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

Starbucks does not list a minimum age on its Careers pages. Third-party hiring guides report that 16 is the usual minimum for U.S. coffeehouse jobs, and some stores or roles may require 18.

Below are the federal age and hour rules, a seven-step plan to apply, resume tips for teens and a checklist.

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Always read the posting for the store you want, and check your state labor department for your rules.

Starbucks Age Requirement at a Glance

Source	What it says
Starbucks Careers (hiring process and FAQs)	No minimum age is listed
U.S. Department of Labor	General minimum age for most jobs is 14; 16 is the basic minimum for unlimited hours in non-hazardous jobs
Third-party hiring guides (not official)	16 is the usual age for coffeehouse jobs; some stores or roles may need 18
Your state	The stricter rule applies, and some states require a work permit under 18

Federal Age Rules for Work

The U.S. Department of Labor sets these rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act. When state and federal law differ, the stricter one applies.

Age	Federal rule (U.S. Department of Labor)
Under 14	Generally barred from covered non-farm work, with exceptions such as newspaper delivery, acting and casual babysitting
14 and 15	May work outside school hours in non-hazardous retail and food service jobs, with hour limits
16	Basic minimum age; unlimited hours in any job not declared hazardous
17	Same as 16, with some hazardous-job exceptions
18 and older	No longer covered by federal youth work rules

Hour Limits for 14- and 15-Year-Olds

These federal limits apply to 14- and 15-year-olds in most non-farm jobs. Your state may set tighter ones.

Limit for 14- and 15-year-olds	Federal rule
School days	Up to 3 hours, including Fridays
School weeks	Up to 18 hours
Non-school days	Up to 8 hours
Non-school weeks	Up to 40 hours
Time of day	7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; until 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day
School hours	Work only outside school hours

What Minors Can and Cannot Do in a Food Service Job

The Department of Labor lists these rules for food service. Your employer decides which tasks a minor does, so ask the store.

Kitchen and food service task	Rule for minors (U.S. Department of Labor)
Most retail and food service work	Allowed for 14- and 15-year-olds
Limited food and beverage preparation	Allowed for 14- and 15-year-olds
Baking operations	Not allowed for 14- and 15-year-olds
Power-driven machinery (except office machines)	Not allowed for 14- and 15-year-olds
Freezers and meat coolers	Not allowed for 14- and 15-year-olds
Power meat slicers, saws and choppers	Not allowed under 18

How to Apply in 7 Steps

Quick jump: Check posting State rules Work permit Resume Apply Applicant Insights Interview

Step 1. Check the Posting

Open the job posting for the store you want and read the age, hours and experience it lists. Starbucks Careers pages do not state a minimum age, so the posting and the store are your best guide.

Step 2. Check Your State Rules

Child labor laws vary by state. Visit your state labor department’s website for age rules, hour limits and work permit rules. The stricter rule, federal or state, applies.

Step 3. Get a Work Permit if Needed

If your state requires working papers or an employment certificate for workers under 18, ask your school counselor how to get one. Some states need a parent or guardian to sign.

Step 4. Build a One-Page Resume

Use Education, Skills and Volunteer Work with numbers. Keep it to one page, and proofread twice.

Step 5. Apply in the Career Hub

Starbucks says to create a profile, upload a current resume and apply to more than one store if you like. You will get an email confirming your application. Hourly postings refresh every 90 days, so set a job alert.

Step 6. Finish Applicant Insights if Invited

If the role needs it, you get an email invitation to a questionnaire of about 20 minutes. You must finish it within seven days, with reminders on days three and six.

Step 7. Prepare for the Interview

Starbucks says to prepare behavioral examples that show your impact, prepare 3 to 5 questions for the interviewer, be genuine and send a thank-you note within 48 hours.

What to Put on a Teen Resume

If you have no paid experience, use school, volunteer work and activities. Lead with what you offer customers and the team, and use numbers you can back up.

Resume section	What to add	Example
Summary	What you offer customers and a team	Friendly, reliable student who helps about 60 visitors a shift at community events and works well on a team.
Education	School, expected graduation year and grade average	Lincoln High School, expected 2028, 3.6 GPA
Skills	Customer service, teamwork, cash handling or math, and a calm attitude	Greeted and helped 60 visitors per shift
Volunteer Work	One role with numbers	Loaded 200 boxes in a single food drive
Additional Information	Languages and availability	Available weekends and after 3:30 p.m.

If You Are Under 16

Do not give up. Build experience now so your application stands out at 16.

Volunteer. Help at school events, food drives or community centers, and track your numbers.
Join a team or club. Teamwork and reliability matter in customer service jobs.
Practice customer service. Greet people, solve small problems and stay calm when it is busy.
Check your state. Some states allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work with permits and hour limits.

Starbucks Stores Inside Other Businesses

Some Starbucks locations sit inside other stores or buildings and may be run by a different employer. That employer can set its own age rules, so check with them, not only with Starbucks.

Mistakes to Avoid

Relying on one website’s age. Third-party sites are not official, so check the posting.
Skipping your state’s rules. The stricter rule applies, and permits vary.
Ignoring hour limits. Plan around school if you are 14 or 15.
Missing the Applicant Insights deadline. Finish it within seven days.
Leaving the resume empty. Use school, volunteer work and numbers.
Typos on your resume. Proofread twice.

Starbucks Application Checklist

Tick each item as you finish. You are ready when the counter reaches 10.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old do you have to be to work at Starbucks?

Starbucks does not list a minimum age on the Careers pages for its hiring process or FAQs. Third-party hiring guides report 16 as the usual minimum for U.S. coffeehouse jobs, and some stores or roles may require 18. Check the posting for the store you want.

Can a 14- or 15-year-old work at Starbucks?

Federal law allows 14- and 15-year-olds to work in many retail and food service jobs with strict hour limits. Whether a Starbucks store hires at that age is up to the store, and Starbucks lists no rule, so check the posting and your state’s laws.

Can a 16-year-old work at Starbucks?

Federal law lets 16-year-olds work unlimited hours in any job not declared hazardous, and third-party guides report 16 as the usual age for coffeehouse jobs. Your state may limit hours or require a work permit.

Do I need a work permit?

It depends on your state. The U.S. Department of Labor says each state has its own rules for minors, so check with your state labor department. Some states require working papers or an employment certificate for workers under 18.

How many hours can a minor work?

For 14- and 15-year-olds, federal limits are 3 hours on a school day, 18 hours in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 hours in a non-school week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day). Federal law sets no hour limit for 16- and 17-year-olds, but states may.

What if my state and federal rules differ?

The Department of Labor says the law that is more protective of the minor applies, so the stricter rule governs.

How old do you have to be to be a shift supervisor?

The Starbucks Careers pages we checked do not list an age. Read the posting for the experience and age it asks for.

Do Starbucks stores inside other businesses follow the same age rule?

Maybe not. A Starbucks inside another store or building may be run by a different employer with its own age rules, so check with that employer.

How do I apply to Starbucks?

Starbucks says to search and apply through its Career Hub, upload a current resume and watch for a confirmation email. If the role needs Applicant Insights, a questionnaire of about 20 minutes, you must finish it within seven days.

How should I prepare for the interview?

Starbucks says to prepare for behavioral questions with specific examples, to prepare 3 to 5 questions for the interviewer, to be genuine and to send a thank-you note within 48 hours.

Conclusion

Starbucks does not publish a minimum age on its Careers pages, and most guides say 16 is the usual starting point. Read the posting, check your state’s rules and permit requirements, build a one-page resume and apply through the Career Hub. Then use the checklist above to stay on track.