Age Restrictions for Minors in Washington State
In the State of Washington, a minor is defined as a person who has not reached the age of 18. In the United States both state law and federal law prohibit minors from doing many jobs. The main reasons for this are to take precautions for a safe workplace and to keep inexperienced young people safe. Here is a quick guide to age restrictions on the employment of minors in Washington State:
| Age | Restrictions and Conditions |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | Employment of minors is regulated by the Washington Administrative Code: WAC 296-125 (for non-agricultural jobs) and WAC 296-131 (for agricultural jobs). |
| Generally prohibited from: Roofing, Demolition, Wrecking, Excavation, Explosives and Exposure to Dangerous Chemicals, Jobs Requiring Protective Gear (outside of boots, gloves, and eye protection), Firefighting, Adult Entertainment, Un-accompanied Retail Work After 8:00 PM, Roadside Selling (drive-in sales permitted), Un-accompanied Hotel Maid/Bellhop, Boiler Room Work, Walk-in Cooler/Freezer Work | |
| “Casual Labor,” or work performed for a private individual on nonbusiness property, such as baby-sitting, or leaf-raking is allowed and exempt from minimum wage requirements. | |
| Prohibited from workplaces involved in labor disputes. | |
| Prohibited from Exposure to Bodily Fluids but may participate in certified Nurse’s Aid programs. | |
| Generally prohibited from operating or maintaining most powered equipment. – including machines such as powered meat slicers in restaurants, heavy farm equipment, forklifts, and power-driven wood-working machines. | |
| Many exemptions exist for the employment of immediate family members on family-owned farms. | |
| Minors may be trained in the operation and maintenance of prohibited equipment only in training courses certified by the state. Such courses are provided by schools as part of Career & Technical Education (“CTE”). | |
| Minors employed by their family’s operation must be registered in the workers’ compensation system. | |
| 16- and 17-year-olds | May obtain a drivers’ license after special instruction and may drive themselves to and from their place of work, but only 17-year-olds are able to drive on public roadways as part of their job duties. |
| Prohibited from operating a motor vehicle as part of their work duties but “incidental” driving during work hours is allowed. For example, delivering pizzas to customers is prohibited but driving between work locations during the workday is permitted. | |
| Under 14 | Generally, may not be employed without permission from a local superior court judge. Written parental permission is also required (see: parent/school authorization or summer authorization form, also see the poster: Employing Children Under Age 14). |
| 12- and 13-year-olds | In exception to the above, may hand-harvest berries, bulbs, cucumbers and spinach when school is in recess without court permission. |