Does Target Hire 16-Year-Olds in 2024? The Complete Teen Guide

As a retail industry expert with over 10 years of experience, I‘m often asked by teens and parents – "Does Target hire 16-year-olds?"

The answer is yes! With over 1,900 stores across the United States, Target is one of the largest employers of teenagers seeking their first job.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll cover everything a 16-year-old needs to know about getting a job at Target, from available positions to wages and requirements.

Overview: Target is a Great First Job for 16-Year-Olds

Working at Target can provide a 16-year-old with valuable job skills and experience. As a responsible Fortune 500 company, Target offers better pay, benefits, and training compared to many other entry-level roles for teenagers.

Here are a few key advantages I‘ve observed for teens working at Target:

• Higher starting wage – $15 per hour minimum, exceeding federal and most state minimums for teenage workers.
• Development opportunities – Training programs to build leadership, communication, teamwork, and other career skills.
• Advancement potential – Target promotes 80% of store management from within the company.
• Tuition assistance – Up to $5,250 per year available for college tuition costs.
• Flexible scheduling – Target works with students on balancing school and job commitments.

In 2022, Target employed over 350,000 team members across the United States, including many ages 16 to 19. With over 300,000 workers under age 25, Target recognizes the value of investing in the growth of teenage employees.

But what positions are available to 16-year-olds? What are the hourly wages and job responsibilities? Let‘s explore what a 16-year-old can expect working at Target.

What Positions Are Available to 16-Year-Olds at Target?

Target offers a variety of front-end and salesfloor roles ideal for a 16-year-old‘s first job. Here are some of the most common positions I see teenagers hired for:

Cashier

One of the most popular starter roles for 16-year-olds at Target is cashier. Cashiers assist guests with purchases, operate registers, bag items, process payments, and maintain their work area. It involves excellent customer service skills and basic math abilities.

According to Target‘s website, the average starting pay for cashiers is $15 – $21 per hour. The cashier role can teach communication, focus, attention to detail, and money handling skills.

Salesfloor Team Member

Salesfloor team members help customers find items, stock shelves, check inventory, and keep the store clean and organized. It‘s an active role with new tasks every day to help you build time management and prioritization abilities.

The current starting pay for salesfloor team members is $15 per hour. You‘ll become knowledgeable about store products and gain valuable teamwork experience.

Food Service Team Member

If you enjoy food service, Target food service team members prepare hot and cold items, coffee, and other beverages at Target Café locations. You‘ll operate kitchen equipment, follow food safety procedures, and maintain cleanliness.

Pay starts at $15 per hour for food service team members. It‘s a chance to improve your culinary skills and customer service in a fast-paced environment.

Fulfillment Team Member

As a fulfillment team member, you‘ll pick, pack and ship online orders from the store for drive up, Order Pickup and Shipt. Starting pay is $15 – $19 per hour. You can build your time management, organization, and communication abilities.

Cart Attendant

The cart attendant brings carts into the store, keeps them clean, assists guests with carrying items, and maintains the store‘s cleanliness. It‘s an active, fast-paced role starting at $15 per hour that keeps you moving.

Hourly Wages for 16-Year-Old Employees

Beyond the standard $15 per hour starting rate, Target offers wages that reflect your skills and experience:

As of January 2022, Target‘s minimum wage is $15 per hour for all team members. This exceeds the federal minimum wage for the first 90 calendar days of employment for workers under age 20:

Target also offers merit-based raises, bonuses, and increased wages for taking on specialized roles or leadership positions as you gain experience.

The competitive pay makes Target a great option for 16-year-olds compared to minimum wage fast food or grocery store positions.

What Hours Are 16-Year-Olds Allowed to Work?

While federal law sets the minimum wage for teenage workers, state laws determine the maximum hours 16-year-olds are permitted to work.

Most states allow 16-year-olds to work up to 8 hours per day with no more than 6 days per week. Many states also restrict working hours during school nights.

