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

You have to be at least 16 to work at Safeway. State law can raise the age.

Safeway is part of Albertsons Companies, whose standard front-end posting says applicants must be 16 or older (or 18, depending on local/state requirements). Some stores and jobs, such as checker or in-store Starbucks barista, are posted as 18+.

- Minimum age: 16
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: no
- Pay: $16.76–$21.66/hour (Courtesy clerk/bagger range on a Snohomish, WA Safeway posting (Oct 2026), union scale; cashier up to $25.15. Varies by state and union contract.)
- Confidence: From job postings
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Courtesy clerk / bagger: 16+ (Standard Albertsons Companies front-end requirement; 18 in some locations)
- Front-end entry level (cashier, courtesy clerk): 16+ (Or 18 depending on local/state requirements)
- Checker / in-store Starbucks barista: 18+ (Snohomish, WA Safeway posting, 2026)

## 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 Safeway?**
You have to be at least 16 to work at Safeway. State law can raise the age.

**Does Safeway hire 14- or 15-year-olds?**
We found no current Safeway posting that accepts 14- or 15-year-olds. The standard requirement is 16+, so most younger teens will need to wait until 16.

**What job can a 16-year-old get at Safeway?**
The usual starting job is courtesy clerk (bagging groceries, helping customers to their cars, collecting carts, cleaning). Some stores also hire 16- and 17-year-olds as cashiers. Jobs like checker, in-store Starbucks barista or anything involving alcohol may require you to be 18.

**How much does Safeway pay a courtesy clerk?**
It depends on the state and the union contract. A 2026 Safeway posting in Snohomish, Washington listed $16.76–$21.66 an hour for courtesy clerk/bagger and $16.76–$25.15 for cashier. Check the pay listed on the posting for your store.

**Do I need a work permit to work at Safeway at 16?**
That depends on your state, not Safeway. Some states (like California) require a work permit for under-18s; others don't. Check your state's rules and bring any required paperwork when you're hired.

## Sources

- Front End Entry Level – Los Gatos, CA (Safeway) – Albertsons Companies careers: https://eofd.fa.us6.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/777720
- Front End Entry Level – Ahwatukee Foothills Safeway, Phoenix, AZ: https://eofd.fa.us6.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/777861
- Front End Entry Level – Clearview Safeway, Snohomish, WA: https://eofd.fa.us6.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/777667

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