Starbucks, Walmart, Target, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Kroger, Publix, H-E-B, In-N-Out, Culver’s, Panda Express, Dutch Bros, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, and most movie theaters hire at 16. Costco, Home Depot, and Aldi do not; their floor is 18. Federal law sets 16 as the basic working age and puts no cap on a 16-year-old’s hours, so the only things standing between you and a first paycheck are a chain’s own age policy, your state’s rules, and the manager who has 30 adult applications in the same pile.
The chains below are sorted by how firmly the age floor is set. Some hire 16-year-olds by company policy in every state. Some leave it to the franchise owner, so the Chick-fil-A on one side of town takes 15-year-olds and the one across the highway waits until 16. Knowing which is which saves you from applying to five stores that were never going to call.
Each chain that has its own interview page on this site is linked so you can see what the manager will ask before you walk in.
What Jobs Can 16 Year Olds Legally Do?
A 16-year-old can legally work any non-farm job except the 17 occupations the U.S. Department of Labor lists as hazardous, and can work unlimited hours under federal law. That is the whole federal rule for 16- and 17-year-olds, spelled out in DOL Fact Sheet #43. Everything else that limits a teen job comes from the state or from the employer.
The hazardous list explains most of the “must be 18” lines you see in postings. Hazardous Occupations Order 10 bans minors from running or cleaning power-driven meat slicers, including in restaurants and delis, which is why the deli counter at a grocery store is an 18-and-up job while bagging is not. Order 11 covers commercial dough mixers, so the bakery is off the table too. Order 12 covers balers and compactors, the reason a 16-year-old stocker at a big-box store cannot crush the cardboard, and Order 7 covers forklifts. Driving on public roads for work is Order 2, so no delivery driving.
The federal rules do not require a work permit. Many states do. The same fact sheet says so plainly, and your school office is usually the place that issues one. States also add their own hour limits for 16- and 17-year-olds even though Washington does not. The Department of Labor’s state-by-state child labor table shows New York holding 16- and 17-year-olds to 4 hours before a school day and 28 hours in a school week, and California capping them at 48 hours a week with no work past 10 p.m. before a school day. Texas lists no hour cap for that age group at all. Whichever standard is stricter, federal or state, is the one your employer has to follow.
| Federal rule (FLSA) | Ages 14 and 15 | Ages 16 and 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Hours on a school day | 3 | No federal limit |
| Hours in a school week | 18 | No federal limit |
| Hours on a non-school day / week | 8 / 40 | No federal limit |
| Time of day | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) | No federal limit |
| Kitchen work | No baking, no freezers or meat coolers, limited cooking | Allowed except hazardous machinery |
| Hazardous occupations (slicers, mixers, balers, forklifts, driving) | Banned | Banned |
Pay has one federal wrinkle to know before your first check. DOL Fact Sheet #32 allows employers to pay anyone under 20 a youth minimum wage of $4.25 an hour for the first 90 calendar days. The chains covered below post their own hourly rates on each listing, and those rates are set by the local market, not by that floor. If a posting near you shows a number, believe the posting over any national average.
Restaurant and Fast Food Jobs That Hire at 16
Fast food and coffee chains hire the most 16-year-olds because the front counter, drive-thru window, and dining room are legal for minors and turn over constantly. Kitchen positions vary; a 16-year-old can work a fryer or grill at most chains but not a slicer or a heavy mixer.
Starbucks
Starbucks hires baristas at 16 in most states, with a lower floor in a few states such as Montana, where 14-year-olds may apply. There is one entry role, barista, and 16-year-olds work the same register, bar, and cleaning rotation as everyone else. Availability during opening shifts and weekends is what gets a teen hired here. The interview is a friendly conversation about customer service and how you handle a rush; see the Starbucks interview questions and answers for the ones that come up.
