How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at Walmart?

Wondering how old you need to be to interview at Walmart?

In this article, we’ll talk about Walmart’s age requirements for new hires, how this changes across different roles, and any other age-related requirements you should know about before applying to work at this retail giant.

How Old to Work at Walmart?

You need to be at least 16 years old to get a job at Walmart.

Even if you are of legal age, Walmart in most states will require 16 and 17-year-old candidates to apply for a work permit before starting the job.

This permit isn’t difficult to obtain, but it does rely on proper identification, the written consent of a parent or guardian, and, in some cases, a full physical examination by a doctor. You can read more about work permits for minors here.

Aside from gaining permission, minors (under 18’s) will be subject to some restrictions surrounding work hours and shift durations, though these rules vary and are largely state-dependent.

Here’s a quick overview:

Candidate ageEligibility
Does Walmart hire 14 year olds?No.
Does Walmart hire 15 year olds?No.
Does Walmart hire 16 year olds?Yes, with some conditions.
Does Walmart hire 17 years olds?Yes, with some conditions.
Does Walmart hire 18 years olds?Yes, for all roles.

Can You Work at Walmart at 14 Years Old?

No, Walmart does not hire 14 years old for any position.

Fortunately, a handful of other retail chains are known to accept applicants as young as 14, especially in the fast-food sector. For example, it’s not uncommon for franchises such as McDonald’s, Chick-fil-a, and Taco Bell to hire under 16’s.

It’s important to note, however, most states will require you to get consent from a parent or guardian in the form of a work permit. Work hours and shift durations are also typically even more restricted than with 16 and 17-year-olds.

Can You Work at Walmart at 15 Years Old?

No, Walmart will not hire you at 15, either.

According to law, a 15-year-old is effectively treated the same as a 14-year-old in the United States. While hiring under 16’s is technically legal, Walmart chooses not to accommodate this age group, presumably due to the many restrictions surrounding work hours.

It’s not all bad news, though. As mentioned above there are a number of other large franchises across the US that employ those under 16.

Can You Work at Walmart at 16 Years Old?

Yes, Walmart hires at 16 years old.

While some state-level restrictions still apply for under 18’s, there are a number of positions at Walmart available to 16-year-olds, including jobs as a cashier, stocker, greeter, or cart attendant.

Some positions aren’t suitable for minors (more on that below), so you’ll need to look carefully at the job description to ensure you’re legally allowed to fill the role.

Can You Work at Walmart at 17 Years Old?

Yes, you can get a job at Walmart at 17 years old.

From a legal standpoint, both 16 and 17-year-olds are lumped into the same category, meaning you’ll be subject to the same restrictions until you reach 18. You may also still need to acquire a work permit.

It’s worth noting, some Walmart stores will be less inclined to hire minors. It all depends on the hiring manager in question, so it’s always best to apply for multiple stores in your area.

Do Walmart Jobs Have Different Age Requirements?

Yes, some positions at Walmart have a higher age requirement.

These are typically roles involving the sale of alcohol or tobacco products, which prohibit Walmart from hiring anyone below the age of 18 years.

However, the most common jobs for teens at Walmart are as follows:

Walmart jobsAge requirementAverage pay
Cashier16+ years$13.41/hr
Greeter16+ years$11.68/hr
Sales Associate16+ years$13.61/hr
Cart Attendant16+ years$13.42/hr
Stocker16+ years$15.77/hr
Overnight Stocker18+ years$16.38/hr
OPD18+ years$17.00/hr

Note: The average pay for Walmart jobs is sourced from Indeed and Glassdoor.

What Do Walmart Teen Jobs Involve?

  • Walmart Cashier. Greeting customers, scanning and bagging items, explaining pricing and promotions on request, collecting various types of payments, and returning change.
  • Walmart Greeter. Welcoming customers as they enter the store, helping them find a cart, and sometimes cross-checking their receipts when they leave.
  • Walmart Sales Associate. Greeting customers, helping them find specific products throughout the store, stocking shelves and rotating stock, removing damaged or expired products, and operating the cash register when required.
  • Walmart Cart Attendant. Collecting and returning shopping carts, keeping the store parking lot clear of obstructions, and occasionally helping customers load heavy goods into their vehicles.
  • Walmart Stocker. Unloading product shipments in the warehouse, monitoring stock levels on the shop floor, restocking shelves where product inventory falls short, and sometimes setting up promotional displays.
  • Walmart Overnight Stocker. Same duties as Stocker but the job is performed between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am.
  • Walmart OPD. Selecting and packing products on behalf of customers based on their online order submissions, as well as delivering orders to the customers home.

Do Different States Have Different Age Requirements?

The short answer is no.

Walmart spans 49 states across the US, with a total of 4,742 stores. Despite this vast coverage, all Walmart stores share the same minimum age requirement of 16+.

Unfortunately, since labor laws can vary quite dramatically from state to state, Walmart in some states may be less inclined to consider minors for a position due to the imposed shift restrictions.

What Age Does Walmart Hire in Florida?

Walmart in Florida hires from age 16.

With that being said, according to Florida’s child labor laws, minors face some restrictions during periods of the year when school is in session.

Specifically, 16 and 17-year-olds are only able to work up to 30 hours per week between the hours of 6:30 am and 11 pm, while also being capped at 8 hours per day. Fortunately, these restrictions do not apply when school is no longer in session, such as during summer vacations or spring breaks.

What Age Does Walmart Hire in Texas?

Walmart stores in Texas hire from age 16.

Texas child labor laws are a lot more relaxed than most other states. In particular, there aren’t any restrictions imposed on work hours for minors aged 16 and 17, assuming the work doesn’t conflict with school attendance.

It’s worth pointing out that minors under the age of 18 aren’t allowed to take on certain hazardous duties, though it’s unlikely that any position at Walmart will raise concern in that regard.

What Age Does Walmart Hire in California?

Walmart in California allows minors to work from the age of 16.

California allows 16 and 17-year-olds to work up to 4 hours on a school day, or up to 8 hours on non-school days, including long periods when school is no longer in session.

Minors who have completed 7th grade can also work up to 48 hours per week, between 5 am and 10 pm – though the cutoff point is extended until 12:30 am if school isn’t in session the following day.

Summary: At What Age Does Walmart Hire?

Most Walmart stores begin hiring minors at 16, most notably for cashier, greeter, and cart attendant positions.

Certain Walmart jobs do have a higher age requirement of 18+, such as overnight stocker and OPD (online delivery and pickup) positions.

You can view all available positions and submit an application at Walmart Careers.

Leave a Reply