Youth Work Permits & Rights
What you need to know before your first job
If you're under 18 in Pennsylvania, there are specific rules about where and when you can work — designed to protect you. Understanding your rights before starting a job means you'll never be taken advantage of.
Practical next steps
Pennsylvania requires work permits for workers under 18
You need an Employment Certificate — called a work permit — to legally work if you're under 18. Your school issues the permit, but the employer must initiate the process.
The process: offer → school → you → employer
1. Get a job offer. 2. Ask your employer for the 'Promises of Employment' form. 3. Bring it to your school's main office. 4. The school issues your Employment Certificate. 5. Give it to your employer before you start.
Ages 14–15: specific hour limits
Max 18 hours/week during school year (max 3 hours on a school day, 8 on non-school days). Cannot work before 7 AM or after 7 PM during school year (9 PM in summer).
Ages 16–17: more flexibility, still protected
No work permit needed at 16–17, but you're still covered by federal child labor laws. Cannot work in hazardous occupations.
Know the minimum wage
Pennsylvania minimum wage is $7.25/hour. Always confirm your pay rate in writing before starting.
Understand prohibited work for minors
Workers under 18 cannot operate heavy machinery, drive as part of a job, work in mining or logging, or work on rooftops or scaffolding. You have the right to refuse unsafe work.
Know your rights as a worker
Your employer must pay you on time for all hours worked, provide a safe workplace, and not retaliate against you for raising safety concerns.
What to do if your rights are violated
Contact the PA Department of Labor & Industry or US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division. You can file a complaint. You cannot be fired for reporting a labor violation.
Resource starting points
- PA Child Labor Law (DLI)
Official guide to work permits, hour limits, and prohibited occupations.
Organizations featured in this guide
- PA Department of Labor & Industry
Official source for work permit forms, wage claims, and child labor law questions.
- Philadelphia Youth Network
Youth employment programs with built-in worker rights education and support.
- Community Legal Services
Free legal help for workers — including youth — whose wage rights have been violated.
Helpful things to know
Get everything in writing
Before starting any job, get your pay rate, hours, and duties in writing. A text or email is enough.
Track your own hours
Keep a record of every shift. This protects you if there's ever a pay dispute.
Common questions
I wasn't paid for hours I worked. What do I do?
First, request payment in writing. If they don't respond, file a wage claim with the PA Department of Labor & Industry. You are owed every hour you worked.