hours a day only between the last day of school and Labor Day.
Maximum hours/days when school is in session:
- 3 hours daily/ 18 hours weekly)
Nightwork prohibited for ages 16 and 17:
10 p.m. (12:30 a.m. before non-school day) to 5 a.m.
Work Permit
Typically, after an employer agrees to hire a minor (under 18), the minor obtains from his or her school a Department of Education form entitled "Statement of Intent to Employ Minor and Request for Work Permit" (https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/dlseformB1-1.pdf). Minors aged 15 days to 18 years employed in the entertainment industry must have a permit to work, and employers must have a permit to employ, both permits being issued by the Labor Commissioner's Office. The work permit is also a certificate of Age.
Minimum Wages
The minimum wages in California is $15.50. FLSA allow employers to pay a youth minimum wage of not less than $4.25 an hour to employees who are under 20 years of age during the first 90 consecutive calendar days after initial employment.