# How old do you have to be to work at Food Lion?

Food Lion doesn't publish a minimum age for its entry-level jobs, and the postings we checked don't state one. Your state's law sets the floor.

Food Lion doesn't publish a minimum hiring age. All 247 Food Lion postings we checked (cashier, deli/bakery, perishable, frozen/dairy, seasonal and other store jobs in VA, MD, NC, WV, SC, DE, PA and GA, Oct 2026) say only that candidates "must meet minimum age requirements to perform specific job functions" — none gives a number. Stores are company-run (Ahold Delhaize), not franchised; your state's child-labor law applies.

- Minimum age: unknown
- Most locations: unknown
- Franchised: no
- Pay: $12.8–$18/hour (Starting rates on part-time Sales Associate Cashier postings, Oct 2026: $12.80 (Strasburg, King George, VA), $13.50 (Sterling, Leesburg, VA), $15–16 (most of MD), $18 (Rockville, MD). Posted ranges go up to $19.20–23.05. NC, SC and WV postings don't list pay.)
- Confidence: From job postings
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Sales associate / cashier: null+ (Postings say "must meet minimum age requirements to perform specific job functions"; no number stated (Oct 2026))
- Perishable, deli/bakery, frozen & dairy associate: null+ (Same wording; no number stated)

## By state (youngest possible age)

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

## Questions

**How old do you have to be to work at Food Lion?**
Food Lion doesn't publish a minimum age for its entry-level jobs, and the postings we checked don't state one. Your state's law sets the floor.

**Does Food Lion hire 14- or 15-year-olds?**
We couldn't confirm that any Food Lion store hires 14- or 15-year-olds, and Food Lion's postings don't say. Some tasks, like operating certain equipment or selling alcohol, legally need an older worker, so younger teens will have fewer options.

**How much does Food Lion pay cashiers?**
It depends on the state. Part-time cashier postings we checked in October 2026 started at $12.80–13.50 an hour in Virginia, $15–16 in most of Maryland and $18 in Rockville, Maryland. The pay range is listed on each posting in states that require it.

**How do I apply to Food Lion?**
Apply online at foodlion.careerswithus.com by searching for 'Sales Associate Cashier' near you. If you're under 18, check whether your state requires a work permit.

## Sources

- PT Sales Associate Cashier – Food Lion, Strasburg, VA: https://foodlion.careerswithus.com/job/Retail-Operations/PT-Sales-Associate-Cashier/Strasburg-VA/foodlionrms/553798_external_USA-VA-Strasburg
- PT Sales Associate Cashier – Food Lion, Sterling, VA: https://foodlion.careerswithus.com/job/Retail-Operations/PT-Sales-Associate-Cashier/Sterling-VA/foodlionrms/547818_external_USA-VA-Sterling
- PT Sales Associate Cashier – Food Lion, Frederick, MD: https://foodlion.careerswithus.com/job/Retail-Operations/PT-Sales-Associate-Cashier/Frederick-MD/foodlionrms/552700_external_USA-MD-Frederick
- PT Sales Associate Cashier – Food Lion, Rockville, MD: https://foodlion.careerswithus.com/job/Retail-Operations/PT-Sales-Associate-Cashier/Rockville-MD/foodlionrms/558138_external_USA-MD-Rockville
- Food Lion Careers – job search: https://foodlion.careerswithus.com/search-page

Page: https://hiringage.com/food-lion/ — please cite with a link.