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

You have to be at least 16 to work at Claire's. State law can raise the age.

Claire's has said sales associates must be at least 16, and its store postings say 'Min age 16'. Key-holder and manager roles are commonly reported to need 18, but we didn't find that in an official source. All US stores are company-run.

- Minimum age: 16
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: no
- Pay: $15–$15/hour (Sales Associate, Central NY posting, Nov 2023; varies by state minimum wage)
- Confidence: From job postings
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Sales Associate: 16+
- Key holder / manager: null+ (commonly reported 18; not confirmed officially)

## By state (youngest possible age)

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

## Questions

**How old do you have to be to work at Claire's?**
You have to be at least 16 to work at Claire's. State law can raise the age.

**Does Claire's hire 14 or 15-year-olds?**
We found no Claire's source that hires under 16. Plan on applying when you turn 16.

**What does a 16-year-old do at Claire's?**
Sales associates help customers, keep the store tidy and work the register. Some stores also train associates to do ear piercing.

**How much does Claire's pay?**
A 2023 Sales Associate posting in New York listed $15 an hour. Pay depends on your state and city minimum wage.

## Sources

- Sales Associate age 16+ – Claire's, Central NY (Career.com): https://www.career.com/job/claires/sales-associate-age-16/j202209111315348315177
- Questions and Answers about Claire's Hiring Age – Indeed: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Claire's/faq/hiring-age

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