At 14, you can legally work at a range of retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and grocery chains. Federal law allows 14-year-olds to hold jobs in most non-hazardous settings, and many well-known national brands actively hire at this age. The catch is that your hours are limited, certain tasks are off-limits, and most states require a work permit before you can start.
National Brands That Hire at 14
Not every location of a chain store follows the same hiring policy, so you may need to check with individual managers. That said, these companies have policies that allow 14-year-old employees at many or all of their locations:
- Grocery stores: Kroger (which owns 29 grocery brands across 42 states) hires teens under 16 as cashiers, cart attendants, bakery assistants, floral assistants, and online order pullers. Publix hires at 14 for cashier, bagging, and cart positions.
- Restaurants and ice cream shops: Chick-fil-A, Dairy Queen, Culver’s, Baskin-Robbins, and some Wendy’s and McDonald’s locations hire 14-year-olds. Roles are typically cashier, dining room attendant, food prep, or cleaning, since minors under 16 cannot use grills, deep fryers, or other hot commercial equipment.
- Movie theaters: AMC hires at 14 for ticket sales, concessions, and general maintenance.
- Other employers: U-Haul offers in-person reservation agent positions for 14-year-olds. Local amusement parks, fairs, and community centers also frequently hire teens for seasonal or part-time work, including front desk support, youth program help, and tutoring.
When you apply, expect to fill out a standard application (often online) and provide proof of age. Many managers are used to hiring young teens and can walk you through the paperwork.
Federal Hour Limits
The Fair Labor Standards Act sets strict caps on when and how much 14- and 15-year-olds can work. During a school week, you can work no more than 18 hours total. When school is out for summer or other breaks, the cap jumps to 40 hours per week.
On school days, you’re limited to 3 hours of work per day, and only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. During the summer (June 1 through Labor Day), the evening cutoff extends to 9 p.m., and you can work up to 8 hours in a single day. These are federal minimums. Your state may have tighter rules, which would override the federal ones.
Work You Cannot Do at 14
Federal law bars anyone under 18 from a long list of hazardous tasks, which means they’re also off-limits at 14. You cannot operate power-driven equipment like meat slicers (even in a deli), trash compactors, balers, forklifts, or any type of power saw. Roofing, demolition, and logging are completely prohibited. You also cannot drive a motor vehicle for work or serve as a driver’s helper loading and unloading cargo.
In a restaurant setting, this means you can take orders, run a register, wipe tables, and do light food prep, but you cannot cook on a grill, operate a deep fryer, or use a commercial dough mixer. Employers who hire 14-year-olds are generally well aware of these restrictions and will assign you to appropriate duties.
Work Permits
Most states require some form of work permit or employment certificate before a 14-year-old can start a job. The process varies, but it typically involves getting a form from your school, having a parent or guardian sign it, and sometimes having the employer fill out their section describing the job. Some states issue permits through the school system, while others run them through the state labor department.
Your school’s guidance office is usually the fastest place to start. They’ll know exactly which forms your state requires and can often process them within a few days. You’ll generally need proof of age (a birth certificate or government ID) and, in some states, documentation that you’re attending school regularly and maintaining satisfactory grades. A new permit is typically required each time you change jobs.
Jobs Outside Traditional Employment
Plenty of 14-year-olds earn money through work that doesn’t involve a formal employer. Babysitting, lawn mowing, pet sitting, tutoring younger kids, and car washing are all common options with no federal hour restrictions since they fall outside the employer-employee relationship covered by the FLSA.
If you’re interested in earning money online, your options are more limited. Most major freelance platforms require users to be at least 18. Fiverr, for example, allows users aged 13 to 17 to access the platform only through an account owned and operated by a parent or legal guardian. If you’re providing a service yourself (like voiceover work), your parent must be the account holder, and the listing must clearly state that a minor is involved. YouTube allows users 13 and older to create a channel, but monetization through the YouTube Partner Program requires you to be 18 (or have a parent manage the account and handle payments).
Selling handmade goods or crafts through platforms like Etsy also requires an adult account holder if you’re under 18. The practical workaround in all these cases is the same: a parent sets up and manages the account on your behalf.
How to Land Your First Job
Start by making a short list of businesses near you from the brands mentioned above, then check their careers pages online. Many let you filter by age or location. If the website doesn’t specify a minimum age, call the store and ask directly. Smaller local businesses like ice cream shops, farms, and family-owned restaurants are also worth approaching in person with a simple resume listing any volunteer work, school activities, or relevant skills.
Hiring tends to pick up in spring as employers staff up for summer. Applying in March or April gives you the best shot at seasonal positions at pools, parks, camps, and amusement venues. For year-round retail and restaurant jobs, openings pop up throughout the year, so check back regularly if nothing is available on your first try.