Chick-fil-A
Every Chick-fil-A is run by an independent operator, and each operator sets the hiring age within state law. Many restaurants take 16-year-olds for front counter, dining room, and drive-thru, and a good number hire at 15 or 14 with a permit. Call or check the individual restaurant’s listing before you apply, because two locations a few miles apart can differ. Chick-fil-A interviews lean on hospitality scenarios and often include a second interview with the operator; the Chick-fil-A interview page covers both rounds. Pay varies by operator too; see how much Chick-fil-A pays by role and age.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s franchisees typically hire crew members at 16, and some locations take 14- and 15-year-olds where state law allows. Crew members rotate through the front counter, drive-thru, and kitchen; grill work is fine at 16 but the youngest hires are usually kept on the counter. It is the easiest interview on this list, often ten minutes and mostly about your schedule; the McDonald’s interview questions page shows what those ten minutes look like.
Culver’s
Culver’s restaurants are franchised, and most hire team members at 16, with some states and owners going down to 14 or 15 for custard and dining room roles. Sixteen-year-olds can work the counter, drive-thru, and the fry and grill lines. Managers here care about pace and cleanliness more than experience, and the questions they ask are collected in Culver’s interview questions.
In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out hires associates at 16 in its West Coast and Texas markets, and its store-level starting pay is known for sitting near the top of fast food. Every new hire starts on the same “Level 1” tasks: dining room, potatoes, boards, and register, moving up as they prove out. The interview is short and in person, and the In-N-Out interview questions page explains why they ask about your favorite menu item.
Panda Express
Panda Express generally hires service and kitchen team members at 16, though a number of locations, especially inside malls and airports, post 18 as the minimum. Sixteen-year-olds usually start on the serving line and register; wok cooking is often held for 18-and-over staff. Panda’s interview asks about teamwork and growth, and the Panda Express interview questions page shows the answers that land.
Dutch Bros
Dutch Bros hires “broistas” at 16 at most stands, with some markets requiring 18 for the late-night window shifts. The job is drink-making, window service, and a lot of talking. Their interview is one of the most personality-driven in fast food, sometimes a group format; the Dutch Bros interview questions page prepares you for that.
Retail and Grocery Jobs That Hire at 16
Retail jobs that hire at 16 fall into two clear groups. Big-box and grocery chains hire 16-year-olds for the front end and sales floor by policy, and three of the largest chains in the country will not hire anyone under 18 no matter what the state allows.
Walmart
Walmart’s minimum age is 16 for store jobs; Sam’s Club, its warehouse sibling, requires 18. Sixteen-year-olds land as cashiers, cart attendants, stockers, and online-order pickers, but not on the baler, the forklift, or the auto center. Walmart’s interview is a structured set of behavioral questions with a scoring sheet, and the Walmart interview page walks through the format.
Target
Target hires store team members at 16 and holds distribution center jobs for 18-and-up. Teens typically work as guest advocates at checkout, in the style or general merchandise areas, or on order pickup. Target’s interview is friendly but behavioral, and the Target interview questions page covers its favorites.
Kroger
Kroger and its banners (Fred Meyer, Ralphs, King Soopers, Fry’s, and others) commonly hire courtesy clerks and cashiers at 16, and some divisions accept 14- and 15-year-olds for bagging and cart duty where state law permits. Deli, bakery, and meat counters stay 18-plus because of the slicer and mixer rules above. Kroger’s interview is short and often on the spot; the Kroger interview questions page shows what to expect.
Publix
Publix is one of the few large grocers that hires as young as 14 for front service clerk, the bagging and cart position, with cashier roles opening around 16 depending on the state. Publix stores are known for hiring a lot of high schoolers and promoting from within. Expect customer service and reliability scenarios in the interview; Publix interview questions lists the recurring ones.
H-E-B
H-E-B’s careers FAQ states its rule outright: 16 for Curbies, Shoppers, Baggers, and Checkers, 18 for every other position, and 21 for driver roles. That makes H-E-B the clearest answer to “jobs that hire at 16 in Texas,” since it covers most of the state. Their interview mixes customer service scenarios with questions about the company; the H-E-B interview questions page runs through them.
