Places That Hire at 15 in Lexington-Fayette, KY: Key Takeaways
- 15-year-olds in Lexington-Fayette, KY can work in entry-level restaurant jobs such as cashier, host/hostess, or dining room attendant earning $8-$10/hour.
- Fast-food chains like McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Burger King, Wendy's, and KFC hire 15-year-olds for customer service and food prep roles.
- Kentucky law limits 15-year-olds to 3 hours on school days and 8 hours on non-school days, with max 18 hours/week during school and 40 hours/week otherwise.
Many restaurants in Lexington-Fayette offer jobs to 15-year-olds who want to gain early work experience in customer service.
For employers looking to hire young staff, our restaurant staff hiring guide offers useful tips.
This article covers accessible job types, popular employers, working hour restrictions, and helpful local resources.
What Types of Jobs Can a 15-Year-Old Get in the Restaurant Industry in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
At 15, typical restaurant jobs include entry-level roles focused on interacting with customers and supporting daily operations.
Popular positions include cashier, host/hostess, dining room attendant, and sometimes basic food preparation tasks under supervision.
The work involves tasks like seating guests, taking orders, handling payments, and ensuring dining areas are clean and welcoming.
These roles allow teens to develop customer service skills and workplace responsibility early.
Learn more about the hostess job description and tips to excel in this role.
Fast-Food Places That Hire at 15 in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Several major fast-food chains in Lexington-Fayette hire 15-year-olds for crew or team member roles involving customer service and food handling.
McDonald's
McDonald's hires 15-year-olds as crew members to assist with food prep, order taking, and providing friendly customer service.
Explore the fast food worker job description to better understand this role.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A employs 15-year-old team members focusing on customer interaction and maintaining high restaurant cleanliness standards.
Burger King
Burger King offers jobs for cashier and food preparation helping keep operations running efficiently with a customer-first approach.
Wendy's
Wendy's hires crew members aged 15 to take orders, prepare food, and maintain the dining space.
KFC
KFC provides entry roles for 15-year-olds involving customer service tasks and food handling under supervision.
Employers looking to hire crew can check our how to hire a fast food worker spotlight for insights.
Fast-Casual Restaurants That Hire at 15 in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Fast-casual restaurants in Lexington-Fayette also welcome 15-year-olds to work in service and prep roles.
Panera Bread
Panera Bread hires associates as cashiers and dining room attendants aiding customer orders and dining environment upkeep.
Culver's
Culver's offers team member positions involving customer service and food preparation for younger workers.
Raising Cane's
Raising Cane's hires 15-year-olds for crew roles focused on customer interaction and restaurant cleanliness.
Consider reading the restaurant positions descriptions spotlight for more on common hospitality roles.
How Many Hours Can a 15-Year-Old Work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Kentucky state law sets strict limits on work hours for 14 and 15-year-olds to protect their education and health.
When school is in session, 15-year-olds may work up to 3 hours per school day and up to 18 hours per week maximum.
On non-school days, they can work up to 8 hours, but total weekly hours during school cannot exceed 18.
During school breaks or when school is not in session, they may work up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.
Permitted work hours run from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except from June 1 to Labor Day when hours are extended to 9:00 p.m.
These regulations align with federal child labor laws to ensure safe, balanced work opportunities for teenagers.
Employers should be aware of these regulations while scheduling younger workers, as explained in age requirements for job postings.
Resources for 15-Year-Olds looking for Jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
- Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet: Wages and Hours
- Kentucky League of Cities: Child Labor Laws and Summer Hiring
- Minimum-Wage.org: Child Labor Laws in Kentucky 2025