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

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

Every US Subway is locally owned and operated by a franchisee who sets the hiring age. The Subway postings we could verify that state an age ask for 16; many postings don't list an age at all, and we found no verifiable posting that hires 14- or 15-year-olds.

- Minimum age: 16
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: mostly
- Pay: $10–$16/hour (Sandwich Artist postings seen Oct 2026: $10-$11 plus tips (Rexburg, ID), from $15 (Freeport, IL), up to $16 (Fairbanks, AK))
- Confidence: Mixed reports
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Sandwich Artist / team member: 16+ (Postings in Idaho and Illinois)

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

**Does Subway hire 14- or 15-year-olds?**
We couldn't find a real Subway posting that hires at 14 or 15. It's not impossible, since owners set their own rules, but plan on 16 unless a local store tells you otherwise.

**What does a Subway Sandwich Artist do?**
You make sandwiches and salads to order, run the register, restock and clean. Some slicers and ovens may be off-limits for younger teens under child labor rules.

**Do I need a work permit for Subway?**
In some states, yes, if you're under 18. Your school counselor or state labor department can tell you what paperwork you need.

## Sources

- Sandwich Artist - Subway, HB Boys franchise (Rexburg, ID): https://www.workstream.us/j/ad767d9d/hb-boys/rexburg-40063/sandwich-artist-c35fa9fe?locale=en
- Team Member - Freeport 3043 Subway Restaurant (Freeport, IL): https://www.workstream.us/j/082f7a4d/subway/freeport-24600/team-member-freeport-3043-subway-restaurant-f5e4b77d?locale=en
- Sandwich Artist - Subway #12231 (Fairbanks, AK): https://www.workstream.us/j/c8fee69e/subway/fairbanks-38411/sandwich-artist-628b33de?locale=en
- My Subway Career: https://mysubwaycareer.com/

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