# How old do you have to be to work at Wendy's?

You can work at Wendy's from age 15 at some locations, but most restaurants hire at 16. Most Wendy's locations are independently owned franchises, and each owner sets their own minimum age. State law can raise the age.

Many Wendy's restaurants are franchised, and Wendy's careers site says each franchisee is solely responsible for its hiring decisions. Wendy's corporate crew postings we checked don't state an age; franchise postings on Wendy's careers site in Pennsylvania and Michigan say staff must be at least 15.

- Minimum age: 15
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: mostly
- Pay: $11–$18.16/hour (Crew postings on wendys-careers.com, Oct 2026: $11-$14 (Columbus/Groveport, OH) to $15.16-$18.16 (Aurora, CO); varies by state)
- Confidence: Mixed reports
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Crew member: 15+ (Some franchisees (Pennsylvania and Michigan postings on wendys-careers.com))

## 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 Wendy's?**
You can work at Wendy's from age 15 at some locations, but most restaurants hire at 16. Most Wendy's locations are independently owned franchises, and each owner sets their own minimum age. State law can raise the age.

**Does Wendy's hire at 14?**
We couldn't confirm it. We found Wendy's franchise postings that accept 15-year-olds, but none we could open that accept 14-year-olds. A franchise owner near you might, so ask the restaurant directly.

**Does Wendy's hire at 15?**
Some do. Franchise postings on Wendy's own careers site for restaurants in Pennsylvania and Michigan say staff must be at least 15. Other locations may require 16.

**How do I apply to Wendy's as a teen?**
Search for 'crew' at wendys-careers.com and pick a restaurant near you; many postings let you apply by chatbot. Ask whether you need a work permit before you start.

## Sources

- Crew Team Member - Wendy's, CDA Foods franchise (Newtown, PA): https://wendys-careers.com/job-search/posting/Crew-Team-Member/50541/
- Crew Member - Wendy's (King of Prussia, PA): https://wendys-careers.com/job-search/posting/Crew-Member/70792/
- CREW MEMBER - Up to $15.25/hr - Wendy's (Sault Sainte Marie, MI): https://wendys-careers.com/job-search/posting/CREW-MEMBER---Up-to-15-25-hr/60184/
- Full Time Crew - Starting at $15/hr - Wendy's (Wixom, MI): https://wendys-careers.com/job-search/posting/Full-Time-Crew---Starting-at-15-hr/60179/
- Crew Member - Wendy's (Columbus, OH): https://wendys-careers.com/job-search/posting/crew-member/212032
- Crew - Breakfast Shift - Wendy's (Framingham, MA): https://wendys-careers.com/job-search/posting/crew---breakfast-shift/210411
- Wendy's Careers: https://wendys-careers.com/

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