You have to be at least 16 years old to work at Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. That’s the minimum age listed on the company’s careers page for team member positions, which cover both front-of-house and back-of-house roles.
What the Age Requirement Covers
The 16-year minimum applies to the standard team member role at Freddy’s, which is the entry-level position most teens apply for. Team members handle tasks like taking orders, running the register, preparing food, and keeping the restaurant clean. There isn’t a separate, lower age tier for certain positions. Whether you’re working the custard machine or the grill, 16 is the baseline.
If you’re 18 or older, Freddy’s requires you to undergo a background check as part of the hiring process. And the company’s 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching is available only to employees who are 21 and older, so that benefit won’t apply to most teen workers.
Franchise Locations May Differ Slightly
Freddy’s operates primarily through franchise owners, which means individual locations have some flexibility in how they run day-to-day operations. While 16 is the company-wide standard, a specific franchise owner could set a higher minimum age depending on local labor laws or their own preferences. Some locations in states with stricter minor employment rules may only hire workers who are 17 or 18. Your best move is to check with the specific Freddy’s location where you want to apply.
It’s worth noting that some franchise locations have hired workers as young as 14 and 15 in the past, though this has led to federal labor law violations. The U.S. Department of Labor found 149 minors ages 14 and 15 working beyond legal limits at seven Freddy’s locations owned by a single franchisee, including working too late on school nights and exceeding daily hour caps. That enforcement action is a reminder that even if a location offers you a job, the work hours and conditions still need to comply with federal and state child labor laws.
Work Hour Rules for Teens Under 18
Federal law sets specific limits on when and how long minors can work, and these rules apply at Freddy’s just like any other employer. For 16- and 17-year-olds, there are no federal restrictions on the number of hours you can work, but you’re still prohibited from performing certain hazardous tasks (most of which don’t apply in a restaurant setting).
For 14- and 15-year-olds, where state law permits employment at that age, federal rules are much tighter. During the school year, you can work no more than three hours on a school day and no more than 18 hours in a school week. Shifts must end by 7 p.m. from the day after Labor Day through May 31, and by 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day. During summer break, the daily cap rises to eight hours and the weekly cap to 40 hours.
Many states layer their own restrictions on top of these federal rules, sometimes with stricter limits on hours, required break times, or mandatory work permits. If your state requires a work permit for minors, you’ll typically get it through your school’s guidance office or your state’s labor department.
How to Apply
Freddy’s posts open positions on its careers website at careers.freddys.com, where you can search by location and apply online. The application is straightforward and doesn’t require previous work experience for team member roles. You can also walk into a location and ask if they’re hiring, which is common in fast food and can help you make a good first impression with the manager on duty.
Before applying, make sure you have any documents your state requires for minor employment, such as a work permit or proof of age. Having these ready speeds up the process if you get an offer. Most Freddy’s locations will also need you to provide identification for employment verification, so a state ID, school ID, or birth certificate can be helpful to have on hand.