Is Your Teen Looking for a Job? These Companies Hire 14-and 15-Year-Olds!
Do you have a young teenager looking for a job?
Do you have a mature and motivated teen as young as 14 or 15 years old in your family who is hoping to earn extra spending money? If so, they may be able to apply for a job with certain companies that are known to hire teenagers as young as fourteen!
What laws surround hiring young teens?
According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, fourteen is the minimum hiring age for non-agricultural employment with limits on the number of hours minors can work and the types of jobs they can perform. For fourteen and fifteen-year-old employees, ALL work must be performed outside of school hours and they may not work:
- More than 3 hours on a school day, including Friday.
- Over 18 hours per week when school is in session.
- More than 8 hours per day when school is not in session.
- More than 40 hours per week when school is not in session.
- Before 7 AM or after 7 PM on any day, except from June 1st through Labor Day, when night-time work hours are extended to 9 PM.
In some states, teens may need to obtain a work permit to seek employment. The best way to find out if they’ll need to complete this step is by consulting with their school’s guidance office or the state’s department of labor. Although some exceptions may apply, teens must generally be paid the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour (but this will depend on what they do and where they work).
Think outside the babysitting box with our list of companies that hire young teens!
The following companies hire mature fourteen and fifteen-year-old employees, although it is important to note that the hiring process does vary by store and region. Contact the local business in your area to learn more about their individual hiring practices and requirements. There may also be limited positions available for younger workers, so inquire early!
- AMC Theaters (hires ushers and concession workers 14 and older)
- Baskin-Robbins (hires team members 14 and older; select locations)
- Bruster’s (hires team members 14 and older based on state labor laws and local store policies)
- Ben & Jerry’s (hires team members 14 and older)
- Burger King (hires team members 14 and older)
- Chick-fil-A (hires team members 14 and older; select locations)
- Culver’s (hires team members 14 and older)
- Dairy Queen (hires team members 14 and older)
- Fareway (hires team members 14 and older for the Grocery Department)
- Giant Eagle (hires bakery clerks or shopping cart attendants as young as 14)
- KFC (hires 14-year-olds for basic restaurant jobs)
- Kroger & affiliates (hires baggers or stockers with proper work permit – as young as 14)
- McDonald’s (hires crew members as young as 14)
- Palace Entertainment (hires team members 14 and older for positions in Park Services, Admissions, Food & Beverage Cashier, and Parking Attendant)
- Pizza Hut (hires team members 14 and older for non-driving positions)
- Publix (hires cashiers and clerks 14 and older)
- Rita’s Italian Ice (hires treat team members 14 and older)
- Runza (hires crew members 14 and older)
- Safeway & affiliates (hires baggers with work permits as young as 14)
- Six Flags (hires young teens for part-time work as a skill game operator or to fill roles in food or ice cream trucks)
- Taco Bell (hires team members 14 and older)
- Winn-Dixie & affiliates (hires baggers 14 and older)
Still looking for more ideas?
Another option to consider is Care.com. Teens between the ages of 14 and 17 can create a parent-monitored account and check out the available jobs in their area, including babysitting, pet care, house sitting, lawn maintenance and more! Other great places to promote your services include Nextdoor or in your neighborhood’s Facebook group.
The following jobs listed below are great for young teens just entering the workforce, as they require minimal experience and are great for building resumes. Also, be sure to think about your specific region, as local attractions, delis, pizzerias, car washes, pools, parks, etc. may be willing to hire younger teens.
- Artist (selling handmade art/crafts online)
- Babysitter
- Camp Counselor
- Car Washer
- Cashier
- Child Care Assistant
- Concession Worker
- Dishwasher
- Dog Walker
- Fast Food Worker
- Food Prep Worker
- Golf Caddy
- Grocery Store Bagger
- Harvest Helper at a Farm/Orchard
- House Sitter
- Independent Living Retirement Communities
- Kennel Assistant
- Landscaper
- Lawn Mower
- Lifeguard
- Mother’s Helper
- Music Teacher
- Nursery Worker
- Office Worker
- Paper Delivery Person
- Pet Sitter
- Plant Sitter
- Private Sports Coach/Swim Instructor
- Restaurant Hostess/Host
- Restaurant Busser
- Rec League Sports Referee/Umpire
- Summer Reading/Math Tutor for Elementary School Students
- Weed Puller
Got hangry kids? Make these easy air fryer recipes teens love!
