Places That Hire 14 and 15 Year Olds
Are you under the age of 16 and looking for a job? Many 14 and 15-year-olds want to work for a variety of reasons. You should start saving for college as soon as possible.
Alternatively, you could start saving now to buy a car when you’re 16 years old. Whatever your reason, know that there are opportunities for kids to make money out there.
Working at a young age can provide numerous advantages to children, including:
- Learning about work responsibility
- Recognizing the importance of earning money
- Understanding how to give, save, spend, and budget
- Earning money for long-term goals like college or a car purchase
There are many online and offline employers willing to hire workers as young as 14, and we’ve compiled a list of 25 of them below, as well as businesses that teens can begin.
However, it is critical to first understand the rules governing jobs for children under the age of 16. Workers aged 14 or 15 are subject to different employment laws than those aged 16 and up.
Table of Contents
Labor Law Information:
If you are under the age of 16, there are some things you should be aware of if you want to work for a company. The federal government has child labor laws that determine when and how you can work.
Here are the government’s guidelines for working if you are under the age of 16. The Fair Labor Standards Act is a federal law in the United States.
This act serves to protect workers from unfair labor practices by employers. This act contains specific rules applied to workers under the age of 16.
The first rule is that the minimum age for employment is 14 years old.
This rule does not apply in the following situations where there is no minimum age:
- Babysitting
- Delivering newspapers
- Working at a business your parents own (as long as it is a non-manufacturing/non-hazardous job)
- Any work that involves theatrical employment, such as acting in commercials or movies
Even if you are under the age of 14, you can job in any of these capacities.
Do you want to earn money by playing games or watching videos? Then look into Swagbucks! To qualify, you must be at least 13 years old.
Number of Hours Per Week you can work:
There are also restrictions on the number of hours and days for 14 and 15-year-olds can work.
According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, 14 and 15-year-olds may only work:
- 3 hours per day on school days
- 18 hours total in any given school week
- 8 hours per day on non-school days
- 40 hours per week maximum on non-school weeks
In addition, 14- and 15-year-olds can only work between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. From June 1 to Labor Day, this time limit is reduced to 9:00 p.m.
See the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) government webpage for more information on the laws governing working as a 14 or 15-year-old.
What Should You Be Paid?
What you will be paid as a 14 or 15-year-old worker is determined by a variety of factors. You must be paid at least the minimum wage as an employee.
The existing federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Workers in all states must be paid at least this much.
Youth, on the other hand, have different minimum wage rules. According to the FLSA, youth under the age of 20 can be paid a minimum wage of $4.25 for the first 90 calendar days of work.
They must be paid nearly the federal minimum wage after the first 90 calendar days of work.
Some states, however, have their own larger minimum wage laws. In fact, the majority of states have a higher minimum wage than the FLSA mandates.
Georgia and Wyoming have a lower minimum wage of $5.15 per hour. Employers subject to FLSA rules, on the other hand, must pay at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Homeschooled?
If you’ve been homeschooled and have some flexibility in your working time, that can be an advantage if you’re young and searching for employment.
We spoke with one restaurant owner who stated that some restaurants and other venues prefer to hire homeschooled children because their schedules are often more flexible.
Some students can change their school schedules to work during the day, which is a huge benefit.
Here are a few places that may hire 14 and 15-year-olds.
Employers who hire 14 and 15-year-olds include:
Many businesses are eager to hire responsible 14 and 15-year-olds. You can also do independent work as a 14 or 15-year-old.
The three main types of companies that are looking to hire younger workers are:
- Restaurants
- Grocery stores
- Entertainment venues
We’ve put together a list of well-known businesses that hire at 14- and 15-year-olds. If there’s one near you, you may be able to get a job there.
Following are restaurant chains that will hire 14 and 15-year-olds:
1. Arby’s
Arby’s Restaurants first opened their doors in the 1960s. They now have over 3400 locations in the United States. They also serve some of the best roast beef sandwiches in town.
Many Arby’s locations will hire 14 and 15-year-olds for jobs like cashier, food prep, and cleaning.
Hiring age and working hours may differ depending on location and state laws.
2. Burger King
Burger King does employ 14-year-olds in some of their 17,000+ locations. For more information, contact a local location.
Customers and employees alike are drawn to the flame-broiled burgers. You can job on the clean-up crew, as a cashier, or in other capacities here.
3. Baskin Robbins
Baskin-Robbins, The home of innumerable ice cream flavors. In the United States alone, they have nearly 3,000 locations.
With locations in 46 of the 50 states, you may be able to find one close to you. Most Baskin-Robbins locations will hire people as young as 14 years old.
