If there is one fact etched in stone, it is this: nobody can get by without money. Over the years, our lives have been so commercialized that money is now a necessity.
We have all heard the adage, ‘money cannot buy happiness.’ But it can indeed pay your bills, help you study in a good college, and buy a brand new car.
And let’s be practical, without money you cannot purchase anything. Therefore, earning sufficient money and having the right personal financial skills is imperative for an individual’s stable future.
We are pretty sure you know all this already because why else would you be here looking for places that hire 15 years old?
So if you are a parent looking to get your kid treading on the path of independence or a kid looking to get independent and start earning, let us tell you, you have made the right choice.
And in appreciation of your wise move, here we have all you need to know about jobs that hire at 15.
Why Should You Earn As A Teenager
Often kids want to work as a teenager but are a little confused if it is the right decision. On the other hand, parents often know it is the right choice to make but are puzzled about whether kids will suffer or flourish. Here we list down some benefits of working as a teenager that might help you make an informed choice:
Learn Essential Workplace Skills
We all eventually have to end up at a workplace, be it a job or our own venture. And developing skills early on can be very beneficial in the later stages. For example, working as a teenager can help you learn communication, team-building, time management, and organizational skills. These will help you bag a good job in the future as compared to kids who do not have any prior work experience.
Understand Responsibility And Accountability
Working early on can help the child understand the concepts of accountability and responsibility. They know they have to meet targets, adhere to rules, and maintain discipline; otherwise, they will lose their job and face the consequences.
Become Independent
Until the age of 13 children are generally dependent on their parents to make more significant decisions. But getting independent and making choices is excellent for the child’s overall mental growth and confidence.
Save Money For Bigger Targets
If the kids want a car and the parents cannot afford it, a better way is to teach them to work and get it for themselves. They will also understand that money does not come free, and they have to work hard if they want to buy something. The kids can also save and achieve bigger targets in the future, such as going to college or buying a house at 21.
Labor Laws Governing Employment Of 14 and 15 Years Old
The next thing you should know in detail is the laws governing how long and where you can work at 14 and 15 years of age. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) states laws that ensure employers do not exploit their personnel in workplaces. In addition, the FLSA has specific rules that govern the working conditions of employees under 16.
But how old do you have to be to work? Under this section, the minimum age to work for minors is 14 years. Hiring workers below that age is illegal. However, there are some exceptions. For example, a child can work in theatres, radio, and on television at any age.
They can also deliver newspapers and babysit. Also, they are allowed to work around the house in chores, and family businesses, provided the working conditions are non-hazardous.
The FLSA mentions the hours minors can work, the minimum wage they should get, and the working conditions the employers should give the children. It is a comprehensive law that protects minors from unfair practices.
Also, you can feel safe that if your child goes to work at such a young age, they are protected by the law. And actions are taken against anyone not following the rules.
Do Labor Laws For Minors Vary Between States?
Yes, they do. Labor laws generally are the same, but there may be specific differences in the law applicable in different states. Therefore, you need to go through the state law to make sure you are aware of all the rules. If the regulations overlap, a rule of thumb is to practice the law that is the most protective of the minor.
Number Of Hours You Can Work As A Minor
The FLSA also governs the number of hours a 14 and 15-year-old can do at work. The on-the-job hours are restricted to:
- Eight hours on days when you are off from school
- Forty hours in a week only when you are off from school
- Three hours on days you have school
- Eighteen hours in a school week
These are the minimum number of hours a teen can work for. However, 14 and 15-year-olds can also only work between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
But, there are only two exceptions to this rule. The first is on June 1st through Labor Day, where a minor can work from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The second one is where a minor works under particular circumstances, such as a state-sponsored work-study setup.
What Is The Minimum Wage Set By-Law For Minors?
Under the FLSA, the standard minimum wage set is $7.25 per hour. This minimum wage is mandatory in every state, and paying less than this is illegal unless specifically allowed in your state law.
Employers are given the allowance to pay minors a lesser wage. However, you can only pay this amount for the job’s initial 90 consecutive calendar days. It is named the Youth Minimum Wage and is set at $4.25 per hour.
Once the 90 days are over, employers should pay the set minimum wage. The Youth Minimum Wage is also only applicable to employees under 20 years.
Again, in specific scenarios, state laws vary from the rules set by the federal government. For example, Georgia has a minimum wage set at $5.15 per hour. On the other hand, some states have a higher minimum wage rate.
