Do you have a 16-year-old and are looking for a retail job? You are in luck. Several retail stores hire 15-year-olds and 16-year olds.
You might consider working at a retail shop if you enjoy the idea of being a cashier and helping customers or stocking shelves in local stores.
What is the minimum age to work in retail?
The U.S. Department of Labor says that teens as young as 14 can work in retail stores. Department of Labor states that teens as young 14 can work at retail stores.
There are laws that dictate what kind of work someone who is under 18 years old can do as well as the hours they can work.
In other words, 16- and 17-year olds are allowed to work as many hours as they want in any job that hasn’t been deemed hazardous by the Department of Labor.
The age limit for operating certain farm machinery or meat processing equipment is 16-17 years old.
When it comes to their work obligations, 16 and 17-year-olds are also restricted from driving.
The working restrictions for 14-year-olds and 15-year olds are different.
They must, for example:
- On school days, you should not work more than three hours per day
- On non-school days, you should not work more than eight hours per day
- Work no more than 18 hours per week when the school is in session
- When school is not in session, limit your workweek to 40 hours.
- Only work between 7 am and 7 pm (extended to 9 pm during the summer).
Due to these restrictions, some retailers won’t hire anyone under the age of 15. We’ve created a list of retailers that hire 16-year-olds.
We’ve also noted that some stores hire as young as 15 years old.
Retail Stores Hiring at 15 or 16
Note that different states may have laws and rules about age requirements and other factors.
The alphabetical list of stores:
1. Aeropostale
Aeropostale has more than 500 stores in the United States. Aeropostale offers both sales associate and stock associate positions.
Aeropostale’s minimum age for hiring is 16
Click here to learn more about Aeropostale’s current job openings and to see the latest Aeropostale job listings.
2. American Eagle Outfitters
American Eagle Outfitters offers jeans for men and women, as well as joggers, sweatshirts, hoodies and other clothing. Nearly 900 American Eagle stores are located in the U.S.
16-year-olds can help customers on the sales floor or stock shelves.
Click here to learn more about American Eagle’s current job opportunities and to see the American Eagle Job Openings.
3. Banana Republic
Banana Republic is a high-end clothing retailer with approximately 700 stores in the U.S. The Gap owns the brand.
As a sales associate or merchandise stocker, 16-year-olds can be employed. There may be other positions available.
Click here to learn more about Banana Republic’s current job opportunities and see the Banana Republic jobs currently available.
4. Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble operates both retail stores and a spin-off company, Barnes & Noble College Books.
Both companies require a minimum age of 16 to be able to work in their cafes or as a book seller (cashier).
Click here to learn more about Barnes & Noble, and find out the current Barnes & Noble Job Openings.
5. Best Buy
Best Buy is an electronics retailer with nearly 1,000 stores in the United States. Most Best Buy stores hire employees as young as 16. Some stores only hire between 17 and 18 years old.
As a 16 year old, you could work at Best Buy as a sales associate on the floor, in customer service or as a stockperson.
Click here to find out more about Best Buy careers and job openings.
Related Article Best Online Jobs for Teenagers
6. CVS
CVS Pharmacy sells medicines and other products in over 9,000 locations in 49 US states.
You can start working at CVS when you are 16 years old. You could be a cashier or a beauty care assistant.
Click here to learn more about CVS or to view the current CVS job openings.
7. Charlotte Rouse
Charlotte Rouse sells womenswear such as jeans and shoes. They also have dresses, accessories, and other clothing. The store sells also men’s clothes.
You can also work at Charlotte Rouse as a sales representative if you are 16. Stockpersons are also in demand.
Click here to learn more about Charlotte Russe or to search for job openings.
8. Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree has more than 15,000 locations in the 48 contiguous states of America.
You can become a sales associate at Dollar Tree if you are 16 or older. This includes serving customers, maintaining the store, and stocking shelves.
Click here to learn more about Dollar Tree and search for current Dollar Tree Job Openings.
9. Famous Footwear
Famous Footwear has been in business for many years. Over 1,000 stores are located in the United States.
Starting at age 16, teens can become sales associates and stockpersons at Famous Footwear.
Click here to learn more about Famous Footwear or to search for current job openings at Famous Footwear.
10. Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle has more than 200 stores located in Pennsylvania, Indiana Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland.
The chain hires teens as young as 15. You can work as a bagger, cashier or parking lot attendant.
Click here to learn more about Giant Eagle’s current job opportunities.
11. Hollister Co.
Hollister Co. offers clothing for girls and boys, including jeans, sweatshirts and joggers. They also sell shirts, shoes and accessories.
Abercrombie & Fitch is the owner of this company.
You can begin working at Hollister when you are 16 in a position as a sales associate or stocking shelves.
Click here to learn more about Hollister Co. or Abercrombie & Fitch and search for current job openings.
12. Hot Topic
Hot Topic is an inspired pop culture store which sells clothing, accessories and toys related to music, movies, and other popular culture.
Hot Topic stores are located in nearly 700 shopping malls across the United States.
Hot Topic requires that you are at least 16 to work there. You will be a sales representative helping customers when you reach this age. You may also be hired as a stocker.
Click here to learn more about Hot Topic’s current job opportunities and to view the latest Hot Topic job listings.
13. Gap
Gap offers clothing for men, women, children, and babies, as well as accessories, gifts and more. Gap has hundreds of store locations across the U.S.
Gap requires that you are at least 16 old to work there. You can either work as a Stock Associate or as a Sales Associate.
To find out more about Gap careers, visit Gap website’s career page and search for current job openings.
14. You can also find out more about
Guess, Inc. is known for its designer jeans, hoodies, T-shirts, and other clothing for women, men, and children. Nearly 500 stores are located in the company.
On the website, you can also purchase handbags and wallets. You can also buy luggage and other bags.
