30 Retail Stores That Hire at 16 Years Old
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Are you 16 years old and looking to get a job working in retail? You’re in luck. There are several retail stores that hire 16 year olds, some even hire at 15.
If you like the idea of working as a cashier helping customers, or stocking shelves at local stores, you might want to consider working in a retail store.
What is the Minimum Age to Work in Retail?
While this article is talking specifically about retail stores that hire 16 year olds, the U.S. Department of Labor says that teens as young as 14 can work in retail stores.
There are laws dictating what type of work someone under 18 can do, as well as what hours of the day they can work.
For instance, 16 and 17 year olds can work unlimited hours in any position that the Department of Labor has not deemed “hazardous.”
16 and 17 year olds cannot operate hazardous machinery such as meat processing equipment or certain types of farm equipment.
There are also driving restrictions placed on 16 and 17 year olds when it comes to work responsibilities.
However, 14 and 15 year olds have different working restrictions.
For instance, they must:
- Work no more than 3 hours a day on school days
- Work no more than 8 hours a day on non-school days
- Have a maximum 18-hour workweek when school is in session
- Have a maximum 40-hour workweek when school is not in session
- Can only work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (extended until 9 p.m. during summer)
Because of these restrictions, not all retailers will hire 15 year olds. For that reason, we’ve compiled a list of retail stores that will hire at 16.
And we’ve made note of stores hiring at age 15 as well.
Retail Stores Hiring At 16
Note that some locations, depending on the state, may have different rules and laws about hiring age and other factors.
Here are the stores in alphabetical order:
1. Aeropostale
Aeropostale sells girls’ and guys’ clothing and has over 500 locations in the United States. You can work as a sales associate or a stock associate at Aeropostale.
Aeropostale’s minimum hiring age is 16.
To learn more about working at Aeropostale and to find out about current Aeropostale job openings, go here.
2. American Eagle Outfitters
American Eagle Outfitters sells men’s and women’s jeans, joggers, hoodies, and more. There are nearly 900 American Eagle retail locations in the U.S.
16 year olds can work on the sales floor helping customers, or work at stocking shelves.
To learn more about working at American Eagle and to find out about current American Eagle job openings, go here.
3. Banana Republic
Banana Republic sells upscale men’s and women’s clothing and has approximately 700 locations in the U.S. The brand is owned by The Gap.
16 year olds can work as sales associates or as merchandise stockers. Other store positions may be available.
To learn more about working at Banana Republic and to see current Banana Republic job openings, go here.
4. Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble has both mainstream retail bookstores and a separate spinoff company called Barnes & Noble College bookstores.
The minimum age to work at both companies is 16. At that age, you can work as a bookseller (cashier) or as a barista in the cafe.
To learn more about Barnes & Noble and to find current Barnes & Noble job openings, go here.
5. Best Buy
Best Buy sells electronics and has nearly 1,000 locations in the United States. Many Best Buy locations hire workers at age 16. Note that some stores will only hire at 17 and 18.
Working as a 16-year-old at Best Buy, you can work as a floor sales associate, customer service, or stockperson.
For more information on careers at Best Buy and to learn about Best Buy job openings, go here.
6. CVS
CVS pharmacies sell medicines and other items at over 9,000 stores in 49 states in the United States.
At age 16, you can work at CVS as a cashier, shelf stocker and organizer, beauty care associate, and more.
To learn more about working at CVS, or to see current job openings at CVS, go here.
7. Charlotte Rouse
Charlotte Rouse sells women’s clothing such as jeans, shoes, accessories, and dresses. The store also sells men’s clothing.
If you’re 16, you can work as a sales associate at Charlotte Rouse. You may also find work as a stockperson.
To learn more about working at Charlotte Russe, or to search job openings at Charlotte Russe, go here.
8. Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree is a popular dollar store that has over 15,000 stores in the contiguous 48 United States.
If you work at Dollar Tree at age 16 or older, you can work as sales associates, which includes servicing customers, stocking shelves, and general store maintenance.
To learn more about working at Dollar Tree or to search current Dollar Tree job openings, go here.
9. Famous Footwear
Famous Footwear is a popular long-running shoe store. The company has over 1,000 store locations in the United States.
