# How old do you have to be to work at Stop & Shop?

You can work at Stop & Shop from age 15 at some locations, but most locations hire at 16. State law can raise the age.

A 2023 report citing Stop & Shop's job-application FAQ said the minimum age was 15 in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and 16 in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Stop & Shop's current postings don't state an age, so we couldn't confirm this. Stores are company-run (Ahold Delhaize), not franchised.

- Minimum age: 15
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: no
- Confidence: Mixed reports
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Front-end clerk / courtesy clerk: 15+ (MA and RI per 2023 report citing company FAQ; 16 in NY, CT, NJ. Not verified on current postings)
- Distribution center clerk: 18+ (Assonet, MA distribution center postings, 2026)

## By state (youngest possible age)

| State | Age | Work permit |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15 | needed |
| Alaska | 15 | needed |
| Arizona | 15 | no |
| Arkansas | 15 | no |
| California | 15 | needed |
| Colorado | 15 | no |
| Connecticut | 16 | needed |
| Delaware | 15 | needed |
| District of Columbia | 15 | needed |
| Florida | 15 | no |
| Georgia | 15 | needed |
| Hawaii | 15 | needed |
| Idaho | 15 | no |
| Illinois | 15 | needed |
| Indiana | 15 | no |
| Iowa | 15 | no |
| Kansas | 15 | no |
| Kentucky | 15 | no |
| Louisiana | 15 | needed |
| Maine | 15 | needed |
| Maryland | 15 | needed |
| Massachusetts | 15 | needed |
| Michigan | 15 | needed |
| Minnesota | 15 | no |
| Mississippi | 15 | no |
| Missouri | 15 | needed |
| Montana | 15 | no |
| Nebraska | 15 | needed |
| Nevada | 15 | no |
| New Hampshire | 15 | needed |
| New Jersey | 15 | needed |
| New Mexico | 15 | needed |
| New York | 15 | needed |
| North Carolina | 15 | needed |
| North Dakota | 15 | needed |
| Ohio | 15 | needed |
| Oklahoma | 15 | needed |
| Oregon | 15 | no |
| Pennsylvania | 15 | needed |
| Rhode Island | 15 | needed |
| South Carolina | 15 | no |
| South Dakota | 15 | no |
| Tennessee | 15 | no |
| Texas | 15 | no |
| Utah | 15 | no |
| Vermont | 15 | no |
| Virginia | 15 | needed |
| Washington | 15 | needed |
| West Virginia | 15 | needed |
| Wisconsin | 15 | needed |
| Wyoming | 15 | no |

## Questions

**How old do you have to be to work at Stop & Shop?**
You can work at Stop & Shop from age 15 at some locations, but most locations hire at 16. State law can raise the age.

**Can a 15-year-old work at Stop & Shop?**
Possibly in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, where Stop & Shop was reported to hire at 15. Store jobs like courtesy clerk or front-end clerk are the likely options. It's not guaranteed: each store decides based on its needs and state law.

**Does Stop & Shop hire 14-year-olds?**
We found no evidence that Stop & Shop hires 14-year-olds in any state.

**Do I need working papers to work at Stop & Shop?**
If you're under 18 in states like Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut or New Jersey, yes, the state requires a work permit (working papers) for minors. Your school or state labor department issues them.

## Sources

- Places That Hire at 14 and 15 (First Quarter Finance): https://firstquarterfinance.com/places-that-hire-at-14-and-15/
- Stop & Shop Careers: https://stopandshop.careerswithus.com/

Page: https://hiringage.com/stop-and-shop/ — please cite with a link.