Can a person under the age of 18 be an independent contractor? July 29, 2021 19:00 No. Missouri law prohibits any individual under the age of 18 from working as an independent contractor. Related articles What if Missouri and federal child labor laws do not agree? Can an employer pay an individual under 20 years of age less than the applicable minimum wage rate? At what age can a young person start working? If a young person works for a parent does the law still apply? What is a work certificate?