Teens who work at Famous Footwear can work as sales associates or as stockpersons starting at age 16.
To learn more about working at Famous Footwear, or to search current Famous Footwear job openings, go here.
10. Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle is a supermarket chain that has over 200 stores in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland.
This chain will often hire teens starting as young as 15, where you can be a cashier, bagger, or parking lot attendant.
To learn more about current job openings at Giant Eagle, go here.
11. Hollister Co.
Hollister Co. sells girls and guys clothing such as jeans, sweatshirts, joggers, shirts, shoes, and accessories.
The company is owned by Abercrombie & Fitch, another retail clothing company.
If you want to work at Hollister as a teen, you can start when you’re 16 and work in a sales associate position or work stocking shelves.
To learn more about working at Hollister Co. (Or Abercrombie & Fitch) and to search current job openings, go here.
12. Hot Topic
Hot Topic is a pop culture inspired store that sells music and movie related clothing, accessories, toys, and more.
There are nearly 700 Hot Topic store locations situated in shopping malls around the United States.
You need to be at least 16 years old to work at Hot Topic, and you will work as a sales associate helping customers at that age. You might also be hired to stock shelves.
To find out more about working at Hot Topic and to see current Hot Topic job openings, go here.
13. Gap
Gap sells men’s, women’s, teens, kids, and baby clothes, along with accessories, gifts, and more. There are hundreds of Gap store locations around the U.S.
You need to be at least 16 to work at Gap, and at that age you can work as a sales associate or as a stock associate.
If you want to learn more about working at Gap, head to Gap’s website career page to search current job openings.
14. Guess
Guess, Inc. has long been known for selling designer jeans, hoodies, t-shirts, and more for men, women, and kids. The company has nearly 500 store locations.
You can also find handbags, wallets, backpacks, luggage, and other bags on the website and in stores.
You need to be 16 or older to work at Guess stores, and you can work as a sales associate or a stock person, although sales associates may be required to do some stock work.
Visit the Guess, Inc. careers webpage to find out more about current job openings with the company.
15. JCPenney
JCPenney is a retail department store chain that sells everything from clothing to home goods. There are over 600 store JCPenney locations in the United States.
JCPenney hires teens aged 16 or older to work as cashiers, and to sometimes work as stock professionals. Check with a store location near you for details.
Go to the JCPenney careers webpage here to learn more about current job openings at JCPenney stores.
Related Article: 23 Ways to Make Money as a Teen
16. Journeys
Journeys is a retail store that sells men’s, women’s, and kids clothing and shoes. You’ll find most Journeys locations situated in shopping malls.
There are nearly 1,200 Journeys locations in the United States. You must be at least 16 to work at Journeys, at which age you can apply to be a sales associate.
Sales associates at Journeys will do some stock work as well. See the Journeys career page website to learn more about working at Journeys.
17. Levi Strauss & Company
Levi Strauss & Company, well known for making denim clothing for men, women, and children, has nearly hundreds of locations in the U.S.
You can work at Levi Strauss & Company starting at age 16. At that age, you’ll primarily be hired as a cashier/sales associate.
To learn more about job openings at Levi Strauss & Company, search current job openings here.
18. Marshalls
Marshalls is a department store chain that sells men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing and accessories, home goods items, and more.
The chain is owned by TJX, which also owns TJ Maxx, Home Goods, and other brands. You need to be at least 16 to work at Marshalls.
Teens hired to work at Marshalls will primarily be hired as retail associates. That means you’ll be assisting customers, stocking shelves, maintaining store appearance, and more.
To learn more about job openings at Marshalls, head to TJX’s careers page.
19. Old Navy
Old Navy sells men’s, women’s, kids’, baby, and gender-neutral clothing. The brand has over 1,100 store locations and is owned by The Gap, Inc.
Old Navy hires teens as young as 16. As a 16-year-old, you can work as a brand associate (cashier) or stock associate in retail store locations.
To learn more about Old Navy job openings, visit the store’s careers page by clicking here.
20. PacSun
PacSun sells California lifestyle clothing for men, women, and kids. The brand has nearly 400 store locations in the U.S.
