Can a 14 year old work at McDonald’s? (Salary, Hours, Position and more)
If you’re a teenager, you might think about getting a part-time job, but when you’re 14, it’s hard to find places that can hire that young.
Fast food restaurants are often where teens start, so you may have been wondering if you could work at McDonald’s at 14. Read on to find out and more!
Can a 14 year old work at McDonald’s?
Some US states do allow you to work at McDonald’s at the age of 14 as long as you have a valid work permit and parental permission. If you were employed by McDonald’s when you were 14, you may be limited in the types of jobs and hours you can apply for. Starting salary is $8-$11, depending on the state.
To learn more about which states allow 14-year-olds to work at McDonald’s, job types, responsibilities, and more, keep reading!
Which states allow you to work at McDonald’s at age 14?
Below is a list of states that allow 14-year-olds to work. However, it’s also worth checking your local state laws, as these can change frequently.
- Alaska
- Indiana
- iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- rhode island
- South Dakota
- the state of Wisconsin
- Wyoming
What type of job can a 14 year old have at McDonald’s?
Unfortunately, McDonald’s limits 14 year olds to the one crew job type, but it’s good entry level work experience.
However, a McDonald’s crew member still has many responsibilities and plays an important role on the team.
What does the crew do at McDonald’s?
Crews are junior McDonald’s employees who are given very specific responsibilities in their job descriptions, including:
- Keep restaurants clean and bathrooms clean (sweeping, mopping, sanitizing)
- Help customers with issues they have at the counter or during their meal
- Welcome customers into the restaurant and be friendly on the floor
- Get what customers need while dining
- Stock items throughout the store, including the front of the house and kitchen, as needed
- Food orders can be prepared in the kitchen as long as you are not using a grill or other electric equipment
- Wash dishes or clear tables and chairs for the next customer
- Other tasks assigned by manager or monitor
How much does a 14 year old make at McDonald’s?
A 14-year-old working at McDonald’s can make anywhere from $8 to $11 an hour, depending on the location.
In addition, there may be other special perks and bonuses to encourage more young people to apply for entry-level positions, such as vacation pay, entry bonuses, etc.
Unfortunately, due to various federal laws regarding how many hours 14-year-olds are allowed to work, there won’t be much pay during the school year.
How many hours per week can a 14-year-old work at McDonald’s?
McDonald’s must follow federal guidelines and laws that limit 14-year-olds to three hours a week on school days.
In addition, the law states that a 14-year-old cannot work more than 8 hours a day if school is not in session, such as during summer vacation.
In addition, 14-year-old students are not allowed to work more than 18 hours a week during the school year and 40 hours a week after the school year ends.
How late can a 14-year-old work at McDonald’s?
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 14-year-olds cannot work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. if it is during the school year.
Besides that, a 14-year-old cannot work before 7am or after 9pm when school is not in session, such as summer vacation.
However, child labor laws vary by state, so it’s important to check your state and determine more specific guidelines.
What are the break requirements for a 14 year old to work at McDonald’s?
A 14-year-old must provide a 30-minute lunch break after working 5 consecutive hours at McDonald’s.
Regardless of specific age or job, any minor who works more than 5 hours must be given a 30-minute break by law.
Also, at McDonald’s you have to punch in before the break and you can’t re-tick until the break is over.
Unfortunately, many states have removed the legal requirement to provide extra breaks, even for minors, so your McDonald’s probably won’t offer any extra 15-minute breaks.
How does a 14-year-old apply for a job at McDonald’s?
McDonald’s makes it possible for everyone to apply for jobs through their website, so you can search for a store location closest to you.
In addition to online, you can walk into your nearest McDonald’s and ask for a paper application to fill out if you want or can’t get online.
However, it is important to remember that if you are a minor under the age of 18, your parent or legal guardian will have to sign or complete parts of your application on your behalf.
Does a 14 year old need a work permit to work at McDonald’s?
Not all 14-year-olds need a work permit before starting to work at McDonald’s, as this varies from state to state.
Unfortunately, there is no federal authorization for work permits for minors, and it is determined by the Department of Labor at the state level.
Also, you can go to your school’s guidance counselor to see if you need a work permit and get a copy to start filling out.
Beyond that, you can also go to your state’s Department of Labor website to see if it is required in your state.
From there, you can download or print a copy of the work permit application to fill out at your convenience.
What information is required to apply for a McDonald’s work permit?
If you are a minor, you will need to fill out certain types of information to apply for work authorization.
First, you must have your parent or legal guardian sign an application form giving you permission to work at McDonald’s.
In addition, you must also sign up for potential McDonald’s locations on your work permit.
In addition, you will need to visit your pediatrician to have them sign and date a certificate stating that you are able to work and in good health.
Finally, you will also need to provide a birth certificate to legally prove your age for the application to be approved.
Unfortunately, if you do not have a copy of your birth certificate, then you will have to contact your state’s vital records office to request that a new copy be mailed or picked up.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether McDonald’s does drug testing, whether McDonald’s pays you every week, and whether Walmart is hiring at 16.
in conclusion
McDonald’s does employ 14-year-olds in some states, but such young people can only apply and be hired to work as entry-level crew members.
Also, minors cannot do hazardous work, which means you will be very limited in what you can do on the job, and you won’t be able to operate a grill.
In addition, there are federal laws that limit the hours 14-year-olds can work during the school week and year, as well as limits on how late they can work.
Subsequently, as child labor laws vary from state to state, additional guidelines for minors may be developed.
Most importantly, if you are over the age of 14, you should consult your state labor department where you live for further guidance before applying for a job at your local McDonald’s.