Chains that will not hire under 18
Costco, Home Depot, and Aldi all set 18 as their company-wide minimum. Aldi’s own careers FAQ says the company knows state laws vary and chose a single 18-and-up rule anyway. Their interview pages are here for when you turn 18: Costco, Home Depot, and Aldi. Do not spend an application on any of the three at 16; the system will screen it out before a human sees it.
More Places That Hire at 16 Near You
The chains without an interview page on this site still fill a lot of teen shifts. Ages here follow the usual pattern: corporate says 16, individual franchises sometimes go lower or higher.
- Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Burger King, Sonic, Whataburger: crew members at 16 at most locations, some franchisees at 15.
- Subway, Jimmy John’s, Jersey Mike’s: sandwich shops commonly hire at 16; a few states allow 15. Meat slicers are the one task you will be kept away from.
- Dairy Queen, Baskin-Robbins, Cold Stone, local ice cream and frozen yogurt shops: often 14 to 16, one of the best bets for a first job.
- Grocery chains beyond the ones above: Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer, Wegmans, Giant Eagle, and Winn-Dixie generally hire baggers and cashiers at 16.
- Movie theaters: AMC, Regal, and Cinemark hire usher, concession, and box office crew at 16, and they staff up hard before summer.
- Amusement and water parks: Six Flags, Cedar Fair parks, and regional water parks hire seasonal ride and food staff at 16, with some parks taking 15-year-olds.
- Lifeguarding: the American Red Cross requires students to be at least 15 by the last day of the lifeguarding course, so a certified 16-year-old is fully hireable at city pools, YMCAs, and country clubs.
- Seasonal retail: Spirit Halloween and holiday kiosks post 16 as the minimum and hire in bulk for eight to ten weeks.
- Restaurants with table service: Denny’s, IHOP, Cracker Barrel, and similar chains hire hosts, bussers, and dishwashers at 16; serving alcohol keeps server roles at 18 or older in most states.
One Reddit reply in a thread from a Los Angeles teen who could not get callbacks lists the same kind of places, and its advice on how to follow up is the part first-time applicants skip.
“I would do both. Apply online, then in two weeks if you haven’t heard anything, go in at a less-busy time of day like between 5-6pm and just drop off a printed job application to the manager on duty. Also Weinerschnitzel hires 16 year olds, and Taco Bell. And if there’s a Dennys nearby, they hire 16 year old hosts and hostesses and dishwashers and bussers. Adidas store in Westfield Culver City Mall has an ad up for part time and says age 16 ok as long as you’re in school working towards your di…”
– r/AskLosAngeles, April 2026 (16 upvotes)
How a 16-Year-Old With No Experience Gets Hired
A 16-year-old with no experience gets hired by proving reliability and availability, since the manager is choosing between teens who all have the same blank resume. In my years on the hiring side I never saw a store manager reject a 16-year-old for lacking experience; I saw plenty rejected for a vague answer to “when can you work?”
The teen who started that Los Angeles thread described the problem most first-time applicants hit:
“My senior year is coming up, unfortunately my family is very poor and my mom already has a lot to deal with. I’ve skipped every hoco to just attend prom. Yet we still don’t have enough money even though I’m doing most things myself. :c However no one is hiring I’ve applied to countless of fast food/retail jobs yet they either ghost or hire adults. Does anyone have any tips or resources I can check out?”
– r/AskLosAngeles, April 2026 (42 upvotes)
“They hire adults” is the part to take seriously. An adult applicant can close at 11 p.m. on a Tuesday and does not vanish for finals week, so a manager weighing two identical applications takes the adult. You beat that by making your schedule the strongest thing on the page.
Get the work permit question settled before you apply, not after an offer. If your state requires papers, the manager will ask, and a teen who says “my school office issued it last week” moves ahead of one who has to go find out.
