PetSmart and Petco both require employees to be at least 16 years old for most entry-level positions, with some roles (especially animal care) requiring employees to be 18+, according to company hiring policies as of 2026.
Can you work at PetSmart at 16?
Yes, you can work at PetSmart at 16 for most positions, including retail associate roles in stores and warehouses, as long as you meet your state’s child labor laws.
Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds are welcome to apply for cashier, stock, and customer service jobs across PetSmart’s 1,500+ U.S. stores. (Honestly, this is the best place to start if you’re under 18.) Animal care, pharmacy, or management roles? Those typically require you to be 18 or older—state laws and training demands make that a hard limit. Swing by your state’s Department of Labor site to check work hour caps and whether you’ll need parental consent to clock in.
Can a 16 year old work at Petco?
No, Petco requires most employees to be 18 years or older, though some locations may hire 16- and 17-year-olds with work permits in select roles.
Petco’s official stance keeps most jobs off-limits until you turn 18. In rare cases, a store manager might greenlight 16- or 17-year-olds for cashier or stock roles—provided you’ve got the right paperwork. Warehouse gigs and animal-heavy positions like grooming or vet services? Those stay locked until adulthood. Your best bet is to peek at Petco’s careers page or drop into a nearby store and ask about local exceptions.
Can a 17 year old work at PetSmart?
Yes, 17-year-olds can work at PetSmart in most entry-level positions, including sales, stock, and customer service roles.
Seventeen-year-olds can join the team full- or part-time as long as school hours aren’t interrupted. Just remember: running heavy machinery, working late alone, or handling controlled substances bumps the minimum age to 18. Chat with the hiring manager before you apply—some stores bend schedules for students, while others stick to strict rules.
At what age does PetSmart hire?
PetSmart hires employees as young as 16 for most entry-level positions, with some roles requiring employees to be 18+ depending on responsibilities.
PetSmart’s front lines are full of teens and young adults filling cashier, stock, and pet-care roles. Management and corporate jobs? Those usually need you to be 18+. Plug your location into PetSmart’s career portal and filter by age to see exactly which roles are open where you live.
Does GameStop hire at 16?
Yes, GameStop hires 16-year-olds for entry-level retail positions, including sales associate and cashier roles in stores and e-commerce support.
GameStop’s rulebook lets 16- and 17-year-olds clock in part-time during the school year and full-time when school’s out. Management and warehouse jobs, however, stay off-limits until you’re 18. Cruise their careers site, punch in your state, and see which games and shifts are up for grabs.
Where can you work at 14?
At 14, you can work in a limited number of jobs with parental consent and state approval, such as retail, food service, or yard work, depending on your state’s child labor laws.
Fourteen-year-olds usually land gigs like babysitting, lawn mowing, or helping out at a family business. Big chains such as Chick-fil-A, Baskin-Robbins, and local grocery stores sometimes hire 14-year-olds for after-school shifts. Always double-check your state’s labor board site—some places cap hours at 18 per week when school’s in session.
How old do u have to be to work at 5 below?
Five Below hires employees as young as 16 years old for entry-level retail positions, including cashier and stock associate roles.
Five Below’s minimum age is 16, period. The company bends over backward to work around school schedules, offering evenings and weekends. Pop onto their careers page, type in your zip code, and see which stores near you are hiring.
What is the minimum age to work at Petco?
The minimum age to work at Petco is 18 for most positions, though some locations may hire 16- and 17-year-olds with work permits in select roles.
Petco’s rule is simple: 18+ for warehouse, distribution, and animal-care jobs. A handful of stores bend the rule for 16- and 17-year-olds in cashier or stock roles—if the manager signs off and the paperwork’s in order. Head to Petco’s careers site or walk into a store to ask about local exceptions.
How old do u have to be to work at Dollar Tree?
Dollar Tree requires employees to be at least 18 years old for all positions, including cashier, stock, and management roles.
Dollar Tree’s corporate line in the sand is clear: 18 and up, no exceptions. That goes for every U.S. location and every role, from cashier to store manager. Scan their careers page to find openings near you.
How old do u have to be to work at Target?
Target hires employees as young as 16 for store positions and 18+ for distribution center roles, per company policy as of 2026.
Target’s doors swing open for 16- and 17-year-olds in cashier, stock, and guest-service roles during non-school hours. Warehouse and overnight shifts? Those need you to be 18+. Filter jobs on Target’s career portal by your location and age to see what’s available.
How old do you have to be to work at Dairy Queen?
Dairy Queen requires employees to be at least 16 years old and hold a food handler’s card for most entry-level positions.
Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds can scoop Blizzards, run registers, and prep food as long as they’ve got a valid food handler’s card. Some locations bend the rules for 14- and 15-year-olds, letting them work part-time with a permit and tight hour limits. Call your neighborhood Dairy Queen to ask about age rules and training.
What age does Kohls hire at?
Kohl’s hires employees to be 18 years or older for all in-store and corporate positions, according to company policy as of 2026.
Kohl’s doesn’t budge on age—18 is the magic number for every role, from cashier to store manager. No exceptions, no work permits. Check Kohl’s careers page to see openings in your area.
What age does Best Buy hire?
Best Buy hires employees as young as 16 years old for entry-level positions, provided they have at least 6 months of retail sales experience.
Best Buy’s floor-level jobs start at 16, but they want proof you’ve already spent six months selling stuff in retail. Sales associate and customer-service roles are fair game; management and corporate gigs usually need you to be 18+. Hit Best Buy’s careers site, filter by age, and see which stores near you are hiring.
What age does GameStop hire?
GameStop hires employees to be 18 years or older for all positions, according to company policy as of 2026.
GameStop’s policy is ironclad: 18+ for every job. A store manager might bend the rules for 16- or 17-year-olds in part-time roles, but that’s rare. Head to GameStop’s careers page and plug in your location to see what’s actually available.
Can you work at GameStop at 14?
No, GameStop does not hire employees under 16 years old for any positions.
GameStop’s minimum age is 16 across the board. They don’t offer work permits or exceptions for 14- or 15-year-olds. If you’re under 16, set your sights elsewhere—GameStop simply won’t consider your application.
