In Australia, you can generally start at Macca's (McDonald's) at 14 years old, though some locations or state laws might have slight variations, requiring parent/guardian consent for younger applicants to ensure a safe work environment that supports studies. While McDonald's usually hires from 14, some sources suggest 15 is common, so checking with your local store or their official careers site for specific state rules is best, especially in places like ACT where rules can differ.
Employees who are 14 years of age and under require parental consent to commence work by completing a parental permission form. Children under 15 years old must not be engaged to work: Before 6am or after 10pm; and During school hours.
Generally, McDonald's hires people who are 14 years or older. However, it's always a good idea to check with your local Macca's, as some locations might have different age requirements or offer work experience programs for younger teens.
The minimum age to work at McDonald's varies by location, but generally, you can start at 14 or 15 years old, depending on local labor laws and franchise policies, with some places requiring a work permit, while certain roles or late hours (past 10 PM/midnight) often need you to be 18 or older. Always check with your specific local McDonald's for their exact age requirements and available positions, as rules differ between company-owned and franchised locations.
A 15-year-old at Maccas in Australia typically earns around $13 to $15 per hour, depending on whether they are casual (with loading) or part-time, and the specific Fast Food Industry Award rates, with casual rates being higher, around $12.75/hr or more with loading, while part-time base rates might be lower but offer benefits. Rates vary by day (weekends higher) and can be found using the Fair Work Ombudsman's calculator.
Kmart pay for 15-year-olds in Australia varies by award, but it's generally a percentage of the adult rate, often around $12-$14 per hour during weekdays and more on weekends/evenings, with casual roles potentially paying slightly more, though it depends heavily on the specific Retail Award or Enterprise Agreement. For example, some reports mention rates like $12.04/hr in 2020, while others suggest newer rates around $14.70/hr for casual weekday shifts, with higher weekend/after-hours pay.
They aren't yet eligible for the National Minimum Wage, which is £4.81, so their salary should be worked out between themselves and their employers depending on what job they are doing, but it would be good practice and fair to offer at least the minimum wage.
15 best jobs for 13 year olds
Permitted job types
At age 12, jobs are generally limited to low-risk, supervised roles such as newspaper runs, leaflet delivery, babysitting for neighbours or relatives, or assisting in a family-owned shop or farm. Paid roles in industries such as retail or hospitality typically require a higher minimum age.
Employees under the age of 18 are legally restricted to shifts of 8 hours or less and cannot work between midnight and 4.00am.
They will probably know some people that need help raking leaves, or even washing the car. Another popular job for 12 year olds is babysitting. Your neighbours may be going out for dinner and they might have younger children that can't be left alone.
Here are some great options for a 12-year-old kid:
No, a 13-year-old generally cannot work at Kmart because most sources indicate the minimum hiring age is around 15 or 14 years, 9 months, due to child labor laws and company policies, though some Australian Kmart locations might hire slightly younger for specific roles with parental consent and strict supervision, but 15 is the typical age for retail positions.
Is 13 old enough to get a job? Yes, there are some awesome jobs out there that you can do at 13 that involve helping out neighbors, creating content online, and sharing your skills with others. But figuring out how to land a job as a minor can be a bit challenging!
To make $500 as a kid, combine service-based jobs like yard work, car washing, pet sitting, or tutoring with selling items like crafts, baked goods, or unwanted toys at garage sales or online (with parent help). Focus on tasks people pay for, get referrals, and consistently market your services to reach your goal, potentially starting with smaller gigs and scaling up to bigger jobs like painting or power washing.
Children aged 13 years old can do light jobs in the following:
There are plenty of ways for younger kids to make money, including cleaning the house or yard, selling lemonade and other items, or helping neighbors. Teenagers can make money by pet sitting, dog walking, tutoring, babysitting, refereeing, lifeguarding or getting a seasonal job.
A 14-year-old in Australia should get 36.8% of the national minimum wage, which works out to a minimum of $8.86 per hour based on full-time and part-time work. The minimum rate for casual work is $11.09.
9 great first-time jobs for teens
The minimum age to work at McDonald's varies by location, but generally, you can start at 14 or 15 years old, depending on local labor laws and franchise policies, with some places requiring a work permit, while certain roles or late hours (past 10 PM/midnight) often need you to be 18 or older. Always check with your specific local McDonald's for their exact age requirements and available positions, as rules differ between company-owned and franchised locations.
No, Big W generally does not hire 14-year-olds, as their usual minimum age for employment is 15, though local laws and company policies vary, with some fast-food places hiring at 14 in specific areas, but Big W's parent company (Woolworths Group) typically starts at 15 for roles like Coles, making 15 the safer bet for general retail jobs in Australia.
Bunnings pays 15-year-olds around $15.30 per hour as a base rate for full/part-time roles, with casual roles earning a loading (around $18.74/hr including loading as of late 2024) under the General Retail Industry Award. Actual pay varies by state and award updates, but generally aligns with minimum rates for young juniors in retail, with casual loads applied on top of the base rate for younger workers.
You get paid 7.6 hours in Australia because the standard full-time work week is 38 hours, which divides into 7.6 hours per day (38 hours / 5 days), often incorporating unpaid meal breaks within a longer physical workday (like 9-to-5 with 30 mins off). This is the base "ordinary hours" rate, with anything extra typically paid as overtime or managed through arrangements like RDOs (Rostered Days Off).
No, you generally cannot work at Woolworths at 13; their standard minimum age is 15, though some reports suggest they might hire from 14 in certain locations, but 13 is typically too young for supermarkets, with roles often starting at 14 or 15 depending on local laws and store policy.
Generally, no, you cannot work at McDonald's at 13 in the U.S. due to federal child labor laws setting the minimum age at 14 for most non-hazardous jobs, while McDonald's itself often requires 14 or 16 years old and requires parental consent, but in Australia, some locations might hire 13-year-olds for light work, depending on state laws, with parental permission and restrictions on hours.