Jobs That Hire at 15 (Jobs for Teenagers)

The number of jobs that hire at 15 are pretty surprising. In fact, there are a lot of options for younger teens to find employment.

While the laws look a little different, you can still begin earning an income even if you are under 16.

Whether you are looking for a job to help you buy a car or to help kickstart your dream career, why not begin working at 15?

I spent some time researching and found some of the best places to work that actually hire their employees at 15. From grocery stores to restaurants to movie theaters, I think you will be surprised at how many opportunities there are for you to grab a job.

Related: How to Make Money as a Kid

Why Work When at 15 Years Old?

There are tons of reasons to begin looking for a job as a teenager. Even if you are a little younger than 16, there are plenty of opportunities for you to begin working.

Some of the benefits to getting a job that hire at 15 are:

• Develop responsibility
• Gain self-confidence
• Learn budgeting skills
• Save money for college
• So much more!

Some of my best memories from my teenage years were the jobs that I had and the friends that I made. Once you understand how the laws impact your career, you can begin searching for jobs.

Keep reading to see places that hire at 15- the answer will surprise you…

Labor Laws That Apply to Workers Under 16

Before we dive into all of the places that will hire someone under the age of 16, it is important to understand the laws set into place for teens looking to work.

The Department of Labor (DoL) has rules for anyone who works, and those under 16 are no exception. When you are looking at jobs that hire at 15, there are a few things to be aware of.

Legally, you can be any age to perform jobs such as babysitting, paper routes, jobs in entertainment (like TV or theater productions), or non-hazardous work in your family-owned business.

The federal rules for working teenagers are stipulated in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This Act protects employees from unfair labor practices by their employers.

This helps set fair wages and hours worked to help keep things fair for young workers.

It is important to know that these laws can differ state by state, so make sure you do your research to know what is legal in your own region.

How Many Hours Can a 15-Year-Old Work?

To work a job as a 15-year-old, the FLSA states certain rules pertaining to school hours and when you are able to work. For example, if school is in session you cannot work during those hours.

In most cases, the hours that you can work under 16 are limited to specific rules to help you be successful in school as well as your work. These rules include:

• On school days, you are only able to work 3 hours
• On non-school days, you are only able to work up to 8 hours
• When school is in session for the week, you are able to work up to 18 hours
• When school is not in session for the week, you are able to work up to 40 hours
• Most states require that you work between specific hours, like between 7 am and 9pm

Make sure you know the laws in your county before you begin working or your employer could end up in hot water for hiring you. Trust me, you don’t want that to happen.

Jobs That Hire at 15

From restaurants to paper routes, to grocery stores, there are plenty of places for you to find jobs that hire under 16. Think about your passions and your goals for the future and try to find a job that caters to those dreams.

Restaurants

Restaurants are one of the most fun places to work as a teenager. Not only are there opportunities to thrive in a fast-paced environment, but you get free food!

Baskin Robbins

Who wouldn’t want to work at an ice cream store- especially as a 15-year-old? You get to serve up happiness and celebration all while smelling all of that sweet, sweet sugar.

Dairy Queen

Similar to Baskin Robbins, working at a Dairy Queen would be a dream come true! The added bonus? Dairy Queen sells more than just ice cream.

With burgers and those delicious chicken strips, you get to provide some of the best food in the world.

KFC

KFC begins hiring at age 15 and is an excellent first job. Not only do they have a lot of fun serving the world’s best fried chicken, but they get to gain firsthand experience on how to work a real job.

Chick Fil-A

If you are lucky enough to have a Chick Fil-A in your town, I think that you should look into working here. For one, their food is amazing (it’s basically world famous!).

For another, this restaurant is one of the jobs that hire at 15. So, if you need an amazing place to work, you should apply here.

Did I mention free chicken?

Burger King

Burger King is one of the best restaurants to work at when you are 15. Since they are franchised, the management and community often treat their workers really well.

Plus, free whoppers. Who wouldn’t want that?

Pizza Hut

While you can’t be a pizza delivery person until you’re 18, you can get to the back of the kitchen and make the pizzas! Learn the ropes early and work your way up quickly.

Everyone loves pizza, so there is always job security!

