Federal law sets minimum standards for child labor in agricultural and nonagricultural employment
| Law | Nonagricultural employment | Agricultural employment |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age for “nonhazardous” employment | 14 with exceptions for delivering newspapers; performing in radio, television, movie, or theatrical productions; and performing nonhazardous work for parents in a family business | 10 with parental consent on farms not covered by the minimum wage requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act 12 with parental consent 14 with no restrictions on nonhazardous work |
| Minimum age for hazardous employment | 18 | 16 |
| Maximum hours of employment for youth under 16 | No work during school hours When school is in session: max 3 hours/day on a school day, max 8 hours/day on a nonschool day, max 18 hours/week |
Federal law does not limit the number of hours or times of day, other than outside of school hours, that youth can work in agriculture |
| Minimum hourly wage and overtime | Adult minimum: $7.25 per hour
“Youth” minimum: $4.25 per hour for employees under 20 years of age during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment Overtime for all workers: 1.5 times regular hourly wage after 40 hours/week |
Many agricultural employers are exempt from federal minimum wage requirements
Agricultural employers are exempt from federal overtime requirements |
Source: EPI summary of U.S. Department of Labor Child Labor Bulletins No. 101 and No. 102.