Interested in applying to Target but unsure of the minimum age requirement?
We’ll go over exactly how old you need to be to work at Target, what roles and shift you can take on, and the average salaries across positions at this company.
How Old to Work at Target?
You must be at least 16 to get a job at Target.
It’s crucial to provide proof you can work in the States, like a social security number, proof of address, or a valid form of ID. Some states will also require you to have a work permit under the age of 18. In other states, it’s under 16 or not at all.
Target usually likes to see a high school diploma (GED) and previous experience relevant to the job.
It’s also useful to know that the minimum age requirement is 16 to work in-store, but it’s 18 to work in their warehouses (distribution centers) or back rooms (stock rooms).
Here’s a brief overview:
| Candidate age | Eligibility |
| Does Target hire 14-year-olds? | No. |
| Does Target hire 15-year-olds? | No. |
| Does Target hire 16-year-olds? | Yes (work permit required). |
| Does Target hire 17-years-olds? | Yes (work permit required). |
| Does Target hire 18-years-olds? | Yes. |
Can You Work at Target at 14 Years Old?
No, Target does not employ 14-year-olds.
While you can’t work at Target at 14, there are many other job opportunities for minors.
Just be mindful that, according to the Department of Labor, you can’t work while school is in session or for any longer than 3 hours a day during school days.
You can find out which states require a work permit on this page.
Can You Work at Target at 15 Years Old?
No, Target does not hire 15-year-olds.
14-15-year-olds are treated the same in the eyes of the law, meaning rules surrounding roles and shift lengths will apply to both ages.
If you’re under 16, you won’t be able to serve age-restricted products or use prohibited machines, which will prevent you from carrying out important job duties. Understandably, Target only hires 16 and above for this reason.
Can You Work at Target at 16 Years Old?
Yes, Target will employ 16-year-olds.
Non-agricultural jobs have complications for minors performing certain duties. Luckily, at Target, you can start jobs at 16 as a team member, a cart attendant, or a cashier.
Shift restrictions for 16–17-year-olds are highly dependent on the state you’re in. For example, 16-year-olds in Connecticut can only work up to 6 hours a day during school days, but in Maryland, 16s can only work up to 12 hours a day. This includes school hours.
A work permit is still a requirement for most minors, although it’s widely state-dependent. This permit serves as proof that you’re legally allowed to work a job that may be deemed unsafe.
Can You Work at Target at 17 Years Old?
Yes, 17-year-olds can work at Target
Just as 14 and 15-year-olds are in the same category in relation to child labor laws, 16 and 17-year-olds are also in the same boat.
At this age, you’re still restricted from some roles and duties. To take on any leadership roles, operate trash compactors, or work in bakeries, delis, or distribution centers, you must be 18+.
Applicants aged 18 and above don’t face these restrictions, so the higher-ups at Target may sometimes show preference toward them.
Do Target Jobs Have Different Age Requirements?
Yes, some jobs require you to be 18 at Target.
Working in Target’s stock rooms and warehouse centers typically requires heavy lifting and even using machinery. This excludes anyone under 18 because of the relevant labor laws.
Certain exceptions are made for 16 and 17-year-olds working in food preparation and service, such as being able to operate food-specific machinery and other portable or lightweight tools.
While not age-specific, it’s also worth noting that many states and counties vary when it comes to requiring a food handling certificate. This may be something you need to look into.
Check out the breakdown below:
| Target job | Age requirement | Average pay |
| Cart Attendant | 16+ years | $13.92/hr |
| Cashier | 16+ years | $14.41/hr |
| Team Member | 16+ years | $14.94/hr |
| Baker | 18+ years | $16.75/hr |
| HR Member | 18+ years | $20.50/hr |
| Warehouse Operative | 18+ years | $21.49/hr |
| Store Manager | 18+ years | $23.69/hr |
The average pay for Target is sourced from a mix of Glassdoor, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter.
What Do Target Teen Jobs Involve?
- Target Team Member. Helping customers find what they need, answering customer questions, stocking up shelves, managing food rotations, and keeping everything up-to-date.
- Target Cart Attendant. Picking up and throwing away trash in the parking lot, attending to carts, cleaning and checking the condition of carts, and bringing unattended carts back in front of the store entrance.
- Target Cashier. Operating cash registers and processing credit card transactions while serving customers, scanning items at an efficient speed, and being able to answer any questions.
- Target Baker. Baking, cooking, and producing bread, pastries, cakes, cookies, and pies while keeping track of the food expiration dates. Cycling foods in and out of the bakery, and sorting large food shipments.
- Target Human Resources (HR). Working in administration where you recruit and terminate employees, evaluate staff, process payroll, conduct disciplinary actions, and update store policies.
- Target Warehouse Operative. Cleaning, checking, and maintaining products, communicating with stores to see what needs stocking, organizing and shipping goods on trucks so they’re ready to transport to stores.
- Target Store Manager. Consulting with HR to find new talent as well as employees regarding shifts. Managing work schedules, analyzing sales figures, adding promotions and special offers, performing daily checks on merchandise, and stocking up on shelves.
Do Different States Have Different Age Requirements?
No, all states hire from 16 upwards.
Target has 1,939 locations across all 50 states, all of which officially abide by the minimum hiring age of 16.
With that being said, Target store managers can also choose to raise the minimum hiring age to 18, as there is no law or policy preventing that.
What Age Does Target Hire in Florida?
You have to be at least 16 to work at Target in Florida.
Florida’s child labor laws provide information on shift hours and any exceptions surrounding this. For example, 16-17-year-olds can work without a capacity on non-school days and days that follow no school.
Conveniently, Florida is one of the states that doesn’t require anyone to have a work permit, although they may need proof of address or identification.
What Age Does Target Hire in California?
Target stores in California hire from age 16.
California specifies that anyone under 18 must have a work permit.
Those aged 16-17 in California are still allowed to sell alcohol and lottery tickets under the supervision of a 21-year-old employee.
Summary: At What Age Does Target Hire?
Target will hire from the age of 16.
The most popular Target jobs for teens are cart attendant, cashier, and team member, as these are all entry-level positions.
If you hope to start or grow beyond an entry-level position, you must be at least 18 years old. Roles might include baker, human resources member, or warehouse operative.
You can check vacancies and apply for consideration at Target Careers.