Steady hours, a reliable weekly paycheck, and one of the easiest first jobs to land — grocery stores are almost always hiring teens as baggers, cart attendants, and cashiers. Slide the controls to see what steady shifts could pay.
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From the front lanes to the back aisles, here's the day-to-day.
Same store, different jobs — and different paychecks.
The classic entry role, tips at some stores
More responsibility, handling cash
A specialty counter or department
Grocery stores have some of the lowest barriers of any first job.
Many stores hire baggers and cart attendants at 14 with a work permit. Cashier roles are often 16+ because you may ring up alcohol or tobacco.
If you're under 16, most states require a work/age permit (get it from your school counselor). Bring your ID and Social Security number.
No experience needed — stores hire for reliability and a friendly attitude. Show up on time and you'll get more hours.
From application to your first shift on the front end.
If you're under 16, grab the paperwork from your school counselor first so you're ready to start. Fill in your info, get a parent signature, and have the store sign off on their part.
Big chains (Kroger, Publix, Safeway, Wegmans, Whole Foods) and local grocers near you that are easy to bike or bus to. Getting to work reliably matters as much as getting hired.
Most chains use an online application; after you submit it, walk in and ask the customer-service desk who does the hiring. Showing your face turns a name in a pile into a real candidate.
Clean clothes, a real smile, and wide-open availability (nights and weekends) put you at the top of the pile. The teens who get hired are the ones who can cover the shifts nobody else wants.
They mostly want to know you're reliable, friendly, and can work the shifts they need. Say yes to weekends, make eye contact, and answer honestly — it's a short, low-pressure conversation.
Learn the front end fast, then ask to train on the register or a department to bump your pay. The more stations you can cover, the more hours and higher wage you'll earn.
Stores need coverage on nights and weekends. The more flexible you are, the more likely you get hired.
You'll face long lines and cranky customers. Show you can stay pleasant under pressure.
Mention any sport, club, or chore that proves you're reliable and don't mind being on your feet.
Bend your knees, keep boxes close, and get a partner for heavy cases. Your back will thank you.
Cart runs happen in heat, rain, and snow. Layer up, wear grippy shoes, and watch for moving cars.
On the register, slow down to get the change right. A careful cashier is a trusted cashier.
The questions new teen grocery workers ask most.
Yes — many stores hire 14- and 15-year-olds as baggers or cart attendants, usually with a work permit from your school. During the school year your hours are limited by law (fewer hours, no late nights), but summers and weekends open up more shifts. Cashier positions are usually reserved for 16 and up because you may ring up alcohol or tobacco, which have age rules for the person selling them.
In most states, yes, if you're under 16. You typically get the form from your school counselor or the district office, fill in your details, and have a parent and the employer sign it. Bring a photo ID and your Social Security number when you apply. Some stores will help walk you through the paperwork once they decide to hire you, so ask if you're unsure.
Baggers and cart attendants usually start around $12–14 an hour, and at some stores they can earn tips for carrying groceries out. Cashiers and stockers tend to make a little more, roughly $13–16, because they handle cash and carry more responsibility. Department clerks in the deli, bakery, or produce section often earn the most. The fastest way to move up is to cross-train onto more stations.
Expect mostly evenings, weekends, and after-school shifts, since that's when stores are busiest and adults are less available. If you're a minor, state child-labor laws cap how many hours you can work on school days and how late you can stay. The wider your availability, the more hours you'll be offered — teens who can work Friday and Saturday nights are gold to a scheduler.
Be reliable first — show up on time, every shift, with a good attitude. From there, ask to learn extra stations: cross-train from bagging onto the register, or into a department like the deli, bakery, or produce section. Each new skill makes you more valuable and usually bumps your pay. Stick with it and you can work your way up to a shift lead role.