Teen Job Rules for Michigan are Changing in 2026

MI Teen Job Rules – What You Need to Know

If your kid is old enough to start asking about getting a job, congratulations: you’ve entered the parenting chapter that comes with a new kind of paperwork: work permits. And starting this year, they are changing.

In short, starting in the fall, schools won’t be issuing work permits anymore and employers will have more hoops to jump through.

Michigan passed Public Act 196 in late 2024, which updates the Youth Employment Standards Act (YESA) for the first time in a meaningful way in years. Some parts kicked off in April 2025 but the rest rolls out in October 2026.

Here’s what this all means for families:

The Biggest Change: Digital Work Permits

This is the one that will affect every family with a working teen.

Right now, if your kid wants a job, you go to the school office, fill out a paper, and the school issues the work permit. (This system has been in place for decades.)

But, starting October 2, 2026, schools are out of the equation. Instead of a paper slip from the guidance office, you’ll be going through a state website.

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) is building a centralized online system where teens (or their parents) register for employment directly with the state.

Employers have to register, too, and the state will maintain a public database of businesses that are approved to hire minors.

This is a pretty big shift. Instead of the school keeping tabs, LEO will be tracking who’s hiring teens and whether those employers are following the rules.

The system isn’t live yet, so there aren’t step-by-step instructions to share. But once it launches, we’ll update this article with the direct link and a walkthrough.

Until October 2026, the current school-based permit process still applies. Your teen still needs a permit before their first day of work, and they still need a new one if they switch jobs.

What Hours and Jobs Can My Teen Actually Work?

Here’s what it boils down to:

Off-Limits for Youth (Under 18)

• Certain jobs are completely off-limits. Anything involving power tools, heavy machinery, hazardous chemicals, roofing, excavation, or meat-cutting equipment is a no.
• Teens also can’t work in establishments where alcohol sales make up 50% or more of total revenue.
• And there’s a rule that sometimes surprises people: minors working alone in a job that involves cash transactions can’t work after sunset or 8 PM (whichever comes first) unless an employee who is 18 or older is also present.

Ages 14 and 15

Jobs: Teen jobs for kids this age are able to work in places like ice cream shops, grocery stores (bagging, not operating the deli slicer), retail cashier positions, office or clerical work, camp counselor roles, and lifeguarding (at 15).

Summer Hours (June 1 – Labor Day): They can work up to 40 hours a week, up to eight hours a day, from 7 AM – 9 PM, and no more than six days a week.

School Hours (Labor Day – May 31): The allowed work hour limits drop significantly. No more than three hours on a school day, no more than 18 hours in a week, and only from 7 AM – 7 PM.

Ages 16 and 17

Jobs: Older teens get more flexibility. In Michigan, 16-17 year olds can work the same jobs as 14-15 year olds, plus things like restaurant serving, landscaping, amusement park operations, golf course work, car washes, and retail stocking.

They still can’t do anything classified as hazardous.

Summer Hours: Up to 48 hours a week, up to 10 hours a day, from 6 AM – 11:30 PM, and no more than six days a week.

School Hours: Up to 24 hours a week when school is in session. On nights before school days, they need to stop by 10:30 PM. On nights before non-school days (Fridays, Saturdays, vacation weeks), they can work until 11:30 PM.

*There are separate rules for teens working in agriculture, including farm operations and seed production, where hour limits and scheduling can differ.

What About Pay?

As of January 1, 2026, Michigan’s minimum wage is $13.73 an hour. But teen pay works a little differently.

Ages 16 and 17 can be paid what’s called the “youth minimum wage,” which is 85% of the standard rate. That comes out to $11.67 an hour in 2026.

Ages 14 and 15 aren’t covered by the state’s youth wage provision, so employers must pay at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

Training Wage: There’s also a training wage: employers can pay $4.25 an hour to newly hired employees under 20 for their first 90 days. Not every employer uses this, but it’s legal, and it’s worth knowing about so your teen isn’t caught off guard.

Rules That Apply to Every Teen Worker in Michigan

No matter what age your kid is, a few things are consistent across the board:

• A work permit is required before the first day. No exceptions, even for homeschooled kids, virtual learners, or out-of-state residents.
• A work permit can be revoked if grades slip.
• Teens must get a 30-minute meal break after five continuous hours of work.
• An adult (someone 18 or older) must be on-site supervising whenever a minor is working.

What This Means for Employers & Parents

If your teen is applying at a local restaurant, retail shop, or seasonal business, those employers are getting used to the new system, too.

The businesses must register with the state before they can hire any minor. They have to report employment details and notify LEO when a teen quits or is let go. The state can remove non-compliant employers from the approved database, which basically would prevent them from hiring teens.

And, once the state database is live, you’ll theoretically be able to check whether a business is authorized to employ minors before your kid accepts a position.

^{Note: The “summer” window runs June 1 – Labor Day. School year rules apply the rest of the year. Both age groups can’t work from hazardous jobs, and the midnight – 5 AM window is now completely off-limits for 16-17 year olds even with a deviation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​}

The Bottom Line

Your kid still needs a work permit if they want to work, they still have hour limits, and still can’t operate a forklift.

What is changing in 2026 is how the system works behind the scenes with the new state-issued digital permit. Employer registration, (and likely tighter enforcement) are also new.

The big digital transition hits in October, which means it’ll really affect families heading into the 2026-2027 school year and beyond.

Resources

• Michigan LEO Wage and Hour Division

This article reflects the law as of spring 2026 based on Michigan Public Act 196 of 2024 (HB 5594).