# How old do you have to be to work at Arby's?

You can work at Arby's from age 14 at some locations, but most restaurants hire at 16. Most Arby's locations are independently owned franchises, and each owner sets their own minimum age. State law can raise the age.

Arby's does not publish one company-wide hiring age; its careers site says each franchisee is an independent employer that makes its own hiring decisions. Most crew postings ask for 16+, but at least one franchisee (DRM Inc.) hires 14- and 15-year-olds, with slicing duties limited to 18+.

- Minimum age: 14
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: mostly
- Pay: $8–$14/hour (Crew, 2026 postings (OK $8-14, SC $9-13, IA $9-12; IA minors 14-15 $9-10); varies by state minimum wage)
- Confidence: From job postings
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Crew member / team member: 16+ (Most postings; some franchisees (e.g. DRM Inc. in Iowa) hire at 14 where state law allows)
- Meat slicer duties: 18+ (DRM Inc. posting: slicing only for ages 18+)

## By state (youngest possible age)

| State | Age | Work permit |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14 | needed |
| Alaska | 14 | needed |
| Arizona | 14 | no |
| Arkansas | 14 | no |
| California | 14 | needed |
| Colorado | 14 | no |
| Connecticut | 16 | needed |
| Delaware | 14 | needed |
| District of Columbia | 14 | needed |
| Florida | 14 | no |
| Georgia | 14 | needed |
| Hawaii | 14 | needed |
| Idaho | 14 | no |
| Illinois | 14 | needed |
| Indiana | 14 | no |
| Iowa | 14 | no |
| Kansas | 14 | no |
| Kentucky | 14 | no |
| Louisiana | 14 | needed |
| Maine | 14 | needed |
| Maryland | 14 | needed |
| Massachusetts | 14 | needed |
| Michigan | 14 | needed |
| Minnesota | 14 | no |
| Mississippi | 14 | no |
| Missouri | 14 | needed |
| Montana | 14 | no |
| Nebraska | 14 | needed |
| Nevada | 14 | no |
| New Hampshire | 14 | needed |
| New Jersey | 14 | needed |
| New Mexico | 14 | needed |
| New York | 14 | needed |
| North Carolina | 14 | needed |
| North Dakota | 14 | needed |
| Ohio | 14 | needed |
| Oklahoma | 14 | needed |
| Oregon | 14 | no |
| Pennsylvania | 14 | needed |
| Rhode Island | 14 | needed |
| South Carolina | 14 | no |
| South Dakota | 14 | no |
| Tennessee | 14 | no |
| Texas | 14 | no |
| Utah | 14 | no |
| Vermont | 14 | no |
| Virginia | 14 | needed |
| Washington | 14 | needed |
| West Virginia | 14 | needed |
| Wisconsin | 14 | needed |
| Wyoming | 14 | no |

## Questions

**How old do you have to be to work at Arby's?**
You can work at Arby's from age 14 at some locations, but most restaurants hire at 16. Most Arby's locations are independently owned franchises, and each owner sets their own minimum age. State law can raise the age.

**Does Arby's hire 14-year-olds?**
A few do. One Arby's franchise group (DRM Inc., in Iowa and nearby states) posts that it hires ages 14 and up, and says a child work permit may be required. Most Arby's job postings ask for 16, so check the posting for the restaurant near you.

**What is the usual age to work at Arby's?**
16. Most Arby's crew member postings say you must be at least 16 years old.

**Why does the age change from one Arby's to another?**
Most Arby's restaurants are run by franchise owners, and Arby's says each franchisee is an independent employer that makes its own hiring decisions. Your state's child labor law can also set a higher age or limit hours and tasks for workers under 16.

**Are there jobs at Arby's a teen can't do?**
Yes. Slicing meat is a hazardous task, and at least one franchisee limits it to workers 18 and older. Under-16s also face federal limits on hours, such as no more than 3 hours on a school day.

**How much does Arby's pay teens?**
Postings seen in 2026 ranged from about $8 to $14 an hour, depending on the state. One Iowa franchisee listed $9 to $10 for ages 14-15 and $10 to $11 for ages 16-17.

## Sources

- Team Member - DRM Arby's, Ames, Iowa: https://www.jobtarget.com/jobs/jt-5bv33t0qmj/team-member-ames-iowa
- Crew Member - Arby's, Boiling Springs, SC: https://careers.arbys.com/crew-member/job/198856E27255A62A1CB2EB96B2337222
- Crew Member - Arby's 101st and Memorial, Tulsa, OK: https://www.seasoned.co/job/crew-member-arbys-tulsa-ok_ae48edfe-2253-4785-a205-57d44ac58680_1e44c
- Arby's Careers: https://careers.arbys.com/

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