Yes, 14-year-olds can work in Washington state. Fourteen is the minimum age for regular employment without special court approval, and the pay floor for workers under 16 is 85% of the state minimum wage, which comes to $14.56 per hour in 2026. The rules on hours, tasks, and paperwork are tighter than what adult workers face, and several of them shift depending on whether school is in session.
What Has to Be in Place Before the First Shift
Three things must be sorted out before a 14-year-old clocks in: the employer’s minor work permit, a signed parent/school authorization form, and proof of the teen’s age kept on file at the workplace.1Washington State Legislature. WAC 296-125-0200
The minor work permit is a free state endorsement that every employer hiring anyone under 18 must obtain and post at each work location. Employers apply through the Department of Revenue, online or by mail, and must already carry industrial insurance coverage before the permit is approved.2Washington Department of Revenue. Minor Work Permit
The parent/school authorization form has to be fully completed and kept at the workplace before the minor starts.3Justia Law. Washington Administrative Code 296-125-0260 A parent or guardian signs to grant permission. During the school year a school official also signs, confirming the job won’t undermine attendance or grades. The employer fills in the business name, address, and a description of the duties. The form stays at the worksite for inspection; it doesn’t get submitted to a state agency.
Proof of age, such as a birth certificate, also needs to be on file. For federal I-9 purposes, a minor without a driver’s license can use a school ID with a photo, a report card, or a clinic or hospital record to establish identity.
Jobs a 14-Year-Old Can and Can’t Do
Anything not specifically banned is generally allowed, so it’s easier to start with what’s off-limits. No minor under 18 in Washington may work in slaughtering or meat processing, operate power-driven woodworking, metal-forming, or shearing machines, run forklifts, earthmovers, backhoes, or similar heavy equipment, operate cargo elevators, hoists, or cranes (regular passenger elevators are fine), or perform any work higher than 10 feet off the ground.4Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Prohibited Duties
Workers under 16 face additional bans. All construction work is out. So is manufacturing and processing. Any power-driven machinery is prohibited, not just the specific categories banned for older teens. Ladders and scaffolds are off-limits, including window washing. In retail and restaurant settings, a 14- or 15-year-old cannot be scheduled alone past 8 PM without an adult on the premises.
The under-16 ban on all power-driven machinery is broader than it sounds. A 17-year-old might use certain powered equipment that isn’t on the hazardous list; a 14-year-old cannot use any of it.
Within those limits, plenty of common jobs are open. In food service, 14-year-olds can use non-powered slicers and knives, walk in and out of coolers and freezers to grab products, and handle most routine restaurant or grocery tasks.5OSPI. Food Services Factsheet Cashiering, bagging groceries, stocking shelves, light cleaning, office filing, and car washing are all standard.
How Many Hours a 14-Year-Old Can Work
Washington caps hours tightly for 14- and 15-year-olds, with different limits during the school year and when school is out.6Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Hours of Work
During the School Year
- 3 hours maximum on school days
- 16 hours maximum per week
- 6 days per week maximum
- Work only allowed between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM
When School Is Out
- 8 hours maximum per day, including weekends year-round
- 40 hours maximum per week
- 6 days per week maximum
- Work only allowed between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, except from June 1 through Labor Day, when the evening cutoff extends to 9:00 PM
The 9:00 PM extension runs specifically from June 1 through Labor Day, not the entire summer break.7U.S. Department of Labor. Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-farm Employment A teen whose school lets out in mid-May still faces a 7:00 PM cutoff until June 1. The six-day weekly cap means every week must include at least one full day off, in session or not.
Required Breaks
Break rules for 14- and 15-year-olds are more generous than what adults get, and neither the employer nor the teen can waive them.8Washington State Legislature. Washington Administrative Code 296-125-0285
- At least 30 minutes of meal break for every 4 hours worked, separate from rest breaks
- At least 10 minutes of paid rest break for every 2 hours worked
A 14-year-old working a four-hour shift gets both a rest break and a meal break. An adult working the same four hours would get only the rest break. Break violations carry civil penalties starting at $300 per incident, so employers should track them on timecards.
Wages, Tips, and Overtime
Washington’s 2026 minimum wage is $17.13 per hour.9Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Minimum Wage For workers under 16, employers may pay 85% of that rate, which brings the floor to $14.56 per hour.10Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Hiring Youth Under Age 14
Washington does not allow tip credits. Some states let employers count tips toward the minimum wage obligation; Washington treats tips as money that belongs to the worker on top of the full hourly rate.11Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Tips and Service Charges A 14-year-old bussing tables keeps every tip in addition to at least $14.56 an hour.
If a minor somehow works more than 40 hours in a week, the employer owes overtime at one-and-a-half times the regular rate.12Washington State Legislature. RCW 49.46 – Minimum Wage Requirements and Labor Standards The hour caps make this rare in practice, but the rule sits there as a backstop when a schedule breaks the limits.
If a Teen Gets Hurt on the Job
Every employer in Washington must carry workers’ compensation insurance covering all employees, regardless of age.10Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Hiring Youth Under Age 14 If a 14-year-old is injured at work, the same benefits available to adult workers apply: medical treatment, wage replacement, and disability coverage. Age is not a reason to treat the claim as less serious or outside coverage.
When the injury happens while the minor was doing banned work or working prohibited hours, the employer can face enhanced penalties without any reduction to the minor’s benefits.
When Employers Violate the Rules
Washington updated its child labor penalty structure effective July 1, 2026, with fines that scale by severity.13Washington State Legislature. RCW 49.12.390 – Child Labor Laws, Violations, Civil Penalties Missing permits or records draw $100 to $1,000 per violation. Hour limit violations run $150 to $1,000. Break violations start at $300. Prohibited duty and minimum wage violations start at $1,000 per violation and rise to at least $2,000 for repeat offenses. Serious physical harm to a minor triggers at least $15,000, and the death of a minor at least $71,000, with either amount doubled for willful or repeated conduct.
The Department of Labor & Industries can also revoke an employer’s minor work permit and bar the business from getting a new one for at least 12 months, which effectively ends its ability to hire any worker under 18 for a full year. Teens or parents who suspect a violation can file a complaint with L&I; the agency handles investigation and enforcement.