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

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

Starbucks runs its own US stores (not franchised), but its official careers FAQ does not publish a minimum age. Employee answers and postings consistently say baristas start at 16 and shift supervisors at 18. Starbucks counters inside grocery stores, airports and Targets are 'licensed stores' run by those companies, which set their own rules.

- Minimum age: 16
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: no
- Pay: $15.75–$22.14/hour (Barista, 2026 Montana postings (Missoula $15.75-17.88, Bozeman $19.50-22.14); varies by market)
- Confidence: Mixed reports
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Barista: 16+ (Reported by employees and postings; not stated in Starbucks' official FAQ)
- Shift supervisor: 18+ (Reported by employees; not officially published)

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

**Can you work at Starbucks at 14 or 15?**
Usually not. We could not find any Starbucks source showing it hires under 16. Some websites say Montana stores hire at 14, but Starbucks hasn't confirmed this anywhere we could find.

**How old do you have to be to be a Starbucks barista?**
16 is the age employees and job postings usually give. Starbucks doesn't put an official minimum on its careers FAQ, so check the posting for the store you want. State law can also limit hours and tasks for anyone under 18.

**What about the Starbucks inside Target or a grocery store?**
Those are licensed stores run by that company (for example the grocery chain), not by Starbucks. Their age rules come from that employer, so read that posting.

**How do I apply?**
Apply online at apply.starbucks.com and pick the store you want. Baristas are often asked to be available for a set number of hours each week.

## Sources

- FAQs & Tips - Starbucks Careers: https://careers.starbucks.com/discover-opportunities/faqs-tips/
- How old must you be to work at Starbucks? - Indeed Q&A: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Starbucks/faq/how-old-must-you-be-to-work-at-starbucks?quid=1g4gmpjoat4cr800
- Are there minimum age requirements for specific roles at Starbucks? - Indeed Q&A: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Starbucks/faq/are-there-minimum-age-requirements-for-specific-roles-at-starbucks?quid=1eu7h10583h8h000
- Barista - Store #03437, Missoula, MT: https://apply.starbucks.com/careers/job/481078058641-barista-store-03437-missoula-i-90-reserve-5260-grant-creek-rd-missoula-montana-united-states
- Barista - Store #29718, Bozeman, MT: https://apply.starbucks.com/careers/job/481078022683

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