Places That Hire 15-Year-Olds
Now that we have understood the basics, let us dig into the actual motive of this discussion: the places that hire 15-year-olds.
Some businesses are better at creating jobs for minors. These workplaces have tasks that do not require specialized education or skills and are relatively simple. Here we mention three businesses that you can look into when searching for jobs as a 15-year-old:
- Restaurants Chains
- Entertainment Spots
- Grocery Stores
Restaurant Chains
Let us first look at some restaurants and the jobs they offer for 14 and 15 years old:
Mc Donald’s
If you Google places near me hiring at 15, Mc Donald’s might be the first one to pop in the search. That is because it has around 14,000 outlets in the U.S. alone. And it hires 14 and 15 years old for various jobs.
Even though you need to be 16 years of age to become a cashier at McDonald’s, you can still work as a kitchen or cleaning staff and serve food.
Baskin Robbins
Do you love ice cream and cakes? If you do, then this is the place for you. What better than to work in a space that smells of cakes, ice creams, and frozen yogurt?
Baskin Robbins has branches in almost every state. So you might just have to look up the ones nearest to you and apply away.
Burger King
Apart from serving delicious burgers, this hamburger brand is also one place that hires 14 and 15-year-olds. Even though they hire 15-year-olds and above, they still have 14-year-olds working at some branches. With 17,000 locations, there is a fair chance for you to bag a job fit for you.
Ben and Jerry’s
There is a sweet bond between ice cream and kids. And this can turn into some fun jobs for 15-year-olds.
Ben and Jerry’s is a famous ice cream brand. If you haven’t already, try their Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavor. We love it. And while you are at it, give it a shot at applying for a job. You can get a job as a cashier, server, or maintenance staff.
Chick-Fil-A
Who doesn’t know the all-famous fast food restaurant Chick-Fil-A? Their chicken sandwich is top-notch. And so are the working conditions. You can apply for most entry-level positions, and they quickly hire 14 and 15-year-olds. There are more than 2000 branches in various states.
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen is a fast food restaurant that also serves ice cream. It hires 14 and 15-year-olds as its employees for various jobs such as cleaners or cashiers.
Boston Market
When discussing places that hire 15-year-olds, one should never forget Boston Market. This American fast-food chain employs workers over the age of 15 years. It has more than 450 branches in different states and offers jobs to minors such as counter staff and kitchen crew.
Arby’s
With over 3000+ locations, Arby’s can help you get a job as a cleaner, server, or kitchen staff. It is famous for serving some delicious Angus beef burgers and turkey sandwiches.
Kentucky Fried Chicken
While delivering some fantastic fried chicken, KFC is also a place that gives minors opportunities to work and thrive. You can work as a customer service attendant, take orders, or become a kitchen staff.
Pizza Hut
Who doesn’t know Pizza Hut? It is a world-known restaurant offering a variety of food such as pizza, salads, pasta, etc. You can quickly get a job as a cashier or a server. But remember, the minimum hiring age here is 15 years.
Some other places that hire 15-year-olds at similar positions include:
Rita’s Italian Rice
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Culver’s
Entertainment Spots
Now that we know which restaurants hire 14 and 15-year-olds let us also look at a few entertainment spots that give jobs to minors:
Six Flags
Amusement and water parks are among the most fantastic places that hire 15-year-olds. The work is not too complicated, and you can quickly gel into the work environment.
Six Flags is one such amusement park where you can apply for jobs if you are looking for one as a minor. Of course, the type of job you get depends on the season and the location.
However, even if you do not have a Six Flags amusement park near you, any local amusement and water park would do. You just have to call them up and enquire about the available positions.
AMC Theatres
We are yet to find a teenager who hates movies. And considering the love they have for films, working at the local cinema or an AMC Theatre branch is just the perfect fit.
AMC Theatres have about 600 locations all over the U.S., and almost all branches hire 14 and 15-year-olds for various jobs.
Grocery Stores
Are you looking for places that hire 15-year-olds? Look no further because your local grocery store might just be hiring.
There are quite a few straightforward tasks at a grocery store that do not need much training, so such businesses actively hire teens. Also, grocery stores generally operate till late hours, making it easier for 14 and 15-year-olds to join after school.