To work in a Guess store, you must be 16 and older. You can be a salesperson or a stockperson, but salespeople may also be required to perform some stockwork.
Find out about the current job opportunities at the company by visiting the Guess, Inc. Careers webpage.
15. JCPenney
JCPenney, a department store chain, sells everything from clothes to homewares. JCPenney has over 600 stores in the United States.
JCPenney employs teens as cashiers and sometimes as stock professionals. For more information, contact a local store.
Visit the JCPenney Careers page here for more information about job openings in JCPenney.
Related article: How to make money as a teenager
16. Travelling is a great way to experience the world.
Journeys is an online retailer that sells clothing for men, women, and children. Most Journeys stores are located in shopping centers.
Nearly 1,200 Journeys stores are located in the United States. To work at Journeys you must be at least 16.
Journeys sales associates are also required to do stock work. Learn more about Journeys by visiting the Journeys Career Page website.
17. Levi Strauss & Company
Levi Strauss & Company has more than a hundred locations in the U.S., including stores that make denim clothing for women, men and children.
Starting at 16, you can start working at Levi Strauss & Company. You’ll be hired primarily as a sales associate/cashier at that age.
To find out more about current job vacancies at Levi Strauss & Company Search here.
18. Marshalls
Marshalls is an American department store that sells women’s and men’s clothing, accessories, home products, and other items.
Marshalls is owned by TJX which also owns TJ Maxx and Home Goods. Marshalls requires that you be 16 or older to work there.
Marshalls hires teens primarily as retail associates. You’ll help customers, maintain the store’s appearance, and stock shelves.
For more information about Marshalls’ job openings, visit TJX Careers.
19. Old Navy
Old Navy offers clothing for men, women, children, babies, and even gender-neutral clothing. The Gap, Inc. owns the brand and has more than 1,100 stores.
Old Navy employs teens as young as 16. At 16 years old, you can be a brand associate or stock associate at retail locations.
Click here to visit Old Navy’s career page and learn more about the job opportunities.
20. PacSun
PacSun offers California-style clothing for women, men and children. Nearly 400 stores are located in the U.S.
You can become a PacSun sales associate if you’re at least 16. Sales associates help customers at the checkout, and they may also assist with organizing and stocking shelves.
Click here to learn more about the career opportunities at PacSun.
21. Plato’s Closet
Plato’s Closet is a used clothing store that caters to youth aged 12-24. If you like the idea of recycling clothing, then Plato’s Closet might be a good place for you to work.
Plato’s Closet requires that you be at least sixteen old to work there. You will be a stock associate or cashier if you work in one of the 400+ U.S. stores.
Click to visit the careers page of Plato’s Closet.
22. Publix
Publix has over 1,200 stores in the Southeastern United States. There are stores in Alabama and Florida as well as Tennessee, Georgia, North & South Carolina.
Publix stores allow employees as young as 15 and, in some cases, as old as 14. You can be employed as a floral salesperson, bagger or cashier at these ages.
Learn more about the job descriptions and openings at Publix by visiting the Publix Careers page.
23. Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren’s retail stores sell clothing for women, men, children, and home decor. Polo stores are owned by the same company.
Ralph Lauren and Polo have hundreds of stores in the United States. Ralph Lauren allows you to work as young as sixteen.
Ralph Lauren hires most 16-year olds as sales associates. Learn more about Ralph Lauren’s careers by visiting the Ralph Lauren Careers webpage.
24. rue21
The clothing store rue21 sells jeans for both men and women. Styles are aimed at young adults.
You can find hundreds of rue21 shops in the United States. You can start working at rue21 when you are as young as 16. You can work as a stock or sales associate as young as 16 years old.
Visit the Ru21 Careers page to learn more about current job opportunities.
25. The target is to increase the number of people who are able to use this language.
Target has thousands of stores across the U.S., and you can start working there as early as age 16.
You can be a cart attendant or Guest Advocate at 16 years old. These positions may also involve some shelf stocking.
For more information on working at Target, visit the Target Careers website page.
26. TJ Maxx
TJ Maxx, owned by TJX as mentioned above, has hundreds of stores across the U.S. It sells clothing and other home goods at discounted prices.
TJ Maxx will hire you if you are at least sixteen. You can start working as a floor/stock associate at 16 years old.
Visit the TJX Careers website to learn more about TJ Maxx job openings.
27. Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger sells upscale clothing for men, women, and children, with an emphasis on their jeans.
Tommy Hilfiger has hundreds of retail stores in the U.S., and you can begin working there as early as age.
You will be working mainly as a retail sales associate at that age. For more information about Tommy Hilfiger’s career page, visit
28. Walgreens
Walgreens has over 9000 stores in the United States. Walgreens sells not only medicines, but also health and beauty products.
Walgreens offers jobs to people as young as 16. You can find work as a customer-service associate in store locations at that age.
In this position, you may also be required to do shelf stocking. Search for current Walgreens job opportunities on the Walgreens Careers webpage.
29. Walmart
Walmart operates over 3500 stores in the United States and more than 10,000 worldwide.
Walmart requires that you are at least sixteen old to work there. You can become a cashier, or stockperson at that age.
Visit the Walmart Careers webpage for job openings in a Walmart near you.
30. Winn-Dixie
Winn-Dixie, a popular supermarket chain, has more than 500 stores in Florida, Alabama Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi.
Winn-Dixie allows you to start working as early as 15. You can start working as a stockperson, cashier or bagger at that age.
Visit the Winn Dixie Careers webpage for more information about current job opportunities at Winn Dixie stores.
You can read more about it here:
You can see from our list that there are many retail stores where you can work as a teenager or young adult.
You may also want to consider visiting fast-food restaurants in your area, since many of them will hire people as young as 14.