4. Kentucky Fried Chicken
KFC has over 4,400 locations in the United States and over 22,000 worldwide. People can’t seem to get enough of that chicken!
In some areas, KFC restaurant places hire 14 and 15-year-olds as customer service representatives or clean-up crew members.
5. Ben and Jerry’s
More ice cream, please. Ben and Jerry’s is famous for its out-of-the-box ice cream creations. Have you tried their signature Chunky Monkey?
Ben and Jerry’s has scoop shops all over the country. They hire workers as young as 14 years old at most stores.
6. Chick-Fil-A
Chick-fil-A specializes well in chicken. They’re your average fast food joint, with chicken as the featured sandwich option.
Chick-Fil-A has over 2,000 locations in nearly every state. Most places will hire teenagers as young as 14 years old. You’ll never have to work on a Sunday at Chick-Fil-A. On Sundays, they are closed.
Because each Chick-Fil-A is independently owned and operated, wages and hiring ages may differ.
7. McDonald’s
In the United States alone, they have over 14,000 store locations of McDonald’s.
In most locations, you can begin working at McDonald’s at the age of 14. You will be hired to perform a variety of tasks such as serving, cooking, and restaurant management.
8. Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut was established in 1958 and currently operates over 7,000 locations in the United States. Many Pizza Hut locations will hire 15-year-olds with the permission of their parents.
At that age, you may not be assigned to work in food preparation, but you may be hired to work as a cashier or do store cleaning.
Grocery Stores That Employ:
These grocery stores may hire 14- and 15-year-olds to work in their stores. Understand that state labor laws can have an impact on the hiring age at all workplaces.
9. Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle is a grocery store chain with over 400 locations in five states in the United States. They will hire people as young as 14 years old for a variety of positions.
You may be able to work at Giant Eagle if you live in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Indiana, Ohio, or West Virginia.
10. Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee grocery stores have 240 locations throughout the Midwest of the United States. Some stores hire 14- and 15-year-olds, while others do not. Younger workers have a variety of job opportunities.
Because each store is independently owned and operated, the minimum hiring age is determined by store management.
11. Giant Food
Giant Food operates over 150 grocery stores in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. In many places, they hire people as young as 14 years old.
For more information, contact your nearest Giant Food store.
12. Kroger
Kroger operates over 2,700 grocery stores in the United States. They also own stores under different names, such as Fry’s, King Soopers, and Smith’s.
Some of these stores employ people as young as 14 years old. You’ll need to check with your local store to see if they hire at 14. This is due to the fact that the hiring age varies by state.
13. Publix
Publix operates over 1,100 grocery stores in seven states:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
Cashiers, floral clerks, and service desk clerks can be hired as young as 14 years old. Check with your local store to see if there are any open positions.
14. Winn Dixie
Winn Dixie operates nearly 500 supermarkets in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana. Some positions are open to applicants as young as 14 years old.
Check with your local Winn Dixie to see if they have any openings for 14-year-olds.
15. Safeway
Safeway grocery stores first opened their doors in 1915. They now have over 1300 locations across the United States.
Some Safeway stores hire 14 and 15-year-olds for jobs like grocery baggers and cart runners. Check with your local Safeway for specific job openings and the minimum hiring age.
16. King Soopers
King Soopers primarily operates grocery stores in Colorado and Wyoming. In some places, you can be hired as young as 14 with manager approval.
You may be able to work as a cashier or in other grocery store jobs.
17. Stop & Shop
Stop & Shop is an East Coast grocery store chain with over 400 locations. Their stores in Rhode Island and Massachusetts frequently hire children as young as 15 years old.
As a cashier, you can work in their grocery, floral, or bakery departments. You can also work in other grocery store jobs.
18. Fareway
Fareway grocery stores can be found throughout the Midwest, and they hire people as young as 14 for grocery positions.
You might be able to get a job here as a cashier or stocking groceries.
Entertainment Venues That Hire:
Many entertainment establishments hire young people. Check out this list to see if there are any jobs available in your area for people aged 14 and up.
19. AMC Theaters
AMC Theaters operates over 600 theaters in the United States. Many locations, but not all, will employ people as young as 14.
If you want to work at a movie theater, contact your local AMC.
20. Six Flags
In North America, there are 26 Six Flags tourist parks and water parks. You can start working as young as 14 years old.
Job opportunities differ depending on location and season. For more information, contact your nearest Six Flags. If your area does not have a Six Flags park, contact your local amusement park or water park.
