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Places That Hire at 14 in San Diego, CA

Discover which restaurants in San Diego hire 14-year-olds and the jobs they can do.

Teen jobs at restaurants in San Diego

Places That Hire at 14 in San Diego, CA: Key Takeaways

  • In San Diego, 14-year-olds can work in non-hazardous restaurant roles such as host/hostess, busser, cashier, and dishwasher.
  • The minimum wage in California is $16.00 per hour as of 2024, applying to all workers including teens.
  • 14-year-olds in California can work limited hours with school session restrictions, generally max 18 hours per week during school and 40 hours when school is out.

Many fast food and fast casual restaurants in San Diego employ 14-year-olds in entry-level positions.

This article covers common job types, popular employers, work hour limits, and valuable resources for young job seekers in San Diego.

What Types of Jobs Can a 14-Year-Old Get in the Restaurant Industry in San Diego, CA?

At 14, teens can work in various non-hazardous roles in restaurants suitable for entry-level experience.

Typical positions include host/hostess greeting and seating guests, bussers clearing tables and assisting servers, cashiers handling transactions, and dishwashers maintaining kitchen cleanliness.

These jobs help develop customer service skills and offer a first work experience in a team environment while complying with child labor laws.

Understanding how to find and hire young workers effectively can be aided by restaurant staff hiring insights designed for employers navigating the hospitality labor market.

Fast-Food Places That Hire at 14 in San Diego, CA

Several fast-food chains in San Diego hire 14-year-olds for crew roles involving food prep and customer service.

McDonald's

McDonald's employs 14-year-olds as crew members working as cashiers and assisting with food preparation tasks.

Chick-fil-A

At Chick-fil-A, team members aged 14 help with customer service and food prep, focusing on fast and friendly service.

Subway

Subway hires 14-year-olds as sandwich artists serving customers and preparing menu items with fresh ingredients.

Fast-food workers often start at entry-level jobs, and learning more about the role can be helpful; see our detailed fast-food worker job description.

Burger King

Burger King offers roles for 14-year-olds as team members performing cashiering duties and assisting in food preparation.

Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen employs young workers for customer service and food prep, such as making ice cream treats and serving guests.

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Fast-Casual Restaurants That Hire at 14 in San Diego, CA

Fast-casual dining restaurants also provide job opportunities suitable for 14-year-olds interested in food service.

Panera Bread

Panera Bread hires associates who assist in customer orders and handling food, offering a dynamic work environment.

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle employs 14-year-olds as crew members responsible for preparing fresh ingredients and serving customers.

Noodles & Company

Noodles & Company hires team members aged 14 to perform cashier and food preparation tasks supporting daily operations.

Employers looking to hire kitchen or food prep staff may find useful strategies in our guide to hiring reliable kitchen staff.

How Many Hours Can a 14-Year-Old Work in San Diego, CA?

California law sets strict working hour limits to prioritize minors' education and health.

When school is in session, 14-year-olds can work up to 3 hours on school days outside class time and up to 8 hours on non-school days, totaling no more than 18 hours weekly.

Allowed work hours during this period are from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., from Labor Day through May 31.

When school is not in session, 14-year-olds may work up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours per week, with work hours extended to 7:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. from June 1 to Labor Day.

These laws ensure minors balance work with rest and schooling effectively.

Resources for 14-Year-Olds looking for Jobs in San Diego, CA

Employers can also learn about background check compliance in California to ensure safe hiring practices for young workers.

FAQs About Places That Hire at 14 in San Diego, CA

Typical roles include host/hostess, busser, cashier, and dishwasher positions, which provide important customer service experience.

Popular fast-food places include McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Subway, Burger King, and Dairy Queen.

14-year-olds can work up to 18 hours per week during school sessions and up to 40 hours when school is not in session, with specific daily and time-of-day restrictions.

Yes, organizations like the California Department of Industrial Relations and Safe At Work California provide guidance and labor law information.

Early work experience helps build customer service skills, responsibility, and time management, which are valuable for future careers. For more career development tips, see building a restaurant career.