what age does walmart hire

Walmart typically hires at age 16 for most entry-level store positions across the U.S., a policy consistently confirmed by official guidelines and employee discussions.

Minimum Age Breakdown

Walmart's hiring age aligns with federal labor laws and state restrictions on selling alcohol/tobacco, making 16 the standard entry point.

• 16+ : Cashier, stocker, sales associate, cart attendant (yellow badge required for minors; no restricted sales).

• 18+ : Management trainee, forklift operation, some supervisory roles due to safety/legal rules.

• Sam's Club : Starts at 18, not 16 like Walmart stores.

No hires under 16—federal FLSA allows 14 for limited jobs, but Walmart opts for 16 nationwide.

State Variations & Real Experiences

Alcohol sales rules vary —e.g., some states let 16/17-year-olds cashier if no spirits involved (CA, GA), but most require 18+.

Reddit threads from r/walmart (2023-2025) echo this: Users confirm "16" repeatedly, with teens asking about eligibility and getting quick yeses for part-time.

"Usually 16. You cannot take any full-time position until 18." – Experienced Walmart employee[r/walmart, 2016, still relevant].

Locations hire under-18s often for flexible hours, though advancement waits till 18.

Application Tips (2026 Update)

Apply online at careers.walmart.com—no age listed upfront, but assessment filters it.

Expect $12-17/hour starting for 16-year-olds; recent trends show demand for youth hires amid retail staffing crunches.

Position Type| Min Age| Restrictions
---|---|---
Entry-Level Store| 16| No alcohol/tobacco sales13
Equipment/Supervisory| 18| Safety & state laws57
Sam's Club| 18| All roles3

TL;DR : 16 for Walmart stores, 18 for advanced/Sam's —unchanged into 2026 per latest sources.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.