# How old do you have to be to work at Dairy Queen?

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

Dairy Queen stores are run by independent owners who set their own hiring age. Most postings we checked ask for 16, but some stores, such as one in St. Peter, Minnesota, hire from 14.

- Minimum age: 14
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: mostly
- Pay: $10–$15/hour (Crew postings seen Oct 2026: $10-$15 (Sanford, NC), $11-$14 (Livonia, MI; Cincinnati, OH), up to $13.50 (Vincennes, IN))
- Confidence: From job postings
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Crew member: 14+ (Some stores, e.g. St. Peter, MN (daytime staff 16+))
- Crew / team member: 16+ (Most postings, e.g. MI, OH, NC, IN)

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

**Does Dairy Queen hire at 14?**
Some do. A Dairy Queen in St. Peter, Minnesota posted jobs for ages 14 and up. Most other postings we found ask for 16, since each owner sets its own rule.

**What can a 14-year-old do at Dairy Queen?**
Each store decides your duties, but federal law keeps 14- and 15-year-olds away from most cooking, fryers and slicers and limits their hours. Your state may add more rules.

**Do I need a work permit for Dairy Queen?**
It depends on your state. Some states require working papers for anyone under 16 or 18. Ask your school counselor or state labor department.

## Sources

- F/T or P/T Crew - Dairy Queen (St Peter, MN): https://www.workstream.us/j/960d3448/dairy-queen/st-peter-47814/f-t-or-p-t-crew-e9214459?locale=en
- Crew Member - Dairy Queen Middlebelt (Livonia, MI): https://www.workstream.us/j/58e2af71/dairy-queen/livonia-63833/crew-member-94b56eb7?locale=en
- Team Member - Dairy Queen Grill & Chill Colerain (Cincinnati, OH): https://www.workstream.us/j/4dcae751/dairy-queen-grill-and-chill/cincinnati-44487/team-member-5549c9bd?locale=en
- Service Team Member (AM/PM) - Dairy Queen (Sanford, NC): https://www.workstream.us/j/d5eba675/dairy-queen/sanford-5091/service-team-member-am-pm-f61d7c7b?locale=en
- Cashier - Dairy Queen (Vincennes, IN): https://www.workstream.us/j/1f6da92b/dairy-queen/vincennes-35571/cashier-65d63e78?locale=en

Page: https://hiringage.com/dairy-queen/ — please cite with a link.