Most major cities have at least one amusement park or water park. Check with the following indoor entertainment venues in your area:
Indoor entertainment venues are available in many cities and towns, including:
- Rock climbing centers
- Trampoline parks
- Indoor water parks
- Bowling centers
- Arcades
- Laser tag centers
And there’s more. The majority are independently owned and not part of a chain.
21. Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen operates over 4,000 locations in the United States. They hire a young as 14-year-olds. The number of available jobs varies by location.
You could be a cashier, a food preparer or cook, or a restaurant cleaner.
22. Culver’s
Culver’s is comparable to a Dairy Queen Grill & Chill. They have nearly 700 locations in roughly half of the states in the United States.
If you are 14 or older, you can work at a Culver’s restaurant. The number of available jobs varies from place to place.
23. Rita’s Italian Ice
Rita’s Italian Ice has over 600 places in roughly half of the United States. They offer Italian ice, ice cream, gelato, custard, and other desserts.
Most Rita’s Italian Ice places require a minimum age of 14 to work. The types of jobs available differ.
24. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream has over 160 locations across 20 states in the United States. Began at the age of 14, you can work as an ice cream scooper there.
They expect all employees to have a “teamwork” mentality as well as a positive attitude. Who wouldn’t be happy to serve ice cream?
25. Boston Market
Boston Market operates approximately 450 stores across 28 states. They serve rotisserie chicken with a variety of side dishes.
To take a job at Boston Market, you must be at least 15 years old. At that age, they typically hire dishwashers and servers.
26. Taco Bell
There are over 6,000 Taco Bell locations in the United States! As a result, there is a good chance that you have a restaurant nearby. Many places will hire people as young as 15 or even 14 years old.
The minimum age varies by state, so check with your local Taco Bell for more information.
27. Starbucks
Starbucks operates over 8,000 company-owned and 6,000 licensed stores in the United States. Starbucks appears to be everywhere, so it’s a great place to look for job as a teen. While most Starbucks hire at the age of 16, in Montana, Starbucks hires at the age of 14. So, if you live in Montana, you might be able to start working at 15 a.m. at your local Starbucks. You’ll have to wait until you’re sixteen if you don’t.
28. Baskin Robbins
You might be able to find a job at a Baskin Robbins close you, as the company has over 2,000 locations across the United States. People as young as 14 are hired by the company. You could be in charge of serving customers, taking orders, cleaning, and restocking.
29. Subway
Subway is another option to consider. There are over 22,000 restaurants in the United States, so you’re bound to find one close you.
Some restaurants require you to be 16 to work there, but in some states, the minimum hiring age is 15. There are openings for entry-level positions. You could work as a sandwich artist at a Subway restaurant near you.
30. TacoTime
TacoTime is a fast-food restaurant chain specializing in Mexican cuisine. In the United States, the chain has over 200 locations.
While the minimum age for employment at TacoTime is usually 16 years old, there are some special cases in some states. As a result, the minimum hiring age in some places is 15 years old. Simply inquire about available positions at your local restaurant.
31. Zaxby’s
There are 913 Zaxby’s places in the United States, with 242 (or 26 percent) of all Zaxby’s locations in America located in Georgia.
The recruiting age for many locations is 16 years old. Zaxby’s, on the other hand, hires at the age of 15 in some locations. Simply inquire with your local restaurant about the restaurant’s hiring age.
32. Wegmans
It is a regional supermarket chain with 104 locations across the country. It has locations in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. So, if you live in one of those states, you might be able to find a Wegmans store nearby. With 52,000 employees, it is one of the biggest private companies in the country. In addition, Fortune named it one of the “Top 100 Companies to Work For.”
You could start working at your local Wegmans at the age of 15. However, remember that the store does not hire 15-year-olds in every department. In addition, in some states, the minimum age can be higher than 15. So, check with your local store to see what, if any, jobs are available to 15-year-olds.
33. Harvey’s
Harvey’s supermarkets have 46 locations in the United States, which is fewer than the other stores on this list. However, there may be a store near you. Georgia is home to 29 Harvey’s locations, accounting for 63 percent of all Harvey’s locations in the United States.
If you live near a Harvey’s store, you might be able to find work as a bagger, cashier associate, or grocery associate.
34. Hershey’s Chocolate World
Hershey’s Chocolate World is part of the Hersheypark complex. Both, however, operate autonomously of one another. Hersheypark is owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company (HE&R), whereas Hershey’s Chocolate World is owned by The Hersey Company. The Hershey Trust Company, on the other hand, owns both the Hershey Company and HE&R.
