# How old do you have to be to work at Amazon?

You have to be at least 18 to work at Amazon. State law can raise the age.

Every Amazon hourly posting we could check (store lead associates, work-based learning technicians) lists 'Are 18 years of age or older' as a basic qualification. We found no Amazon posting open to anyone under 18. Whole Foods Market hires separately.

- Minimum age: 18
- Most locations: 18
- Franchised: no
- Pay: $20–$null/hour (Minimum starting pay for US full-time core operations roles, announced Sept 2026; part-time and other roles may differ)
- Confidence: From job postings
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Retail Lead Associate (Amazon stores): 18+
- Work Based Learning technician (data centers): 18+
- Warehouse / fulfillment associate: null+ (These postings live on hiring.amazon.com, which we couldn't access to verify)

## By state (youngest possible age)

| State | Age | Work permit |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 18 | no |
| Alaska | 18 | no |
| Arizona | 18 | no |
| Arkansas | 18 | no |
| California | 18 | no |
| Colorado | 18 | no |
| Connecticut | 18 | no |
| Delaware | 18 | no |
| District of Columbia | 18 | no |
| Florida | 18 | no |
| Georgia | 18 | no |
| Hawaii | 18 | no |
| Idaho | 18 | no |
| Illinois | 18 | no |
| Indiana | 18 | no |
| Iowa | 18 | no |
| Kansas | 18 | no |
| Kentucky | 18 | no |
| Louisiana | 18 | no |
| Maine | 18 | no |
| Maryland | 18 | no |
| Massachusetts | 18 | no |
| Michigan | 18 | no |
| Minnesota | 18 | no |
| Mississippi | 18 | no |
| Missouri | 18 | no |
| Montana | 18 | no |
| Nebraska | 18 | no |
| Nevada | 18 | no |
| New Hampshire | 18 | no |
| New Jersey | 18 | no |
| New Mexico | 18 | no |
| New York | 18 | no |
| North Carolina | 18 | no |
| North Dakota | 18 | no |
| Ohio | 18 | no |
| Oklahoma | 18 | no |
| Oregon | 18 | no |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | no |
| Rhode Island | 18 | no |
| South Carolina | 18 | no |
| South Dakota | 18 | no |
| Tennessee | 18 | no |
| Texas | 18 | no |
| Utah | 18 | no |
| Vermont | 18 | no |
| Virginia | 18 | no |
| Washington | 18 | no |
| West Virginia | 18 | no |
| Wisconsin | 18 | no |
| Wyoming | 18 | no |

## Questions

**How old do you have to be to work at Amazon?**
You have to be at least 18 to work at Amazon. State law can raise the age.

**Can a 16- or 17-year-old work at an Amazon warehouse?**
No. We found no Amazon warehouse or hourly job open to anyone under 18. Federal law also bars minors from many warehouse tasks, such as running forklifts and powered pallet jacks.

**How much does Amazon pay at the start?**
In September 2026, Amazon said minimum starting pay for full-time US operations roles is $20 an hour, with average pay of nearly $24. Your pay depends on location and shift.

**What can I do before I turn 18?**
Get work experience at a grocery store, restaurant or retailer that hires at 16. You can apply to Amazon once you turn 18.

## Sources

- Retail Lead Associate (Reduced-Time), Roseville, CA (amazon.jobs): https://www.amazon.jobs/en/jobs/10504040/retail-lead-associate-reduced-time-customer-experience-operations
- Work Based Learning Program Data Center Operations Technician, Berwick, PA (amazon.jobs): https://www.amazon.jobs/en/jobs/10536759/work-based-learning-program-data-center-operations-technician
- Amazon raises minimum starting pay for full-time employees to $20/hour: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/amazon-raises-minimum-starting-pay-adds-grocery-banking-benefits

Page: https://hiringage.com/amazon/ — please cite with a link.