Is it legal for a 12-year-old to have a job?

A 12-year-old can work on farms with parental consent, deliver newspapers, perform in movies, television or radio, and work for parents in a nonmanufacturing and nonhazardous family business. The minimum age for a job in a nonhazardous field is 14, according to the Child Labor Public Education Project.

Certain states may have further restrictions on minimum ages and requirements for certain age groups, reports the Child Labor Public Education Project. In Iowa, any child between the ages of 10 and 15 must obtain a work permit and certification from his school before he can deliver newspapers or sell products door-to-door.