Hiring ages › Grocery & convenience

How old do you have to be to work at Hy-Vee?

You can work at Hy-Vee from age 14 at some locations, but most locations hire at 16. State law can raise the age — pick your state below.

Mixed reports · checked October 2026

Hy-Vee's hiring age policy

Hy-Vee doesn't publish an official minimum age. Reporting says it generally hires at 16, but because stores are run individually, some hire teens as young as 14 (a 2026 Des Moines guide lists Hy-Vee as 14+). We found no Hy-Vee posting stating an age, so ask your local store.

Minimum age by job

JobAgeNote
Courtesy clerk (bagger, carryout, carts)?Some stores hire at 14, others at 16; not stated in postings we found

How much does Hy-Vee pay teens?

$11.13–$18.75 an hour — Courtesy clerk postings: about $11.13-$14 in Austin, MN and $15-$18.75 in Galesburg, IL; varies by state minimum wage

How to apply at Hy-Vee

Apply online through Hy-Vee's careers page or ask at your local store. Under-18s may need a work permit depending on the state.

See Hy-Vee jobs →

Hy-Vee hiring age by state

The youngest age Hy-Vee could hire you at in each state: the company's minimum or the state's, whichever is higher. “✓ seen” means we found a real Hy-Vee posting there accepting that age.

From 14From 16
Show the table for all states
StateYoungest ageWork permitHours at 14–15 (school week)
Alabama14+Needed18 h
Alaska14+Needed18 h
Arizona14+No18 h
Arkansas14+No18 h
California14+Needed18 h
Colorado14+No18 h
Connecticut16+ state lawNeeded—
Delaware14+Needed18 h
District of Columbia14+Needed18 h
Florida14+No15 h
Georgia14+Needed18 h
Hawaii14+Needed18 h
Idaho14+No18 h
Illinois14+Needed18 h
Indiana14+No18 h
Iowa14+No18 h
Kansas14+No18 h
Kentucky14+No18 h
Louisiana14+Needed18 h
Maine14+Needed18 h
Maryland14+Needed18 h
Massachusetts14+Needed18 h
Michigan14+Needed18 h
Minnesota14+No18 h
Mississippi14+No18 h
Missouri14+Needed18 h
Montana14+No18 h
Nebraska14+Needed18 h
Nevada14+No18 h
New Hampshire14+Needed18 h
New Jersey14+Needed18 h
New Mexico14+Needed18 h
New York14+Needed18 h
North Carolina14+Needed18 h
North Dakota14+Needed18 h
Ohio14+Needed18 h
Oklahoma14+Needed18 h
Oregon14+No18 h
Pennsylvania14+Needed18 h
Rhode Island14+Needed18 h
South Carolina14+No18 h
South Dakota14+No18 h
Tennessee14+No18 h
Texas14+No18 h
Utah14+No18 h
Vermont14+No18 h
Virginia14+Needed18 h
Washington14+Needed16 h
West Virginia14+Needed18 h
Wisconsin14+Needed18 h
Wyoming14+No18 h

Get new Hy-Vee and nearby teen jobs

One email when new jobs for your age open near you. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

For teens 13 and older and parents. We only use your email for job alerts — see privacy.

Questions

How old do you have to be to work at Hy-Vee?

You can work at Hy-Vee from age 14 at some locations, but most locations hire at 16. State law can raise the age.

Does Hy-Vee hire 14-year-olds?

Some Hy-Vee stores do. Reporting says Hy-Vee generally hires at 16, but each store makes its own hiring choices, and some take teens as young as 14. A 2026 Des Moines teen-jobs guide lists Hy-Vee as 14+. Ask the store you want to work at.

What job can a teenager do at Hy-Vee?

The usual first job is courtesy clerk: bagging groceries, helping customers take orders to their cars, collecting carts and keeping the store clean. Jobs using knives, slicers or fryers are typically for older workers.

How much does Hy-Vee pay courtesy clerks?

Recent courtesy clerk postings showed about $11-$14 an hour in Austin, Minnesota and $15-$18.75 in Galesburg, Illinois. Pay depends on the store and the state's minimum wage.

How many hours can a 14- or 15-year-old work at Hy-Vee?

Federal law allows 14- and 15-year-olds up to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week (8 a day and 40 a week when school is out), never during school hours. Iowa and other Hy-Vee states can add their own limits.

Other places that hire at 14

Sources

  1. These companies hire 14- and 15-year-olds (Scripps News / Simplemost) (2023) — Reporting: Hy-Vee generally hires at 16; some stores hire as young as 14
  2. Teen Jobs in Des Moines, Iowa (Des Moines Parent, Erin Huiatt) (2026-04) — Lists Hy-Vee as 'Age: 14 years +' (Iowa)
  3. Hy-Vee Le Mars store event listing (2013-02) — One store's 2013 listing: 'Must be at least 16 years of age for employment'
  4. Courtesy Clerk - Hy-Vee Food Stores, Galesburg, IL (2025) — Pay $15.00-$18.75 for courtesy clerk
  5. Courtesy Clerk - Hy-Vee, Austin, MN (2025) — Pay $11.13-$14.00 for courtesy clerk

Last checked October 10, 2026. See a different age at your Hy-Vee? Tell us.