I have never worked in fast food but I see how they run and how busy you are and I couldn’t even do that lol
Just looked it up for Nevada and a teen must be 16 to work. Looks like you can get permission from a district judge to do work that is artistic, athletic, or intellectual. Bummer because I’ve got a 14 year old that would like to spend his summer working. There are lots of volunteer opportunities though!
Maybe babysitting, or mowing a few lawns, or cleaning out someones, garage. Possibly ask friends if they need help with some odd jobs.
Not true. 14 with a work permit. I work in HR in Nevada. Legally NV can hire at 14 and offer lower than minimum wage for that age group, around $5 and hour. Our water park and many fast food places will hire in Nevada.
are you in LV?
That has actually been changed as of 2015! It’s confusing because a lot of sites have not been updated to reflect that, including some government pages that contradict themselves, but it has been changed!
http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/jjs/Services/Pages/JuvenileWorkPermits.aspx
My friends son is 15 and looking for a job. All the places he’s applied say he has to be 16. This is in California.
Honestly don’t believe 14 year olds should be working. Enjoy your childhood…you’ll be working the rest of the life.
I disagree. Fourteen is a great age to learn the responsibility of having a small job. I was a candy striper (hospital volunteer) when I was 14 and 15. I loved it. Two evenings a week for 4 hours each. I had to be on time. I learned to interact with different kinds of people. Adults spoke to me with respect and kindness. They taught me so many things. They counted on me to deliver things to the nurse’s stations, work in the gift shop, deliver flowers, wheel patients out, walk visitors to where they needed to go, make copies of medical journal articles in the library for the doctors (it’s a huge rush for a doctor to ask you to do something important for them), deliver meals to patients, etc. etc.
A lot of things I don’t think it’s even legal for a kid to do, anymore, like delivering IV bags and medications to the nurses! LOL And I don’t think most hospitals even have candy stripers, anymore.
But my point is that at 14 I took responsibility for helping people other than myself or my immediate family. When I was 19 and in college, I got a job in a convenience store….the manager said he hired me BECAUSE I had been a candy striper. He said that anyone who would work two years at that, and for free nonetheless, was a person who was not just looking for money, was not selfish, and was responsible.
Besides, fourteen year olds need money to buy the crap parents keep paying for.
If a kid is capable enough to work… they should work. Most kids these days rely so much on their parents that when they go out in the real world they are STILL asking for their parents to help cuz that’s how they was raised. Getting everything handed to them and not earning it themselves by hard work.
Yeah but some kids(14yr olds) in this generation are way smarter than we were as kids and have access to alot more things. Which makes them want to start early. My son is 14 and wants a job, hes very smart and has always been smarter than other kids growing up. Maybe its because me and his father are techs, idk. Kids back in the oldie times used to work at age 9, I believe kids at 14 should work if they are responsible. And show it properly. Just saying.
I’m gonna be 14 and I don’t get an allowance because my mom doesn’t make a lot of money so working will help me earn money so I can buy what I want
I totally agree with you, Ivan. There’s plenty of time to be an adult. 14 years old is just too young. There are plenty of household chores that kids that age can do to learn responsibility. I personally prefer that my child focuses on school rather than working.
I worked all summer as a farm kid, baling hay, milking cows, working on farm machinery. More kids should take on part-time work.
My 14 year old loved his opportunity to work a few hours a week just this Summer. He still had more than enough free time on his hands.
I think they should because that teaches them that they should earn there own money
I agree with Ivan.
Too young. Enjoy your childhood!
