The 1986 amendment to U.S. federal age discrimination law made it illegal for employers to force a worker to retire because he or she had reached a certain age. However many government agencies are exempt, for instance:

1. Air traffic controllers

2. FBI agents and other federal law enforcement officers

3. National park rangers

4. U.S. Lighthouse Service workers

6. Local firefighters

7. Florida supreme Court Justices

Private employers also can impose mandatory retirement on some highly compensated employees with extensive responsibilities, such as chief executives or board members. Employers also set age limits for certain types of jobs, such as airline pilots.