Are you a teenager trying to find a job? You don’t have to go far. We have a long list of places that hire at 16, perfect for teens looking for jobs at 16.
Whether you are working to save for college or buy the things you want, earning some money yourself is worth it!
Many people believe that working at an early age will compromise their studies. However, getting a job will earn you money to do what you want. Other benefits include understanding the value of making money, learning to save, spend, budget, and having financial goals.
More and more employers are currently switching to online recruitment in response to the ongoing world health crisis. So, today, you will learn the different places to apply for a job.
How Often Do You Want To Work?
First, you have to know how often you are allowed to work. There is a set number of hours depending on where you live.
The FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) says workers aged 16 or 17 must not work for more than 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week.
To learn more about the child labor provisions for teens under 18, visit the FLSA government webpage.
How Much Should You Get Paid?
The next thing to know is how much you should get paid, and it depends on a series of factors.
Under federal law, all states are encouraged to pay their employees a minimum of $7.25 per hour. The FLSA says workers under 20 years of age should be paid a minimum of $4.25 for the first 90 days. After that, they must be paid the federal minimum wage.
Keep in mind that the states’ minimum wages are different: some are higher than others. The good news is most states have a higher minimum wage than what FLSA requires. For example, Georgia and Wyoming may have a lower minimum wage of $5.15 per hour, but employers are subject to FLSA rules and must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25.
25 Places That Hires At 16
It is time for you to start your journey and work towards your dream! Here’s the list of 25 places that give jobs to teens age 16 with no experience.
1. Arby’s
Arby’s is first on our list. Established in the 1960s, it currently has over 3,400 locations in the United States.
Arby’s branches hire teenagers from ages 14 to 16 as food prep crew and cleaners. Their new job hiring process and working schedule depend on the site and state-specific laws.
Get a job without work experience, with a straightforward application process, where there are always enough vacancies to find jobs listings for part-time positions.
2. Baskin Robbins
Baskin Robbins is the home of limitless flavors of ice cream! Working in a shop like this is a dream come true!
With nearly 2,500 in the United States alone in 46 out of the 50 states, you may have one or two near your home. Baskin Robbins usually hires teenagers as young as 14.
You can find job postings and job opportunities online or in the store. It is the best job if you’re applying for employment with flexible work schedules and looking for jobs hiring teenagers.
3. Kentucky Fried Chicken
Kentucky Fried Chicken, also known as KFC, is famous in the US and worldwide. If you haven’t tried it, you haven’t had a finger-lickin’ good chicken!
It has over 25,000 restaurants that hire 14 and 15-year-olds as customer service providers or clean-up crews.
4. Burger King
Burger King is a fast-food chain that sells hamburgers and delicious desserts.
With over 18,000 locations worldwide, you can try to apply for a job and start earning money and experience. Burger King accepts workers as young as 14 years old in some states. Positions offered for teenagers are clean-up crew and more.
Check on your local job board, Linkedin job alerts, or job fairs for relevant career opportunities. Finding a job at your local Burger King can be as simple as checking job openings, applying online to the position, submitting your application, and finding your new career. If you’re looking for opportunities, this niche can work well.
5. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is looking for an ice cream scooper and accepts teenagers as young as 14 years old as long as they have a teamwork mentality and an optimistic attitude. The ice cream company has over 160 locations in 20 US states.
Ice cream is happiness!
6. Dairy Queen
The world-famous Dairy Queen has over 4,000 locations in the US. They hire employees as young as 14 years old, but in some places, they require 16-year-olds.
Available positions in Dairy Queen for teenagers are cashier, food preparer, cook, or restaurant cleaners.
7. Culver’s
Our next place for you to apply is similar to Dairy Queen. Culver’s has 850 locations in 25 states in the US. Available jobs and age qualifications may vary.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a work history and this is your first job; they consider all job candidates. If this is your dream job, make sure to make a resume and cover letter, and you will stand out.
8. Rita’s Italian Ice
Are you looking for a job at a cool place? Why not try Rita’s Italian Ice? It has over 600 locations in about half of the US and serves different ice cream, gelato, custard, etc.
The minimum age to work in Rita’s Italian Ice is 14 years old. To make sure of the age limit, check out their local shops near you.
9. Ben and Jerry’s
Another ice cream shop worth mentioning is Ben and Jerry’s, the famous home of surprising ice cream concoctions, such as their bestselling Chunky Monkey.
You can find Ben and Jerry’s scoop shops all over the US. They hire workers 16 and above in most of their locations.
10. Boston Market
With Boston Market’s 339 locations in 28 states, you can surely apply for work! This restaurant serves rotisserie chicken and side dishes you may have never tried before.
You need to be 15 years old and up to work as servers and dishwashers at Boston Market.
11. Chick-Fil-A
Since you’ve probably been in Chick-Fil-A since you were a child, you might as well work there.
With over 2,000 restaurants in almost all 50 states, Chick-Fil-A is your typical fast-food restaurant that serves chicken as the featured sandwich choice and the main ingredient in various meals.
Most branches will hire teens over 15 years old. You don’t have to worry about working on Sundays: they’re closed! Fill out an online application and explore job opportunities for 15 and 16-year-olds.
