Summer Jobs for Your 14/15 Year Old Teen in North Carolina

With summer in mid swing and fall just a around the bend, there are endless positive activities to get your teen involved in. Depending on labor laws exercised in your state, your 14-15 your old may be able to get a job. I know, sounds like a joke. But there actually are businesses that can legally hire your teen, allowing them to make some extra money for their activities, purchase entertainment, and even things necessary for school. I was fortunate enough to be employed at the age of 14. It allowed me to feel responsible and even though it wasn't needed, I learned how to contribute to my family, invaluable lessons that I utilize today.

Every child that is employed who is under the age of 18 is bound by the North Carolina youth employment laws. In North Carolina, 14/15 year olds are able to work as long as they apply to the labor department for a valid work permit. This is an agreement between the employee, employer and the state to observe the child labor laws. They are broken down into two basic brackets, 14/15 and 16/17. During the summer, North Carolina labor law states that a 14/15 can work up to 40 hours in a week. With minimum wage now at 6.15, there is a possibility to make a lot of pocket change!

There are restrictions to the positions a 14/15 year old can hold. For instance, a 14/15 year old can work in a restaurant, but they cannot be employed by an establishment that serves or sells alcohol. They cannot operate anything power driven and cannot operate heavy equipment. While working, a 14/15 cannot work more than 5 consecutive hours without a 30 minute interval of rest.

Some of the positions a 14/15 year old may be able to hold are:

Apprentice: This may or may not be a paying gig, but if you know what career field your child is interested in, network and find someone willing to allow them to gain some hands on experience which will look great on a college application not to mention a resume.