When you are at least 16 years of age, you can work at PacSun as a sales associate. Sales associates assist customers at checkout and may also help with stocking shelves and organizing stores.
To learn more about working at PacSun, visit PacSun’s careers page by clicking here.
21. Plato’s Closet
Plato’s Closet buys and sells used clothing that’s geared toward youth ages 12-24. You might like to work at Plato’s Closet if you love the idea of recycled clothing.
You need to be at least 16 to work at Plato’s Closet. If you work at one of their 400+ U.S. store locations, you will work as a cashier or stock associate.
If you want to learn more about job openings at Plato’s Closet, check out the company’s careers page by clicking here.
22. Publix
Publix is a grocery store chain with over 1,200 locations in the Southeastern United States. They have stores in Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, North & South Carolina, and more.
You can work at a Publix store as young as 15, and in some cases age 14. As an employee at those ages, you can work as a cashier, bagger, or in the floral department.
Visit the Publix careers page to learn more about job openings and job descriptions at Publix.
23. Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren sells women’s, men’s, and kids’ clothing, along with home decor items at its retail stores. The same company also owns Polo stores.
There are hundreds of Ralph Lauren and Polo stores throughout the United States. You can work at Ralph Lauren as young as 16 years of age.
Most 16-year-old hires at Ralph Lauren will work as sales associates. Visit the Ralph Lauren careers webpage to learn more about working at Ralph Lauren.
24. rue21
rue21 is a clothing store that has guys’ and girls’ jeans and other clothing items for sale. The styles are targeted toward young adults.
There are hundreds of rue21 stores throughout the United States. You can work at rue21 as young as age 16. As a 16-year-old, you can get jobs as a sales associate or as a stock associate.
To learn more about job openings at rue21, visit the rue21 careers webpage.
25. Target
Target big box stores have thousands of locations across the U.S. You can work at Target as young as 16 years of age.
As a 16-year-old, you can work as a Guest Advocate (cashier) or a cart attendant. Some shelf stocking may be involved with these positions as well.
See the Target careers website page for more information about working at Target.
26. TJ Maxx
TJ Maxx is owned by TJX (as mentioned earlier) and has hundreds of store locations across the U.S. Like Marshalls, TJ Maxx sells clothing and home goods at discount prices.
You can work at TJ Maxx when you’re at least 16 years old. At that age, you can work as a sales associate or as a stock/floor associate.
To learn more about job openings at TJ Maxx, visit the TJX careers website page.
27. Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger stores sell upscale men’s’, women’s, and kids clothing, with a focus on their popular jeans’ lineup.
There are hundreds of Tommy Hilfiger retail store locations throughout the U.S. You can start working at a Tommy Hilfiger store as young as 16 years of age.
At that age you will primarily work as a sales associate in a retail location. To learn more about working at Tommy Hilfiger, check out the company’s careers webpage.
28. Walgreens
Walgreens is a pharmacy store with over 9.000 locations in the United States. Along with selling medicinal products, Walgreens also sells health and beauty products and other items.
You can work at Walgreens as young as 16 years of age. At that age, you will find jobs working as a customer service associate at store locations.
You might also do some shelf stocking work in that position. Visit the Walgreens careers webpage to search current job openings.
29. Walmart
Walmart has over 3,500 store locations in the United States, and over 10,000 store locations worldwide.
You need to be at least 16 to work at Walmart. At that age you can work as a cashier or a stockperson.
See the Walmart careers webpage to search job openings at a Walmart location near you.
30. Winn-Dixie
Winn-Dixie is a popular grocery store chain that has nearly 500 locations in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and Mississippi.
You can start working at Winn-Dixie as young as 15 years of age. At that age you can work as a cashier, bagger, or stockperson.
You can visit the Winn-Dixie careers webpage to learn more about job openings at Winn-Dixie locations.
Summary
As you can see by our list, there are dozens of retail stores you can work at as a 16-year-old.
Also, you may want to visit fast food establishments in your area if you’re looking for work, as many of them hire as young as 14 years of age.
Remember that age limitations may vary depending on the store and on the state. Visit the store you want to work at to get more information.