12. McDonald’s
If one of your dreams is to work and serve customers, why not start at McDonald’s? Here, people I know have learned a lot of things aside from cooking and serving customers.
McDonald’s has the most locations in the US at over 14,000 restaurants. You’ll be hired to do different jobs such as serving, cooking, and restaurant maintenance. Whether you are looking for a new job, wanting to find a local position, or transitioning and need to find a job, this can be the place for you.
13. Pizza Hut
Who doesn’t love pizza? No one (I guess)! Established in 1958, Pizza Hut is one of the most famous pizza stores globally, with over 7,000 locations in the US alone.
Many Pizza Huts will hire 15-year-olds with a parent’s consent. Teenagers can apply as cashiers or cleaners, but not as food prep crew.
Supermarket
You might be skipping your local supermarket with the thought that they don’t hire. Well, think again! They are one of the best places to apply for 16-year-olds.
This is an excellent place to start, whether you’re a job seeker looking for entry-level job listings, check out job boards or job posting sites, and want to find work-life balance. I’ve also had this job for over four years, and I loved it. No job interview, flexible work schedule, and being hired for a job I liked a lot.
14. Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle is a well-established grocery store chain with over 400 locations in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Maryland. They hire employees as young as 14-year-olds for different positions.
15. Hy-Vee
Next on the list is Hy-Vee: It has nearly 240 locations in the Midwestern part of the US.
Hy-Vee’s grocery stores are independently operated by each location, and while they may hire teenagers as young as 14 years old in most of their shops, the minimum hiring age will depend on the state and the management.
16. Giant Food
Giant Food is a local chain with over 150 branches in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland.
They employ teenagers as young as 16 years old. To know more about their hiring details and job positions, you may check out the local Giant Food Stores.
Look for a job in your local area or reach out to them online.
17. Kroger
Kroger is one of the popular supermarkets with over 2,700 locations across the US. They also own different stores like Fry’s, King Soopers, and Smith’s.
Kroger and the establishments under it accept workers aged 16 and above. 14-year-olds can apply for jobs but may need a work permit. To verify, you can check the law of each state.
18. Publix
TIn Publix has over 1,100 locations in 7 states. They hire teenagers as service desk clerks or floral clerks.
Publix can be found in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia.
19. Safeway
Safeway has been in the industry since 1915 and has over 1,300 locations all over the US. They take in teenage employees as baggers and cart runners.
The minimum hiring age depends on the location, but it’s expected to be at least 16 years old.
20. King Soopers
King Soopers can be found in Colorado and Wyoming.
With the on-site manager’s approval, they give jobs to teens as young as 16. You can apply as a cleaner, bagger, and more.
21. Fareway
In the Midwest, the popular grocery store is the Fareway! They hire teens ages 16 and up for different job positions. You might be able to work as a stocker, cleaner, and more.
Entertainment Venues
Most people think that working in entertainment venues requires special certification and experience, but they hire workers as young as 16 to help out in the events.
Here are some entertainment venues that hire teenagers from 15 years old and above.
22. AMC Theaters
You must be at least 16 years old to work at AMC Theaters. However, some have lower minimum age requirements depending on the movie theater location.
Other than being able to watch free movies with a date, AMC Theaters also provide their employees with 50% off on food and drinks. In addition, it has a flexible work schedule and an opportunity for a scholarship through the AMC Cares program.
23. Six Flags
In North America, Six Flags is known for its amusement parks and water parks: all 26 of them! They are hiring teenagers as young as 16 years old. The job position available depends on the location and season.
For more details, contact your local Six Flags. If you don’t have one nearby, try calling your local amusement park or water park.
Other indoor entertainment places hire teenagers near your location. Check out your local
- Rock climbing centers
- Trampoline parks
- Bowling centers
- Arcades
Job Apps For Teens
24. Bambino
Bambino is an excellent app for teenagers who are looking for work, such as babysitting. This is one of the simplest and most useful apps for employers when looking for a babysitter to fill in when they are out on a date or an important business trip.
Like Snapchat, it’s easy to set up your profile in Bambino and decide whether to accept or reject a job request. With the Bambino app, you can set your hours and price per hour with your parent’s approval. Bambino takes teenagers 16 years old and above to be babysitters.
25. SnagAJob
Finally, the last on our list is SnagAJob. Many teenagers are using this app to earn money. You have to create a profile then search for jobs that pay hourly.
If you qualify for the requirements of the job, you get the perks of skipping the interviewing process. What a great way to begin making money!
To Sum Up: Places That Hire At 16
Many places are providing opportunities for curious teenagers, those who are looking to start earning money for their financial goals, for their college tuition, or simply for buying gifts for their loved ones.
Letting young people work does not mean neglecting their studies. Working teenagers have more benefits to gain from experience. As young as 14 years old, they can glimpse what to expect in their future! It’s a great way to show children what’s waiting for them in the real world.
Working at an early age can teach youngsters valuable lessons that they need to know and understand for their growth and progress. This is also a path that each has to walk sooner or later.
Marjolein is a financial consultant who has built over €4,000 monthly passive income and saves over 70% of her income. Read Radicals’ inspiring story, from stuck in the 9-to-5 to loving life. Feel free to send Radical a message at the bottom of this page