Candidates must be at least fifteen years old to work at Hershey’s Chocolate World. However, the minimum age requirement differs by position. The age requirement can be found on the job posting.
A 50 percent discount on food, discounted candy, free admission to most attractions and discounted rates for friends and family, a sweet treat on your birthday, and free drinks and one free meal per shift for Food Service employees are just a few of the perks.
35. Hersheypark
Hersheypark is a family theme park that’s located in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Hersheypark hires at 15. It even has a section of jobs just for 14 to 15 year-olds. You get lots of benefits too, like free admission to Hersheypark, free tickets for family and friends, and discounts at Hersheypark. There are jobs available in lots of different fields like retail and food and beverage, as well as lifeguard jobs.
36. Cleaning
As a house cleaner, you could earn $13 per hour.
People simply do not have the time to clean their own homes because they are too busy. As a result, they appoint a cleaner to do it for them.
You could provide a cleaning service to residents or businesses in your region. You can promote your services, for example, on Facebook or through word of mouth. Since you’re probably used to doing chores around the house anyway, why not make some money out of it?
37. Selling crafts
Consider selling your crafts at local craft shows or other events such as flea markets if you are skilled at making them (unlike me!). Alternatively, you could simply sell them to people in your area. You could advertise your wares on the internet. Because many craft shows are held on weekends, it’s a great side business to fit in around school.
38. Babysitting
Provide babysitting services to your parents’ friends and coworkers. You could request that your parents inform people that you are searching for babysitting work. As a babysitter, you could earn between $8 and $17 per hour.
You can also look for babysitting jobs online, but most are only for people over the age of 18. A site called Bambino Sitters is an exception. You can find babysitting jobs on Bambino Sitters. People as young as 13 can sign up as caregivers on the site, but they must have the permission of a parent or legal guardian.
39. Window cleaning
People always need someone to clean their windows, so providing a window cleaning service in your region could be a great choice.
Furthermore, the startup costs for this one are quite low. You could offer your services to local homeowners and even start cleaning windows for local businesses. Window cleaning can pay up to $15 per hour.
40. Pet-sitting
If you have pets of your own, have looked after pets for family members, or simply enjoy animals, you might want to try pet-sitting. Pet-sitters look after people’s pets, such as dogs and cats, while they are away from home. All you have to do is demonstrate to the pet owner that you are concerned and dependable. You can promote your services to people in your neighborhood, or you can tell your parents to tell their friends, coworkers, and family members that you are searching for pet-sitting work.
41. Dog walker
As a dog walker, you could earn $14 per hour. People often don’t have time to walk their dogs because they are too busy with work and family, and this is where you can come in and fix their problems while also making money! People in your neighborhood can hire you as a dog walker. You could also request that your parents inform their friends and the rest of your family about your dog walking service.
If you do an excellent job, you may receive referrals.
42. Retail arbitrage
This is a business idea that could keep you afloat through college and beyond!
Retail arbitrage is the practice of purchasing goods and reselling them for a profit.
You can get low-cost items at places like:
- The thrift store
- The dollar store
- The clearance section of any store
- TJ MAXX
- Marshall’s
- Ross
And you keep an eye out for sales where you can get items at low prices. You can also buy things for a low price on websites like Craigslist and OfferUp.
You can then resell items for a profit, either online or in person.
43. Online tutoring
You could provide tutoring to people in your community. Make people aware of your service and think about advertising your tutoring services online. You could even look into online tutoring.
44. YouTube
Perhaps you’re looking for a home-based business opportunity. Then you should think about editing or creating YouTube videos for businesses. Many businesses would love to create or edit marketing videos, but lack the necessary time.
You could, for example, offer video editing or creation services to local businesses or advertise your services online. All you need is a fast computer, the right software, and, of course, some excellent video production and editing skills!
You could now think about starting your own YouTube channel. This can be a full-time job.
Many successful YouTubers began their channels when they were under the age of 16.
As a result, you could consider starting your own YouTube channel. It could be based on something you enjoy, such as Minecraft, or on a hobby you have.
When you reach a certain number of views, you can become a YouTube Partner and earn money from the ads that appear on your videos.
However, the YouTube Partner program pays through AdSense, and you cannot open an AdSense account until you are 18 years old. However, if you are under the age of 18, you can still advertise your videos by connecting your YouTube account to an approved AdSense account of a parent or guardian who is over the age of 18.
You can also earn money by collaborating with brands to produce sponsored content.
Although YouTube is unclear about what its content creators actually earn, figures online recommend that YouTubers earn between $0.25 and $7 for every 1,000 views on their videos. And you are compensated through your AdSense account.
