Last update: June 10, 2023
Minimum Hiring Age in Ohio
What is the minimum age to be employed in Ohio? The legal age to work in Ohio 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
- Under 18: No child under 18 years of age shall be employed or permitted to work in, as or about, or in connection with:
- Occupations involving slaughtering, meat-packing, processing or rendering.
- Power-driven bakery machines, paper products machines, metal forming, punching and shearing machines, woodworking machines and hoisting apparatus.
- Occupations involved in the manufacture of brick, tile and kindred products.
- Occupations involved in the manufacture of chemicals.
- Manufacturing or storage occupations involving explosives.
- Occupations involving exposure to radioactive substances and to ionizing radiations.
- Occupations involved in the operation of power-driven circular saws, band saws and guillotine shears.
- Coal mines.
- Occupations in connection with mining, other than coal.
- Logging and sawmilling.
- Motor vehicle occupations.
- Maritime and longshoreman occupations.
- Railroads.
- Excavation operations.
- Roofing operations.
- Wrecking, demolition, and shipbreaking.
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 Ohio:
| Beer | Wine | Spirits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serve | 19 | 19 | 19 |
| Bartend | 19 | 21 | 21 |
Work Hours
- Under 16: No person under 16 shall be employed:
- During school hours except where specifically permitted.
- Before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m. from June 1 to September 1 or during any school holiday of 5 school days or more; or after 7 p.m. at any other time.
- For more than 3 hours a day in any school day; For more than 18 hours in any school week.
- For more than 8 hours in any day when school is not in session.
- For more than 40 hours in any week that school is not in session nor during school hours, unless employment is incidental to bona fide programs of vocational cooperative training, work-study, or other work-oriented programs with the purpose of educating students, and the program meets standards established by the state board of education.
- Under 18: No person 16 or 17 who is required to attend school shall be employed:
- Before 7 a.m. on any day that school is in session or 6 a.m. if the person was not employed after 8 p.m. the previous night.
- After 11 p.m. on any night preceding a day that school is in session.
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 to Sept. 1 and during school holidays of 5 school days or more) to 7 a.m., 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in door-to-door sales.
Maximum daily and weekly hours and days per week for ages 16 and 17:
Not regulated
Nightwork prohibited for ages 16 and 17:
11 p.m. before school day to 7 a.m. on school day (6 a.m. if not employed after 8 p.m. previous night) if required to attend school. 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. in door-to-door sales.
Work Permit
Work permit is required for minors under 16 at any time, and 16 and 17 during school term. https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/industrial-compliance/wage-and-hour/applications-and-forms/minor-work-permit-application Age certificates are not issued, but proof of age is required for minors 16 and 17 years of age for employment during school vacation. With the approval of the Superintendent of Schools of the district where they live, 16- and 17-year-old minors are not required to provide a certificate to be employed at a seasonal amusement or recreational establishment.
Minimum Wages
The minimum wages in Ohio is Employers with annual gross receipts of $372,000 or more: $10.10 Employers with annual gross receipts under $372,000: $7.25. 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.