Hiring ages › Fast food & restaurants

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 — pick your state below.

Mixed reports · checked October 2026

Wendy's hiring age policy

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 by job

14
15
16
17
18+
15Crew member
JobAgeNote
Crew member15+Some franchisees (Pennsylvania and Michigan postings on wendys-careers.com)

How much does Wendy's pay teens?

$11–$18.16 an hour — Crew postings on wendys-careers.com, Oct 2026: $11-$14 (Columbus/Groveport, OH) to $15.16-$18.16 (Aurora, CO); varies by state

How to apply at Wendy's

Search crew jobs on Wendy's careers site (many apply through a chatbot) or ask at your local restaurant. Under-18s may need a work permit, depending on the state.

See Wendy's jobs →

Wendy's hiring age by state

The youngest age Wendy's could hire you at in each state: the company's minimum or the state's, whichever is higher. “✓ seen” means we found a real Wendy's posting there accepting that age.

From 15From 16✓ Seen in a posting
Show the table for all states
StateYoungest ageWork permitHours at 14–15 (school week)
Alabama15+Needed18 h
Alaska15+Needed18 h
Arizona15+No18 h
Arkansas15+No18 h
California15+Needed18 h
Colorado15+No18 h
Connecticut16+ state lawNeeded—
Delaware15+Needed18 h
District of Columbia15+Needed18 h
Florida15+No15 h
Georgia15+Needed18 h
Hawaii15+Needed18 h
Idaho15+No18 h
Illinois15+Needed18 h
Indiana15+No18 h
Iowa15+No18 h
Kansas15+No18 h
Kentucky15+No18 h
Louisiana15+Needed18 h
Maine15+Needed18 h
Maryland15+Needed18 h
Massachusetts15+Needed18 h
Michigan15+ ✓ seenNeeded18 h
Minnesota15+No18 h
Mississippi15+No18 h
Missouri15+Needed18 h
Montana15+No18 h
Nebraska15+Needed18 h
Nevada15+No18 h
New Hampshire15+Needed18 h
New Jersey15+Needed18 h
New Mexico15+Needed18 h
New York15+Needed18 h
North Carolina15+Needed18 h
North Dakota15+Needed18 h
Ohio15+Needed18 h
Oklahoma15+Needed18 h
Oregon15+No18 h
Pennsylvania15+ ✓ seenNeeded18 h
Rhode Island15+Needed18 h
South Carolina15+No18 h
South Dakota15+No18 h
Tennessee15+No18 h
Texas15+No18 h
Utah15+No18 h
Vermont15+No18 h
Virginia15+Needed18 h
Washington15+Needed16 h
West Virginia15+Needed18 h
Wisconsin15+Needed18 h
Wyoming15+No18 h

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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.

Other places that hire at 15

Sources

  1. Crew Team Member - Wendy's, CDA Foods franchise (Newtown, PA) (2026-10) — 'Applicants should be at least 15 years of age' (Pennsylvania; older posting, still online)
  2. Crew Member - Wendy's (King of Prussia, PA) (2026-10) — 'All employees must be at least 15 years of age' (Pennsylvania)
  3. CREW MEMBER - Up to $15.25/hr - Wendy's (Sault Sainte Marie, MI) (2026-10) — 'All restaurant staff must be at least 15 years of age' (Michigan)
  4. Full Time Crew - Starting at $15/hr - Wendy's (Wixom, MI) (2026-10) — 'All restaurant staff must be at least 15 years of age' (Michigan)
  5. Crew Member - Wendy's (Columbus, OH) (2026-10) — Pay $11.00-$14.00; no age stated
  6. Crew - Breakfast Shift - Wendy's (Framingham, MA) (2026-10) — Pay $15.00-$18.00; perks (free meals, 401k); no age stated
  7. Wendy's Careers (2026-10) — Franchisees are independent and solely responsible for employment decisions

Last checked October 10, 2026. See a different age at your Wendy's? Tell us.