Last update: June 10, 2023
Minimum Hiring Age in Missouri
What is the minimum age to be employed in Missouri? The legal age to work in Missouri is 14, 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
- Minors under 16 may not work in/as:
- Any power driven machinery, except lawn and garden machinery used in domestic service at or around a private residence, provided that, there shall be an agreement between an occupant of the private residence and the child, and by no other person, firm or corporation, other than a parent, legal custodian or guardian of the child, for the performance of such work.
- The oiling, cleaning, maintenance, or washing of machinery.
- Any ladders, scaffolding, or their substitute.
- Any mine or quarry except in offices or at other non hazardous employment.
- Stone cutting or polishing except those found in jewelry type business.
- Any plant manufacturing, processing, storing, or transporting Type A and B explosives, ammunition, or like materials, or in an establishment in which sales of Type A and B explosive materials make up fifty percent or more of gross sales.
- The operation of any motor vehicle.
- Any blast furnace, rolling mill, foundry, forging shop, or in any establishment where heating of metals is carried on or where cold rolling, stamping, shearing, punching, of metal stock is carried on.
- Saw mills, cooperage stock mills, or where woodworking machinery is used.
- The operation of freight elevators, hoisting machines or cranes, or on or about any manlifts.
- Occupations involving exposure to ionizing or nonionizing radiation or any radioactive substance.
- Any occupation involving exposure to any toxic or hazardous chemicals.
- Any capacity in or about a motel, resort, hotel, where sleeping accommodations are furnished except in offices or locations physically separated from the sleeping accommodations.
- Any place or establishment in which intoxicating alcoholic liquors or beverages are manufactured, bottled, stored, or sold for consumption on or off the premises, except in establishments where at least fifty percent of the gross sales consist of goods, merchandise, or commodities other than alcoholic beverages.
- No child under 16 years of age shall be employed or permitted to work in any street occupation connected with peddling, begging, door-to-door selling or any activity pursued on or about any public street or public place. This prohibition does not apply to any public school or church or charitable fund-raising activity, or distribution of literature relating to a registered political candidate.
- Any other occupation or place of employment dangerous to the life, limb, health, or morals of children under the age of sixteen.
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 Missouri:
| Beer | Wine | Spirits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serve | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Bartend | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Work Hours
- A child shall not be employed, permitted or suffered to work at any gainful employment for more than three hours per day in any school day, more than eight hours in any nonschool day, more than six days or forty hours in any week. Normal work hours shall not begin before seven o'clock in the morning nor extend to after 9:00 p.m., except as provided in subsection 2 of this section. The provisions of this subsection may be waived by the director, in full or in part, depending upon the nature of the employment. Such waiver shall be provided in writing to the employer by the director.
- On all evenings from Labor Day to June first, a child shall not be employed, permitted or suffered to work at any gainful employment after 7:00 p.m. nor after 9:00 p.m. from June first to Labor Day; except that a child who has passed his or her fourteenth birthday but is under sixteen years of age may be employed at a regional fair from June first to Labor Day, if such child does not work after 10:30 p.m., is supervised by an adult, parental consent is given and the provisions of this subsection are complied with. The regional fair exception shall not apply to those entities covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to children who have been permanently excused from school pursuant to the provisions of chapter 167. The provisions of this subsection may be waived by the director, in full or in part, depending upon the nature of the employment. Such waiver shall be provided in writing to the employer by the director.
Maximum daily and weekly hours and days per week for minors ages 14 and 15:
8-40-6 school day: 3
Nightwork prohibited for minors ages 14 and 15:
7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) (10:30 p.m. at regional Fairs or expositions) to 7 a.m.
Maximum daily and weekly hours and days per week for ages 16 and 17:
Not regulated
Nightwork prohibited for ages 16 and 17:
Not regulated
Work Permit
Work certificates are required for children 14 to 15 years of age before they start employment at any job (other than in the entertainment industry) during the school year. https://labor.mo.gov/dls/youth-employment/work-certificates-permits Age certification is not required, but an age certificate is required by law to be provided on request for minors ages 16 and over.
Minimum Wages
The minimum wages in Missouri is $12.00. 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.