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

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

Whataburger team member postings we checked, from both company and franchise restaurants in Texas, require applicants to be 16 or older. We found no official or posted policy hiring 14- or 15-year-olds.

- Minimum age: 16
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: no
- Confidence: From job postings
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Team member: 16+ (Texas postings (Austin, Seagoville))
- Team leader / manager: null+ (Not stated in the postings we checked)

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

**Does Whataburger hire 15-year-olds?**
We couldn't find any real Whataburger posting or official page that hires 15-year-olds. Plan on applying once you turn 16. Your state's law can also limit the hours and tasks of younger workers.

**Do I need a work permit to work at Whataburger at 16?**
It depends on your state. Texas doesn't issue state work permits, but some other states require working papers for anyone under 18. Your school counselor or state labor department can tell you what you need.

**Does Whataburger offer anything for students?**
Whataburger's careers site lists flexible schedules and college scholarships among its benefits. Ask the manager how the scholarship works at your restaurant.

## Sources

- Team Member - Whataburger, 601 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX: https://seasoned.co/job/team-member-whataburger-austin-tx_3163c49f-8487-4123-afe2-521496e34a3e
- Team Member - Whataburger of Mesquite, Inc. (Seagoville, TX): https://www.jobera.com/job/mesquite-team-member-7e4c9418/
- Whataburger Careers: https://careers.whataburger.com/

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