Nevada Job Rules for 14- and 15-Year-Olds
If your teen is 14 or 15, there are extra rules employers have to follow. These laws are meant to protect younger workers, especially during the school year.
For most regular teen jobs, including retail, food service, grocery stores, movie theaters, and seasonal work, 14- and 15-year-olds may only work outside of school hours.
When school is in session, 14- and 15-year-olds may not work:
- More than 3 hours on a school day, including Friday
- More than 18 hours in a school week
- Before 7:00 a.m.
- After 7:00 p.m.
When school is not in session, 14- and 15-year-olds may not work:
- More than 8 hours in one day
- More than 40 hours in one week
- Before 7:00 a.m.
- After 7:00 p.m.
From June 1 through Labor Day, the evening cutoff is extended to 9:00 p.m.
What types of jobs can 14- and 15-year-olds usually do?
Younger teens can often work in jobs like:
- Cashier
- Host/hostess
- Ice cream shop team member
- Grocery bagger
- Retail associate
- Movie theater concessions
- Office or clerical work
- Some food service tasks
- Some seasonal recreation jobs
What jobs are usually off-limits?
There are also jobs younger teens generally cannot do. These may include work involving:
- Hazardous equipment
- Manufacturing
- Mining
- Most construction work
- Freezers or meat coolers
- Most power-driven machinery
- Baking operations
- Ladders or scaffolding
- Driving as part of the job
- Door-to-door sales
Do teens need a work permit in Nevada?
In Nevada, teens ages 14–17 generally do not need a work permit to get a job. However, employers may still ask for proof of age, and each employer may have its own hiring requirements.
Parent tip
Even if a company says it hires at 14 or 15, not every location or position will be available to younger teens. Franchise-owned restaurants, seasonal attractions, and grocery stores may have different rules by location, so always check the job listing carefully before applying.
Nevada Job Rules for 16- and 17-Year-Olds
The rules for 16- and 17-year-olds are less strict than they are for younger teens, but there are still limits families should know about.
In general, 16- and 17-year-olds can work more types of jobs and longer hours than 14- and 15-year-olds. Federal law does not set the same daily or weekly hour limits for workers age 16 and older, but teens under 18 still cannot work in hazardous jobs.
School-night work limits in Nevada
In Nevada, a teen who is enrolled in high school, is at least 16 but under 19, and is not emancipated generally may not work between:
11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
on a night immediately before a school day.
There are some exceptions, including certain work as a lifeguard, arcade employee, stage or theatrical performer, motion picture performer, or farm worker. A school district, school governing body, or juvenile court may also grant an exemption if it determines the exemption is in the teen’s best interest.
Jobs that are still off-limits under 18
Even at 16 or 17, teens generally cannot work in jobs considered hazardous. These may include work involving:
- Driving as part of the job, with very limited exceptions for 17-year-olds
- Forklifts and other power-driven hoisting equipment
- Meat slicers and certain meat-processing equipment
- Power-driven bakery machines
- Balers and compactors
- Roofing work
- Excavation and trenching
- Mining
- Logging or sawmill work
- Explosives
- Certain power-driven saws and cutting machines
Parent tip
A job may say it hires at 16, but that does not mean every position is open to 16- and 17-year-olds. Delivery driver, equipment-heavy, late-night, warehouse, kitchen machinery, and alcohol-related positions may have higher age requirements. Always read the job description carefully before applying.
Please do your own research as laws change with each new office. Here are the resources I used for this article:
Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner — Employment of Minors / NRS Chapter 609
U.S. Department of Labor YouthRules — 14- and 15-Year-Old Workers
U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet #43 — Child Labor in Non-Agricultural Jobs
