Places That Hire at 14 in Boston, MA: Key Takeaways
- 14-year-olds in Boston can work in entry-level restaurant jobs such as cashier, busser, cleaner, and limited food prep roles excluding cooking over open flames or fryolators.
- Fast food and fast-casual restaurants like McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Dairy Queen, Subway, Panera Bread, Chipotle, and Panda Express often hire 14-year-olds for these roles.
- Massachusetts sets a $15.00 minimum wage for all workers including minors and restricts 14-year-old work hours to 3 hours on school days and 18 hours per week during the school year, with expanded hours in summer.
Many Boston restaurants offer entry-level roles suitable for 14-year-olds to gain work experience while following state labor laws and safety limits.
This guide explores job types, restaurants hiring youth at 14, work hour restrictions, and resources for young job seekers in Boston.
Employers can find effective strategies for restaurant staff hiring to attract young and compliant workers.
What Types of Jobs Can a 14-Year-Old Get in the Restaurant Industry in Boston, MA?
At age 14 in Boston, typical restaurant positions focus on entry-level, non-hazardous job duties.
Common roles include cashiering where you manage sales transactions, bussing tables by clearing dishes, and performing cleaning tasks around the restaurant.
Limited food preparation is allowed such as operating dishwashers, toasters, and milkshake blenders, but cooking over open flames, operating fryolators, rotisseries, or doing baking is not permitted for 14-year-olds.
Understanding the restrictions and permitted tasks helps ensure safety and compliance with Massachusetts labor laws.
To learn more about the responsibilities and requirements of restaurant roles, check out important restaurant position descriptions.
Employers recruiting for these roles may benefit from our guide on creating restaurant job descriptions effectively.
Fast-Food Places That Hire at 14 in Boston
Several well-known fast-food chains in Boston are open to hiring 14-year-olds in roles that involve customer service and basic food preparation.
McDonald's
McDonald's hires 14-year-olds as crew members to assist with customer orders, cashier positions, and basic food prep compliant with youth labor rules.
See how to succeed in fast-food roles by reading interview tips for fast food workers.
Burger King
Burger King employs young workers for cashiering, dining area cleanup, and other duties that comply with teen work restrictions.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A offers 14-year-olds opportunities in customer service including order taking and food handling consistent with Massachusetts regulations.
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen hires 14-year-olds for cashier roles and simple food prep tasks that follow safety and labor laws.
Subway
Subway welcomes young workers as sandwich artists where they assist in assembling sandwiches and interacting with customers under supervision.
Fast-Casual Restaurants That Hire at 14 in Boston
Fast-casual restaurants also provide suitable jobs that allow 14-year-olds to build skills in customer service and food prep without violating labor laws.
Panera Bread
Panera Bread employs 14-year-olds mostly in cashier and dining area maintenance roles, helping serve customers and keeping the space clean.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle hires 14-year-olds for food preparation and customer service positions while ensuring jobs are in compliance with child labor laws.
Panda Express
Panda Express offers 14-year-olds entry-level jobs like cashiering and simple food prep tasks under close adult supervision.
For employers looking to staff fast-food positions, see our guide about how to hire fast food workers.
Young workers interested in entry roles may also find useful our fast food worker job description page.
How Many Hours Can a 14-Year-Old Work in Boston, MA?
Massachusetts has strict work hour limits for 14-year-olds to balance employment and education.
During the school year, 14-year-olds are allowed to work only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., up to 3 hours on a school day, and a maximum of 18 hours weekly.
On weekends and holidays, they may work up to 8 hours per day but no more than 6 days weekly in total.
During the summer period from July 1 to Labor Day, 14-year-olds can work from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. up to 8 hours daily and 40 hours in a week, also with a 6-day limit.
These regulations ensure teens have sufficient time for schooling and rest while gaining job experience responsibly.
Employers should stay informed on rules and best practices by visiting age requirements in job postings.
Resources for 14-Year-Olds looking for Jobs in Boston
- Massachusetts Attorney General's Fair Labor Division - Working Under 18
- Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards - Youth Employment Permit Information
- U.S. Department of Labor - Child Labor Rules for Employing Youth in Restaurants
Young job seekers and their guardians can better prepare by reviewing common job interview questions and answers for hospitality roles.
Understanding basic cashier duties can also help since cashier positions are common entry jobs; see our cashier job description page.