McDonald’s

If you are 15 and looking for a job, why not apply at one of the most famous restaurants of all time? That’s right, McDonald’s begins hiring their employees young, so why not work here?

When looking for a job that hires at 15, maybe you want to find something where you don’t have to cook. There are plenty of jobs that hire people under the age of 16!

Curious to see what other types of jobs that hire under 15? Keep scrolling…

Grocery Stores

If you are looking for a great place to work at age 14 or 15, why not check out your local market? There are countless opportunities for you to grow with the company and have fun with the other employees.

Giant Eagle

While Giant Eagle grocery stores aren’t everywhere (they are mostly in 5 states- West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Indiana), there are hundreds of locations around the US, and since they hire at age 15, why not apply?

Be a cart pusher or stock shelves and get paid to do it!

Safeway

With thousands of locations, Safeway hires younger employees to do some jobs. This includes positions like door greeter, cart pusher, and bagger.

Working here would be an excellent experience and could help you stay employed for a long time!

Kroger

Kroger is a well-lit grocery store that hires students ages 14 and 15 and looks great on resumes. If you can get a job at one of the 3000+ branches, then consider yourself lucky.

Kroger also owns other chains such as Frys, Smiths, and King Coopers so it might be looking into your local stores to see if those chains would be willing to hire at 15 as well.

Publix

This grocery store chain in the south of the United States is an excellent first job. In fact, they specifically hire employees at ages 14 and 15 for jobs like bagger and cart pusher to help them develop a strong work ethic and skills to help them be successful in the future. 

Entertainment

Six Flags Theme Park

You read that right- Six Flags Theme Park is one of the jobs on the list that hires at 15. WHAT.

If you are lucky enough to live close to one, you should definitely apply. Operate roller coasters, dress up as mascots, or be a ticket taker.

They also have a lot of awesome perks like employee nights and tickets to enjoy the park on your days off.

AMC Theaters

Working at an AMC movie theater could be a dream come true if you are a movie enthusiast. The fact that they hire at 15 could make this company one of the coolest companies around, in my opinion.

Gain professional skills and get free popcorn to work in an awesome place like AMC theaters!

Other

Paper Route

Having a paper route is the classic first job, so why not try it out? If you have a bike, you could start delivering papers around your neighborhood and earn money while doing it.

Call up your local newspaper and see what their hiring protocol is! You might be surprised how simple it is to grab your very own paper route.

Mow Lawns

Mowing lawns is an excellent way to earn some extra money in the spring and summer! Once you invest in your own lawn mower (I would grab one used off of Facebook Marketplace) and some gas, you have yourself a business!

Start marketing yourself to your neighbors and start making money.

Babysit

Babysitting is an excellent job for those looking to earn money at 15 and have a lot of fun. Play dress up, do crafts, even walk to the park (with permission) with the kids for a great time.

Join your community groups through social media and start promoting yourself- you’ll be surprised how many parents need help.

Dog Walking

A surprising amount of people in the US work full time jobs away from their home and simply do not have time to walk their pets as much as they would like- including your neighbors. Why not help them out and offer to walk their dogs around the block a few times a week for a fee?

You would help them burn off their best friends’ energy and make some extra money.

Selling Crafts

Are you a crafty teen? Have you considered selling your crafts online through a simple platform like Etsy? If so, go for it!

Whether you are a painter, a builder, or a custom clay sculptor, plenty of people have made a fantastic income by selling their art- even at 15 years old! So why not you?

Freelance Writer

If you excel at writing in school, why not invest in some of that writing into a profession? Even as young as 15 you can become a freelance writer and get your information out into the word.

All it takes is 5 simple steps and you are on your way to becoming a freelance writer!

You may also want to check out some of these ways to make money working from home:

• How to Start Affiliate Marketing
• 10 Legitimate Work at Home Jobs
• How to Start a Blog
• Make Money Online Without Blogging
• Apps to Sell Photos Online
• Make $500/Month With Online Surveys

In Summary

There are plenty of ways to make money at any age- even as a 15-year-old! The number of jobs that hire at 15 were definitely surprising and there isn’t any reason why you couldn’t find a job. Set your mind to it and you will find a great way to make money.

So tell me… what did I miss? Are there any other jobs that hire at 15 that I forgot to mention? Tell me in the comments below!