That’s the problem, 20 and 30 year olds are still enjoying their childhood and living off their parents (Or in our state they are homeless and can’t take care of themselves)
Going to say the same. I wanted a car at 16 so i got a super part time job at dunkin donuts at the same age. I dont believe a 14 yr old should work. Yes ok everyone will say my child is a very mature 14- we already know that. But its the start of high school. Adolescence, puberty, etc. I dont think a 14 going to school then work is healthy. (Dont hate. Its my opinion & i do not have kids) its WAY too much unnecessary responsibility. Dealing with money and whatever else, food, games etc. Be a kid, ride your bike, play video games. If you are mature enough to get a license and want a car then get a job. I tend to (judgementally i suppose and i apologize) assume the parents have little money and the kids are very desperate for stuff if they are working.
It may be true that the parents have very little or no money for extras. So why shouldn’t 14 and 15 year olds work for those extras that they want? I see nothing wrong and everything right with that.
My children both started working at 14 they love to be able to buy what they want when they want. Plus we buy their cars they pay the insurance and gas. It’s not hard work. Both worked fast food and the local parks department at 14.
it’s not hard work? I can’t imagine working at a parks department isn’t hard work, and fast food is certainly hard work. Maybe neither of them are intellectually challenging but both require hard workers.
The only way they could work at most of these is with a work permit. My 15 yr tried many of these places with no luck in az.
My son got a job at 14. He loves having his own money. It teaches them responsibility & what hard work gets you. Nothing wrong with kids wanting a job. He wanted a dirt bike & earned the money to buy it. He still has plenty of time to be a kid.
We should not judge parents for parenting the best way they know how. My son who is now 18 started working when he was 16. A few hours a week at the YMCA and it helped tremendously not with actual money since they pay very little ($8/hour) but with scholarships and such. He was able to show that he could handle being a great student, a great athlete, team captain and carry out a few hours of work per week. He mostly used his money to go to the movies or eating out with his friends. He got allowance for completing his chores at home and of course we pay for all his bills and etc. Now, my daughter is a completely different story. I don’t know if she will be able to handle all that when she’s 16. But whatever works.
I agree. Depends on the child and their maturity on how soon they can go to work.
My 15 year old daughter got a job this summer in the childcare of our park board fitness center and she is just thrilled she actually gets paid money to play with children. We worked out a budget for her to tithe, save and spend. She is proud to be saving money for a car.
That’s great Sher….you’ve got a good one! Both my kids worked from age 14-15 and are now in their 30s. And they’ll be the first to say kids should work. Being a single mom I couldn’t afford to buy them cars. They each felt pride in the fact that they bought their own trucks and covered all related expenses.
I was a single mom at one time and it doesn’t hurt to teach our children real world responsibilities. I have taught my daughters that anything worth having in life you have to work for it! I get them things don’t get me wrong, but it’s our job as parents to teach them now what the real world is about. My kids know that toys, games and electronics ( if beyond my means sometimes) have to be worked for. Plus they will take care of it better if they pay for it. I’m not a bad mom, it wasn’t my choice to lose my husband from cancer but when you have kids you have to get off your a$$ and dust yourself off!
This is great! I babysat tons when I was 13+. Most people don’t want a young teenager to watch their kids anymore. A summer job teaches responsibility. I’ll have my kids get summer jobs at 14/15/16 years old! They will need that life experience. It’s about raising healthy, functional adults! I did volunteer work at 14+, in the US and Mexico. That experience helped me so much in college and after!
Having a job at 14 only got me in trouble, and took time from doing school work.
Some pool/swim clubs hire 11 year olds for the summer to assist as junior life guards. Since they can’t technically work, they get paid in gift cards. They shadow lifeguards and assist in small group swim lessons. (Mainly grabbing noodles, staying next to a kid who is all over the place, swim lessons are 6 kids to an adult). Only work in 30 minute shifts, and can work a couple of shifts back to Back up to 4 hours. I think it’s great to get them started on responsibility and it’s only for the summer so it doesn’t conflict with school/extra curricular activities.
