Jobs for 15 year olds: who hires, your hours, and what is new at 15

What changes at 15

Not much in the law, and one useful thing. Federal child labor rules treat 14 and 15 year olds the same way, with one exception: a 15 year old who is certified (by the American Red Cross or a similar organization) may work as a lifeguard or swimming instructor at a traditional pool or a water park.

In practice, 15 is also when more employers start to say yes. Some set their minimum at 15, and a 15 year old who applies in spring can be trained and ready when school lets out.

Your hours at 15

A typical after-school shift that fits: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on two weekdays, and a 6 hour shift on Saturday. That is 12 hours, inside the 18 hour school-week limit.

What you can do at work is the same as at 14: register, bagging, stocking, office work, most shop and restaurant jobs, and cooking only on grills with no open flame or fryers that lower and raise the baskets automatically. No power-driven machinery (except office machines), no baking, no ladders, no door-to-door sales.

When federal and state law both apply, the stricter one wins. Many states require a work permit for 15 year olds. Check yours on the Department of Labor's state table and then your state labor department's own site.

Employers that say they hire at 15

We list an employer only when its own careers site states the age. Checked on October 2, 2026:

Lists online claim many more chains hire at 15. Most big restaurant brands are franchises, where each owner sets the age, and job boards report different ages for the same chain. Ask the store. If you are looking at the big names, here is what they actually publish: Chick-fil-A and Target.

How to get hired at 15

1. Pick three places you can reach without a car: walking, biking or a bus you already take.
2. Check each one's careers page for postings open at your age. If there is nothing online, go in.
3. Go in at a quiet time, such as 2 to 4 p.m. on a weekday, and ask for the manager.
4. Say it plainly: "Hi, I'm 15 and looking for a part-time job after school and on weekends. Are you hiring people my age?"
5. Know your hours. Write down when you can work, inside the limits above. Managers ask first.
6. Hand over a one page resume if they say yes. It is the thing most 15 year olds do not bring.

Jobs you can make yourself

Casual babysitting and minor chores around private homes are outside federal child labor rules, so you can start them any time:

• Babysitting. A first aid and CPR class makes parents say yes faster.
• Pet sitting and dog walking. Neighbours who travel need someone every time.
• Yard work and snow shoveling. For a company, under 16 you cannot use power-driven machinery. For a neighbour, agree with your parents what tools you use.
• Tutoring. Help a younger student with the subject you are best at.

Any "online job for 15 year olds" that asks you to pay a fee, buy a starter kit or share a bank account is not a job.

Your first resume

You do not need work history. Put school first (grade, GPA if it helps you, a class or two that fit), then babysitting, volunteering, clubs and sports, each with one line about what you did. You can make your first resume here and download it as a PDF. For a full walk-through, see how to make a resume for your first job.