HiringAgeKroger's hiring age policy
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 by job
| Job | Age | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Courtesy clerk / bagger | ? | 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 |
How much does Kroger pay teens?
$13.9–$22.3 an hour
How to apply at Kroger
Search and apply online at Kroger's careers site (jobs.kroger.com, which covers all Kroger banners). Under-18s may need a work permit depending on the state.
- Tuition reimbursement up to $21,000 for part-time and full-time associates (per Kroger, 2025)
Kroger hiring age by state
Show the table for all states
| State | Youngest age | Work permit | Hours at 14–15 (school week) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ? | — | — |
| Alaska | ? | — | — |
| Arizona | ? | — | — |
| Arkansas | ? | — | — |
| California | ? | — | — |
| Colorado | ? | — | — |
| Connecticut | ? | — | — |
| Delaware | ? | — | — |
| District of Columbia | ? | — | — |
| Florida | ? | — | — |
| Georgia | ? | — | — |
| Hawaii | ? | — | — |
| Idaho | ? | — | — |
| Illinois | ? | — | — |
| Indiana | ? | — | — |
| Iowa | ? | — | — |
| Kansas | ? | — | — |
| Kentucky | ? | — | — |
| Louisiana | ? | — | — |
| Maine | ? | — | — |
| Maryland | ? | — | — |
| Massachusetts | ? | — | — |
| Michigan | ? | — | — |
| Minnesota | ? | — | — |
| Mississippi | ? | — | — |
| Missouri | ? | — | — |
| Montana | ? | — | — |
| Nebraska | ? | — | — |
| Nevada | ? | — | — |
| New Hampshire | ? | — | — |
| New Jersey | ? | — | — |
| New Mexico | ? | — | — |
| New York | ? | — | — |
| North Carolina | ? | — | — |
| North Dakota | ? | — | — |
| Ohio | ? | — | — |
| Oklahoma | ? | — | — |
| Oregon | ? | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | ? | — | — |
| Rhode Island | ? | — | — |
| South Carolina | ? | — | — |
| South Dakota | ? | — | — |
| Tennessee | ? | — | — |
| Texas | ? | — | — |
| Utah | ? | — | — |
| Vermont | ? | — | — |
| Virginia | ? | — | — |
| Washington | ? | — | — |
| West Virginia | ? | — | — |
| Wisconsin | ? | — | — |
| Wyoming | ? | — | — |
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.
Similar employers
- 14+PublixGrocery & convenience
- 18+ALDIGrocery & convenience
- 14+Hy-VeeMost locations 16+
- 14+FarewayGrocery & convenience
- 15+WegmansGrocery & convenience
- 16+SafewayGrocery & convenience
- 16+AlbertsonsGrocery & convenience
- 16+Giant EagleGrocery & convenience
Sources
- Courtesy Clerk/Grocery Bagger - Kroger, Columbus, OH —
- Front End/Courtesy Clerk - QFC, Seattle, WA —
- Cashier - King Soopers, Arvada, CO —
- Deli-Bakery/Clerk - Smith's, Las Vegas, NV —
- Pharmacy/Tech Trainee - Smith's, Salt Lake City, UT —
- Beer-Wine-Liquor/Specialty Wine Steward - Kroger, Indianapolis, IN —
- Kroger Family of Companies Hiring 18,000 Associates —