Here’s something a lot of teens find out too late: when you earn a paycheck from a real job, that money is legally yours. Your employer pays you for your labor. Your parents didn’t do the work. You did.
Now, this doesn’t mean your parents can’t ask you to contribute to the household, or set house rules about saving. They can absolutely do that. But there’s a big difference between a parent saying “hey, pitch in for groceries” and a parent just taking your money without your agreement. The first is a family expectation. The second is a different situation entirely.
The law that governs your work life as a minor is called the Fair Labor Standards Act — the FLSA. It sets the rules on wages, hours, and safety for anyone under 18. Under that law, your employer is required to pay YOU. Not your parents. You. (Note: the FLSA covers most jobs, but not all — some agricultural work and certain family business situations have different rules.)
On wages specifically: the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour for most workers — but many states have set their own minimum wages higher than that, and if your state does, your employer must pay you the higher amount. Check your state’s rate to know what you’re owed. There’s one federal exception worth knowing: if you’re under 20 and it’s your first 90 consecutive calendar days at a new job, an employer can legally pay you as low as $4.25 per hour. That’s called the youth minimum wage, and it only applies during that 90-day window. After that, you move up to the standard minimum wage like everyone else.
The question of whether parents can legally take a minor’s wages is mostly governed by state law, not just federal law, and it varies. In most states today, money you earn from an employer belongs to you — but if you’re unsure about your specific state’s rules, a school counselor or legal aid resource can help you find out.
So what does this mean practically? Open your own bank account. Most banks let teens open a checking or savings account with a parent or guardian as a joint holder, but the money in it is still yours. Keep track of what you earn. And if someone — parent or otherwise — is taking your wages without your consent, that’s worth knowing about and potentially worth reporting.
If your situation feels off or you’re not sure what’s happening to your money, talk to a trusted adult outside your home — a school counselor, a coach, a relative you trust. You worked for that money. It counts.