Hiring Minors - Human Resources - Carnegie Mellon University

Hiring Minors

The following are general standards that are designed to protect minors under the age of 18 and prohibit employment in jobs that are detrimental to minors' education, health and well-being. Before employing anyone under the age 18, contact your Human Resources Manager to ensure that you are in compliance with Child Labor Laws.

Human Resources guidelines for hiring interns and externs may also be applicable to minor employees.

Process for Hiring Minors at Carnegie Mellon

  • Contact your HR Manager before hiring a minor
  • The minor must apply for the appropriate work certificate
  • The minor (or minor's school district official) will provide the work certificate to Human Resources
  • The minor may begin employment once the appropriate work certificate is received
  • HR will send the work certificate receipt/acknowledgment to the appropriate school official

Hours of Employment

Ages

Maximum hours
during school year

Maximum hours
during summer

Times allowed during summer
(June 1 - Labor Day)

Times allowed
during the rest
of the year

14-15

4 hours/day
18 hours/week

8 hours/day
44 hours/week

7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

16-17

8 hours/day
28 hours/week

8 hours/day
44 hours/week

Sunday - Thursday: 6:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Friday - Saturday:6:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.

all under 18

Maximum 6 days/week.  A 30 minute meal period is required on or before 5 consecutive hours of work.

Hazardous Employment

In general, there may be a prohibition under the Child Labor Laws if the job entails any dangerous activity, machinery other than typical office equipment, contact with alcoholic beverages, driving, or strenuous physical activity. Your Human Resources Manager can evaluate a job position description to determine compliance with child labor standards.

Employment Certificates

No person under the age of 18 (except summer camp counselors or early academic graduates) may be employed without a general employment certificate, a vacation employment certificate, or a transferable work permit. Employment certificates are issued by school authorities and, except for transferable work permits, must be kept on file by the employer. The original copy of the work permit must be forwarded to Human Resources prior to employment.

Helpful Links

The minimum age for employment is 14 years for non-agricultural jobs. There are some exceptions that might allow younger employment: newspaper delivery; performing in radio, television, movie, or theatrical productions; and work for parents in a solely-owned, non-farm business (excepting manufacturing or hazardous jobs).

Minimum Age for Employment

The state and federal minimum wage and overtime requirements also apply to minors. Please note that the Pennsylvania minimum wage is $7.25 as of July, 2009. For work locations not in Pennsylvania, use the federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour as of July, 2009) or state/local minimum wage, whichever is higher. Overtime pay at a rate of not less than one and one-half times their regular rates of pay is required after 40 hours of work in a work week.

Minimum Wage