Here’s where you can get began with your YouTube channel.
45. Sell on Etsy
Consider selling your items on Etsy. These could be antique items from a thrift store or even crafts you’ve created! You could sell artwork on there if you’re good at painting or drawing. The majority of the items on the site are handmade, renovated, or antique.
Anyone over the age of 13 can use Esty, but anyone under the age of 18 must have the permission and direct supervision of their parent or legal guardian, who is the account’s owner.
All you require are some quality products to sell if you can get your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission!
Etsy will charge you $0.20 to list an item for sale, and it will also charge you fees when your items sell.
46. Yardwork/Landscape Labor
Many teenagers consider lawn moving, but federal child labor laws restrict 15-year-olds from operating lawn mowers, lawn trimmers, or weed cutters.
Offering more general yard work and landscape labor is an ideal choice. Watering plants, pulling weeds, power-washing concrete areas, and keeping fences are examples of such tasks. Inform people in your neighborhood that you are available to do yard work and landscape work.
47. Pool cleaning
If you live in a warm climate where there are a lot of pools, you could provide a pool cleaning service. It’s a good way to spend more time outside during the summer, and you can set your own pay rates, within reason!
48. Laundry Service
Why not offer a laundry service to people in the area? Many people do not have the time to do it themselves and would appreciate the assistance! You could publicize your services in the newspaper and on Facebook groups in your neighborhood. You could also ask your friends and family to spread the word about your laundry service.
49. Fiverr
Consider selling graphic design or video editing services on Fiverr. Fiverr is an online marketplace where freelancers can sell their services and earn money. Fiverr allows you to sell a wide range of services due to the site’s more than 200 categories.
The best part is that you can charge whatever you want for your services. A service can be priced anywhere between $5 and $10,000. However, Fiverr takes a 20% cut of your earnings.
50. Start a blog
If you enjoy writing and have a strong interest in a particular subject, such as fashion, photography, baking, or fishing, try opening a blog about it.
WordPress.org can be used to publish content, and you can get a domain name and host from companies such as Bluehost, HostGator, and GoDaddy.
If you don’t have the money to pay for a domain name or hosting, consider WordPress.com (though you won’t be able to use AdSense or any other third-party ad network on your site) or Blogger.
Both are completely free. However, your domain will include the site’s name, such as “www.myblog.wordpress.com” or “myblog.blogspot.com.” If you purchase a domain and hosting, the URL of your site will be “www.myblog.com.”
Choose a topic, conduct keyword research, and consistently post quality content to your blog. You won’t be able to make money right away, but you can establish a following and then make money by creating sponsored content for brands, affiliate marketing, or running ads on your site.
51. InstaGC
As long as you have parental permission, you can join InstaGC at the age of 13. InstaGC compensates you for activities such as taking surveys and watching videos. Your earnings can be withdrawn for as little as $1 to $5. You can also be paid via PayPal or receive a gift card. There are over 300 gift card options available, including Amazon, Pizza Hut, and iTunes, so there is much to go around!
52. SurveySavvy
Minors over the age of 13 can register for a SurveySavvy account. Sign up and finish your profile, and when your profile matches the basic requirements for a specific survey, SurveySavvy will send you an invite via email to take part. Even if you only have $1 in your account, you can withdraw your earnings.
The only disadvantage of SurveySavvy is that it pays by check, so you must wait 4 to 12 weeks to receive your money.
53. Pinecone Research
Pinecone Research allows children under the age of 18 to participate as long as they have the permission of a parent or legal guardian.
It’s a website that compensates you for taking surveys. And you’ll be paid after just one survey. A survey is worth $3. There are several payment methods available, including check, PayPal, and Visa gift cards. If you prefer, you can redeem your earnings in amounts greater than $3.
54. MyPoints
MyPoints, a survey site, is open to anyone over the age of 13. It’s also a cashback website that rewards you for doing your online shopping. Gift cards can be redeemed for as little as $5, and you can also be paid via PayPal. The best part is that you can get a $10 Amazon or Visa gift card just for signing up.
55. FeaturePoints
It’s a site that pays you to try free apps, complete surveys22 and shop online. You can be paid via PayPal or receive a gift card to a variety of retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, GameStop, Xbox, and Target. Anyone over the age of 13 (or 16 within the European Union) can sign up for FeaturePoints.
Summary:
If you are under the age of 16, there are numerous viable job opportunities for you. Just make certain that you — and your employer — are adhering to state and federal rules for youth workers.
Consider the jobs listed above if you are under the age of 16 and want to work for money. Each job will provide you with valuable skills and experience.