If you’re 15 and looking for work in Michigan, you can legally hold a job, but the types of work, the hours you can put in, and the process to get started all come with specific rules. Michigan’s Youth Employment Standards Act sets the boundaries, and federal child labor law adds another layer. Here’s what you need to know to find a job, get your work permit, and start earning.
Types of Jobs That Hire at 15
At 15, you’re limited to jobs classified as non-hazardous, non-manufacturing work. In practice, that means the kinds of positions you’ll find fall into a handful of categories:
- Fast food and restaurants: Many national chains and local restaurants hire at 15 for roles like cashier, food prep, busing tables, and cleaning. You won’t be allowed to operate deep fryers, slicers, or other power-driven equipment, but there’s plenty of entry-level work available.
- Grocery stores and retail: Bagging groceries, stocking shelves, and running a register are common positions for 15-year-olds. Larger grocery chains often have formal teen hiring programs.
- Ice cream shops, coffee shops, and bakeries: Smaller food-service businesses frequently hire teens, especially heading into summer.
- Amusement and recreation: Movie theaters, bowling alleys, mini-golf courses, and amusement parks often bring on 15-year-olds for ticket sales, concessions, and general attendant roles.
- Parks and recreation departments: Some city and township parks departments hire junior attendants or seasonal helpers during the summer months.
- Farm work: Michigan’s agricultural sector, including berry farms, apple orchards, and other produce operations, hires teens for picking and packing. Agricultural work has its own set of rules, but many farm jobs are open to 15-year-olds.
- Lifeguarding and swim instruction: If you’re certified, some community pools and recreation centers will hire 15-year-old lifeguards.
- Office and clerical work: Light filing, answering phones, and data entry are permitted, though these openings are less common for teens.
What you won’t be able to do at 15: operate power machinery, work in construction or roofing, handle explosives, drive as part of the job, work in mining, or perform any task classified as hazardous by federal or state law.
Hour Limits During School and Summer
Michigan and federal law both restrict when and how much a 15-year-old can work. When both laws apply to the same employer (which covers most businesses), the stricter rule wins. In practice, that means federal limits usually control during the school year, and Michigan’s rules set some of the boundaries in summer.
During the school year, you can work a maximum of 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours total in a school week. You cannot start before 7:00 a.m. or work past 7:00 p.m. Those limits tighten your schedule to mostly after-school and weekend shifts.
When school is not in session, federal law allows up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Michigan state law allows up to 10 hours in a day and a weekly average of 8 hours per day, with a maximum of 48 hours combining school and work. Either way, you cannot work more than 6 days in a single week. The evening cutoff extends to 9:00 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day, then drops back to 7:00 p.m.
These limits are on the employer to follow, not just on you. If a manager schedules you outside these windows, the business is the one breaking the law.
What You’ll Earn
Michigan has a training wage of $4.25 per hour that applies to newly hired employees under 20 for their first 90 calendar days on the job. After that 90-day window closes, your employer must pay at least the standard minimum wage. The 85% minor wage rate (currently $11.67 per hour for 2026) applies specifically to workers aged 16 and 17, so as a 15-year-old, you’d move to the full adult minimum wage once your training period ends, unless your employer voluntarily starts you higher.
In reality, many employers skip the training wage entirely and pay the regular minimum wage or above from day one, especially in competitive hiring markets like fast food. It’s worth asking about the starting rate before you accept a position.
How to Get a Work Permit
Michigan requires a work permit (Form CA-6) for anyone under 16. You cannot start working until the completed permit is on file with your employer. The process involves you, your parent or guardian, your employer, and a school official.
First, pick up a CA-6 form from your school district, intermediate school district, public school academy, or nonpublic school. You and your parent or guardian fill out Section I completely. You’ll also need to show proof of age: a certified birth certificate, a valid Michigan operator’s license showing your date of birth, a school record, or a sworn statement from your parent along with a physician’s statement.
Next, take the partially completed form to your employer. The employer fills out Section II, which covers the specific duties you’ll perform, what equipment or tools you’ll use, your starting and ending work hours, how many days per week you’ll work, and how many hours per day. Every field must be completed.
Then bring the form back to the school issuing officer. That person reviews everything, signs and dates Section III, makes a copy for your permanent school file, and returns the original to you. You give the signed original to your employer before your first shift. The employer keeps it on file at your workplace for the duration of your employment.
One important detail: the permit is tied to that specific employer. If you switch jobs, you need a brand-new CA-6 for the new employer before you can start.
Where to Look for Openings
National job boards like Indeed and Snagajob let you filter by age requirements, which helps cut through listings that require applicants to be 16 or 18. Search terms like “hiring at 15,” “teen jobs,” or “no experience” along with your city name will surface relevant results.
Walking in and asking is still one of the most effective approaches for teens. Fast food restaurants, ice cream shops, and local grocery stores often have “Now Hiring” signs and are used to processing work permits for younger applicants. Showing up in person, dressed neatly, and asking for a manager can make a stronger impression than an online application alone.
Summer is the easiest time to land a first job at 15 because your available hours roughly double compared to the school year, making you a more attractive hire. Start looking in April or May for summer positions, since seasonal employers like parks departments and amusement venues often fill roles early. During the school year, focus on businesses within a reasonable distance from your school or home, since your shifts will be short and transportation needs to be practical.