To each their own, let’s not judge so much. Everyone’s situation is different and not all kids are the same. A lot of 14 year olds are motivated and want a job, and some aren’t ready for it… that’s between them and their parents, no one else.
My daughter will be 10 this summer and she’s already talking about wanting a part time job when she’s a teenager. I don’t think I’d want her to work during the school year and I never want her to feel like she HAS to work as a child in order to have necessities like clothes or even a few extras like a phone (at 14-15 I woud still consider those our responsibility as her parents) but if she wants to work part time during the summer and simultaneously earn money, make friends and learn a few life/character building skills I’m all for it. My biggest regret is ending up with a career in an industry that’s not a naturally good fit for me in spite of my bachelor’s degree. The more my daughter tries in life before it really “counts” the more she can hone in on her likes/dislikes/strengths/weaknesses/personality type and hopefully end up with a career that brings her satisfaction in addition to paying the bills.
Excellent ideas Hip2Save! The beauty in this is that everyone raises their kids a little differently, and some kids are more motivated than others. So this gives those parents or kids a jump start on where to start applying to should they wish to do so!
Pennsylvania. Got my first job at 16 because I didn’t know that you COULD get a job at 15 until I started working at McDonald’s. The green shirts (15 year olds) could run the front registers and drive-thru and maintain the dining room. They just weren’t allowed to operate the grills and fryers.
And I REALLY didn’t know that jobs were available to 14 year olds until I saw the episode of Family Matters where Laura gets her first job at Rachel’s Diner. LOL
I babysat for ages 12-14, and would have SO preferred to work at McDonald’s for that time as well.
This is the first time another commenter amazed me at their lack of respect or intelligence. Why on earth would anyone think it’s a bad to think having teenagers buy their own luxuries is terrible? Stop babying your kids & they won’t grow up to be irresponsible & entitled adults!
Dose this work in Oregon
Yes
Shout out to fareway! My husband works for that company. ❤
Another very popular job in my area for 14-15 year olds is a janitor at the local public school. They work after school vacuuming and cleaning the school. There are about 8 junior high kids that are 14-15 years old that are janitors at our Elementary school. That has been a great job for them!
When I was 13-15 I held a variety of jobs! I worked picking berries, in the berry stand, at my local pool as a lifeguard and swim instructor, and babysat occasionally. I think jobs for young teens is a great idea! It’s not a “daily grind” situation like it is for adults!
Erickson Living Retirement Communities may also hire at age 14 – the one near us does AND gives a $6k college scholarship. That attracts a lot of high school kiddos. Both of my girls work there and LOVE it since it’s half work/half social time.
One thing to ask about is union dues. My son worked for Kroger, part-time, but full-time union dues were deducted from his pitiful paycheck. So it wasn’t long before he left for another job.
Too bad he didn’t know that you can opt out of the union. The supreme court ruled that you can not have it held against you and they do still legally have to represent you. My sister works for the union and she’s not a fan of this though🙁
I’m a single mom and my 15 yr old wanted to work during the summer but I can’t take him to/from work because his schedule would be all over the place and no one would take him there/back. So what did he do instead, he joined Swagbucks/InstaGC/Bing to do some stuff to earn money that way, gets paid via Amazon GC to spend on whatever he wanted and can afford. He puts in as much time/efforts as he wanted to. Now he wants to get a “real” job at Chick-fil-a, to save up for a car. Some kids are just “itching” to do any kind of work just to get some money, so they can spend on whatever they wanted. How could a parent say no to that?
My 15 year old niece applied to many places in Meridian, ID and had a hard time. Papa Murphy’s finally hired her. I think they have pretty high turnover, so they might be worth a shot if any teens are running into the same problem. My husband worked at Albertson’s as a bag boy when he was 15, but that was “back in the day” in the ’90s. He brags to our boys about making $4.25/hr at his first job, and they’re amazed. He also used to eat an entire loaf of their french bread for lunch, lol.
15-year-olds should work @ a young age because that teaches them that it fell good to make there own money.