# How old do you have to be to work at Kroger?

Kroger doesn't publish a minimum age for its entry-level jobs, and the postings we checked don't state one. Some roles do: Cashier, Deli-bakery clerk, Pharmacy tech trainee require 18+. Your state's law sets the floor.

Kroger doesn't publish a minimum hiring age, and its courtesy clerk / bagger postings don't state one: we checked 100 of them in 19 states (Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Smith's, Fry's, King Soopers and other banners), Oct 2026. Some jobs do: cashier postings say 18+ (19 in Idaho, and in Alaska if selling tobacco), and deli-bakery, pharmacy tech trainee and night jobs often ask for 18+; wine stewards must be 21. Stores are company-run, not franchised; your state's child-labor law still applies.

- Minimum age: unknown
- Most locations: unknown
- Franchised: no
- Pay: $13.9–$22.3/hour (Courtesy clerk / bagger postings, Oct 2026: $13.90 (Columbus, OH), $14 (Hardy, VA), $17–17.95 (CA), $17.38–17.63 (WA), $17.40–20.05 (CO), up to $21.55–22.30 (Seattle, WA). Pay is listed mainly in pay-transparency states.)
- Confidence: From job postings
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Courtesy clerk / bagger: null+ (No age on 100 postings in 19 states (Oct 2026))
- Cashier: 18+ ('Minimum 18 years of age / 19 in Idaho / 19 in Alaska if selling tobacco' on most cashier postings (TX, TN, CO, IL, OR, WI, NM…))
- Deli-bakery clerk: 18+ (Smith's (Las Vegas, NV) and Fry's (Phoenix, AZ) postings)
- Pharmacy tech trainee: 18+ (Smith's, Salt Lake City, UT posting)
- Night assistant department leader: 18+ (QFC, Seattle, WA posting)
- Wine steward: 21+ (Indiana postings)

## 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 Kroger?**
Kroger doesn't publish a minimum age for its entry-level jobs, and the postings we checked don't state one. Some roles do: Cashier, Deli-bakery clerk, Pharmacy tech trainee require 18+. Your state's law sets the floor.

**Does Kroger hire 16-year-olds?**
We couldn't confirm it from Kroger itself. The courtesy clerk / bagger postings we checked don't state an age, so ask the store you're applying to. Cashier jobs are 18+.

**Does Kroger hire 14- or 15-year-olds?**
We found no Kroger posting or official page that says it hires 14- or 15-year-olds. Courtesy clerk postings don't state an age, so ask your local store.

**How much does Kroger pay a courtesy clerk?**
Courtesy clerk and bagger postings we saw in October 2026 ranged from about $13.90 an hour (Columbus, Ohio) to $22.30 (Seattle). Pay depends on the state and the store's union contract.

## Sources

- Courtesy Clerk/Grocery Bagger - Kroger, Columbus, OH: https://eluq.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2001/job/238762
- Front End/Courtesy Clerk - QFC, Seattle, WA: https://eluq.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2001/job/238709
- Cashier - King Soopers, Arvada, CO: https://eluq.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2001/job/231468
- Deli-Bakery/Clerk - Smith's, Las Vegas, NV: https://eluq.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2001/job/238346
- Pharmacy/Tech Trainee - Smith's, Salt Lake City, UT: https://eluq.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2001/job/231634
- Beer-Wine-Liquor/Specialty Wine Steward - Kroger, Indianapolis, IN: https://eluq.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2001/job/234931
- Kroger Family of Companies Hiring 18,000 Associates: https://ir.kroger.com/news/news-details/2025/Kroger-Family-of-Companies-Hiring-18000-Associates-for-Roles-that-Enhance-the-Customer-Experience/default.aspx

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