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

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

Popeyes restaurants are almost all run by independent franchisees, and each one sets its own hiring age. The postings we could verify ask for crew members to be at least 16; we found no posting that hires 14- or 15-year-olds.

- Minimum age: 16
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: mostly
- Confidence: From job postings
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Team member / crew member: 16+ (Franchisee postings in Virginia and North Carolina)
- Shift or restaurant manager: null+ (Not stated in the postings we checked)

## 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 Popeyes?**
You have to be at least 16 to work at Popeyes. Most Popeyes locations are independently owned franchises, and each owner sets their own minimum age. State law can raise the age.

**Does Popeyes hire 14 or 15-year-olds?**
We couldn't find any real Popeyes posting that accepts 14- or 15-year-olds. Some franchise postings tell 15-year-olds to apply again once they turn 16. Your state's law can also set extra limits on hours and duties for workers under 16.

**What does a Popeyes team member do?**
Team members take orders at the counter or drive-thru, handle payments, pack orders and keep the dining room and kitchen clean. Some cooking and fryer jobs may be limited for younger teens under child labor rules.

**Do I need a work permit to work at Popeyes at 16?**
It depends on your state. Some states require working papers or a work permit for anyone under 18, and others don't. Your school counselor or state labor department can tell you what you need.

## Sources

- Popeyes Crew Member - Davis Express (Prince George, VA): https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/3452350
- Crew Member - Wildor Restaurant Group, Popeyes franchisee (NC): https://app.qureos.com/jobs/crew-member-1773456052702

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