Write a one-page resume even when the online form does not ask for one. Put your name, phone, school, and grade at the top, then a line that reads “Available: Mon-Thu after 3:30 p.m., Fri after 3, all day Sat-Sun.” Under that, list what you have done: babysitting, mowing, a church or school volunteer role, a sport with a practice schedule, a club where you handled money or people. A manager reads that as evidence you show up somewhere on time every week, which is the entire job at 16.
Apply online first, because most chains route every hire through their system, then hand a printed copy to the manager on duty in person. Mid-afternoon on a weekday, between the lunch and dinner rushes, is the window when a restaurant manager will talk to you; the Reddit reply above suggests 5 to 6 p.m., which also works for retail. Say your name, that you applied online, and when you can start. That is the whole conversation.
The interview itself will be shorter and easier than you fear. Nearly every hiring-age teen interview draws from the same pool: tell me about yourself, why do you want to work here, how would you handle an upset customer, when can you work. Prepare three answers out loud from the most common interview questions and answers, then read the page for the specific chain linked above. Arrive ten minutes early, leave the phone in your pocket, and bring the printed availability. Managers hire the teen who made the schedule easy.
Jobs That Hire at 15 and 14
Federal law lets 14- and 15-year-olds work outside school hours in non-manufacturing, non-hazardous jobs, capped at 3 hours on a school day and 18 in a school week, and only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the school year. Employers who accept those limits are a shorter list: Publix front service clerks, many Chick-fil-A and Culver’s franchises, some McDonald’s and Kroger locations, ice cream shops like Dairy Queen and Baskin-Robbins, and Starbucks in Montana. Lifeguard certification opens at 15. Golf courses, movie theaters in some states, and grocery stores in a handful of states round it out.
The 14-15 kitchen rules are tighter too. Fact Sheet #43 lists no baking, no work in freezers or meat coolers, and only limited cooking, which is why the same restaurant that hires a 15-year-old for the counter will not put them on the fryer until 16.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best place for a 16 year old to work?
The best place for a 16-year-old to work is a chain that hires at 16 by company policy and staffs the front counter with teens: Starbucks, Target, Walmart, H-E-B, In-N-Out, and Culver’s are the strongest fits. Those employers train from zero, schedule around school as routine, and run interviews that a first-timer can prepare for in an evening. Grocery front-end and coffee jobs tend to have the most predictable hours; amusement parks and theaters pay similarly but shrink after summer.
How many hours can a 16 year old work?
Under federal law a 16-year-old can work unlimited hours at any time of day, according to DOL Fact Sheet #43, but many states cap it. New York limits 16- and 17-year-olds to 28 hours a school week and 4 hours before a school day; California allows 48 hours a week with no shift past 10 p.m. before school. Check your state on the Department of Labor’s state table, then expect the employer to schedule inside it.
Do jobs that hire at 16 require a work permit?
Federal law does not require a work permit at 16, but many states do, and the employer will ask for it before your first shift. Your high school office or the state labor department issues it, usually within a few days. States that do not require one still expect proof of age, so bring an ID or birth certificate to the interview.
What jobs hire at 16 in Texas?
H-E-B is the clearest answer in Texas, with 16 set as its published minimum for baggers, checkers, curbside, and shoppers. Whataburger, In-N-Out, Buc-ee’s, Kroger, Walmart, Target, and most fast food franchises across the state also hire at 16, and Texas sets no hour cap for 16- and 17-year-olds, so summer full-time schedules are legal there.
Can a 16 year old work in a restaurant kitchen?
Yes, a 16-year-old can cook, run a fryer, and prep in a restaurant kitchen; the only federal bans at that age are power-driven meat slicers, heavy dough mixers, and similar hazardous equipment. Some chains keep 16-year-olds on the counter for the first months by their own policy, so ask in the interview which stations are open to you.