If you do not have any prior experience working at a grocery store, you should expect to get a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. You can work as a delivery person, cleaner, cashier, or grocery bagger.
Or hire your child to join your company, as EN.VPNWelt site owner Florian Berg did and hired his 14-year-old son as a comment moderator
A few grocery places that hire 15-year-olds include:
Giant Food
Giant Food stores hire many employees under the age of 16 and have over 150 locations. You can look for job vacancies on their website and apply through application forms available at stores and online. Ar Giant Food, you can work as a bagger, stocker, cashier, clerk, or bakery associate.
Safeway
Safeway is a grocery store much like a traditional supermarket. However, they also offer online deliveries so that you can work as a delivery guy, cashier, cart runner, or grocery bagger.
They have 1300 locations all over the U.S., and all places hire 15-year-olds for various positions. You can contact your nearest Safeway store for vacancies and the hiring process.
Winn Dixie
Founded in 1925, Winn Dixie has approximately 500 stores all over. However, they have a minimum hiring age of 15 years. You can check into the nearest location and see what vacancies are available.
Some of the other grocery places that hire 15-year-olds include:
Kroger
Publix
Apart from working at entertainment venues, grocery stores, or restaurants, 14 and 15-year-olds can also work independently in the following jobs:
Babysitting
Babies are adorable and fun to be with. If you love being around babies or are a pro just because you are the elder sibling, babysitting is a great way to earn some bucks. In addition, you can spread the word among your friends and family.
The best way to go about it is to babysit in families you already know. Then, once you gain adequate experience, you can also babysit kids from families you are unfamiliar with.
It is not tough if you are used to babies. However, it might be exhausting if you are not accustomed to tackling infants and toddlers. Have you heard anything about toddler tantrums?
Dog Walking
According to a survey conducted in 2021/22, 69 million families in the U.S. had at least one dog as a pet. Many had more than one. Considering this colossal figure, helping out pet owners by walking their dogs can prove fruitful.
Dogs need walks to stay active and cheerful. But many pet owners are occupied with jobs or are maybe out on vacation. In such scenarios hiring a dog walker seems like a godsend. If you love dogs, this is a fun opportunity for you. Once you get the hang of it, ask people to refer you to more people, and soon you will have more work.
Pet Sitting
If you own a pet, you will know the trouble you have to go through once you plan to go out of town or travel far. Pet sitting is much like babysitting; you just take care of a pet instead of a baby.
However, remember it is best to have prior experience because pet owners are pretty skeptical of the people who come in as pet sitters. Therefore, it is best to take care of some pets among friends and family first to show customers that you have worked with pets before.
House Cleaning
Are you a clean freak? Do you love scrubbing floors? Is decluttering therapeutic for you? If you answered yes, this might be a fantastic choice.
Kids at this age are often accustomed to doing chores around the house, and they might as well do this to earn some money. So even though it might not sound too glamorous, what harm if you can make some easy cash?
Lawn Mowing
Who loves mowing their lawn? We assume no one unless you love gardening. But, even then, it seems like a tedious job to do.
You can use this to your advantage and mow people’s lawns in return for money. First, however, make sure your state allows 14-year-olds to use power equipment at work. If yes, then it is a fantastic job for teens.
Take Surveys Online
Huh, what? Does taking surveys online make you money? Yes, it sure does. And survey sites are one of the most trouble-free places that hire 15-year-olds to work for them.
Big companies need research data to form strategies and policies. And platforms like SurveyJunkie or Swagbucks provide them exactly that. But they need people to fill out surveys, and that is where you help them. In return for your valuable feedback, these sites pay you.
If you are someone who loves to stay indoors and work on your laptop or smartphone, this job is a good fit for you:
Task Runner
There are always a few tasks that people want to get off their shoulders and pay someone else to do for them. Be it grocery runs, delivery tasks, trips to the post office, etc. If you have a bicycle or a scooter, you can take up small jobs from families or local businesses in your community. And you can charge a fee for each task.
Places That Hire 14 and 15-Year-Olds – Conclusion
Starting to earn at a young age has its benefits. Kids learn independence and a sense of responsibility before entering the challenging corporate world.
If your child is looking for jobs as a minor, worry not. There are several places that hire 15-year-olds. We have given our best shot at listing some of these places above.
Depending on the kind of work your child likes to do, you can pick one of the places and start applying. Happy Working!
