# How old do you have to be to work at Papa John's?

You have to be at least 16 to work at Papa John's. Most Papa John's locations are independently owned franchises, and each owner sets their own minimum age. State law can raise the age.

Most Papa John's stores are franchised, and each owner sets its own hiring age. The franchise postings we could verify list a minimum age of 16 for in-store team members. We couldn't check Papa John's official careers site (it blocked access) or find a real posting that accepts younger teens.

- Minimum age: 16
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: mostly
- Confidence: Mixed reports
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- In-store team member: 16+
- Delivery driver: null+ (needs a valid driver's license; age not verified)

## By state (youngest possible age)

| State | Age | Work permit |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16 | needed |
| Alaska | 16 | needed |
| Arizona | 16 | no |
| Arkansas | 16 | no |
| California | 16 | needed |
| Colorado | 16 | no |
| Connecticut | 16 | needed |
| Delaware | 16 | needed |
| District of Columbia | 16 | needed |
| Florida | 16 | no |
| Georgia | 16 | no |
| Hawaii | 16 | needed |
| Idaho | 16 | no |
| Illinois | 16 | no |
| Indiana | 16 | no |
| Iowa | 16 | no |
| Kansas | 16 | no |
| Kentucky | 16 | no |
| Louisiana | 16 | needed |
| Maine | 16 | no |
| Maryland | 16 | needed |
| Massachusetts | 16 | needed |
| Michigan | 16 | needed |
| Minnesota | 16 | no |
| Mississippi | 16 | no |
| Missouri | 16 | no |
| Montana | 16 | no |
| Nebraska | 16 | no |
| Nevada | 16 | no |
| New Hampshire | 16 | no |
| New Jersey | 16 | needed |
| New Mexico | 16 | no |
| New York | 16 | needed |
| North Carolina | 16 | needed |
| North Dakota | 16 | no |
| Ohio | 16 | needed |
| Oklahoma | 16 | no |
| Oregon | 16 | no |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | needed |
| Rhode Island | 16 | needed |
| South Carolina | 16 | no |
| South Dakota | 16 | no |
| Tennessee | 16 | no |
| Texas | 16 | no |
| Utah | 16 | no |
| Vermont | 16 | no |
| Virginia | 16 | no |
| Washington | 16 | needed |
| West Virginia | 16 | no |
| Wisconsin | 16 | no |
| Wyoming | 16 | no |

## Questions

**How old do you have to be to work at Papa John's?**
You have to be at least 16 to work at Papa John's. Most Papa John's locations are independently owned franchises, and each owner sets their own minimum age. State law can raise the age.

**Does Papa John's hire 14- or 15-year-olds?**
We couldn't find a real Papa John's posting that accepts 14- or 15-year-olds. Some websites say otherwise, but we couldn't confirm it.

**Can I be a Papa John's delivery driver as a teen?**
You need a valid driver's license and usually your own insured car, so delivery jobs are for older teens and adults. Younger teens can apply for in-store jobs like making pizzas and taking orders.

**Do I need a work permit?**
It depends on your state. Some states require a permit for anyone under 18 and limit school-night hours. Check your state's rules.

## Sources

- Papa John's Crew Member, Eldersburg, MD (franchise: Pie Investments LLC) - Qureos: https://app.qureos.com/jobs/crew-member-1780676227563
- Papa John's Crew Member, Elkridge, MD (franchise: Pie Investments LLC) - Qureos: https://app.qureos.com/jobs/crew-member-1775273213836

Page: https://hiringage.com/papa-johns/ — please cite with a link.