For example, in California 16-year-olds are limited to:

• 4 hours on any schoolday
• 8 hours on any non-schoolday or weekend day
• 48 hours total per week

Check your state labor department‘s child labor laws to understand the restrictions. Target closely follows all hourly limitations for 16-year-old team members.

What Training and Growth Opportunities Are Provided?

Target offers excellent training programs and opportunities for advancement to help teens gain the most from their early work experiences.

For example, cashiers receive hands-on training on customer service, using the register system, merchandising, and theft prevention procedures. Salesfloor team members learn about inventory management, merchandising, and Target store knowledge.

All team members can access training resources through Target‘s MyDevelopment portal. Additional programs like Leaders in Training help build leadership abilities to advance your career.

Eighty percent of Target‘s store leadership started as hourly team members. The company supports promoting from within and gives teen employees clear paths to grow into management roles.

What Benefits Are Available?

I‘m often asked – "Does Target offer any benefits for 16-year-old employees?"

The answer is yes! All team members including 16-year-olds receive:

• 10% employee discount – save on Target purchases for yourself or your family
• Paid time off – sick time and vacation benefits
• Holiday pay – for major holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving

Team members working an average of 25+ hours per week qualify for additional benefits:

• Medical insurance – plans start at $5 per pay period
• Dental insurance – plans start at $5 per pay period
• Life insurance – policy value of $50,000
• Short and long term disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with 5% matching contribution
• Tuition reimbursement for college up to $5,250 per year

The wide range of benefits makes Target a standout employer for 16-year-olds compared to other retailers.

What Positions Are Off Limits to 16-Year-Olds?

While there are lots of great opportunities at Target for 16-year-olds, some positions are restricted by federal child labor laws:

• Warehouse worker – Handling inventory and operating heavy machinery in distribution centers requires an employee to be at least 18 years old.
• Managerial roles – Given limitations on working hours, 16-year-olds are not eligible for manager, team lead, or supervisor positions.
• Security personnel – Roles responsible for protecting people, property, and assets require employees to be 18+ years old.
• Heavy equipment operation – Operating balers, compactors, or Lifter vehicles requires employees to be over 18 years old.

These restrictions are due to the hazardous nature of the work. Teenagers must reach age 18 before applying for these specific Target positions.

What is the Interview and Hiring Process Like?

The hiring process at Target is straightforward for 16-year-old applicants. Here are the typical steps:

• Online application – Create a profile and apply for open positions on Target‘s career site.
• Prescreening call – A recruiter may call you to learn more about your interests and experience.
• In-person interview – Interviews are held at the Target store location and include behavior-based questions.
• Job offer – Target extends offers verbally or via email. The offer letter will include position, wage rate, and projected work schedule.
• New hire paperwork – After accepting the offer, complete paperwork like the W-4 and I-9 form.
• Orientation – Attend a group onboarding session to receive your uniform, tour the store, review policies, and get assigned training shifts.

The entire process may take 1-2 weeks. Be prepared to share your availability if still in school. With your parent‘s permission, provide your proof of age, social security card, and any required work permits.

What Documents Are Required to Start Working?

Target requires all new team members, regardless of age, to provide documentation after accepting a job offer, including:

• Proof of age – Driver‘s license, state ID card, passport, or birth certificate.
• Social Security card – Provides your SSN for tax purposes.
• Form I-9 – Verifies U.S. employment authorization.
• State minor work permits – If under 18, obtain a permit from your state labor department.

Have these documents ready when applying to speed up the hiring timeline.

Should 16-Year-Olds Consider Working at Target?

Based on my retail industry experience, I highly recommend Target for any 16-year-old beginning their first job search.

The pay, benefits, training, and advancement potential provide huge advantages over typical fast food or grocery store roles. Teens gain valuable foundational skills at Target that help launch their career.

The hands-on, immersive job experience builds confidence and maturity. My own teenage years working in retail taught me communication, responsibility, problem-solving, and how to thrive in a team environment – lessons that still help me today.

Target also takes teen workplace safety seriously and provides a supportive working environment. There‘s ample opportunity to make friends and learn from mentors.

In my view, Target is an ideal employer for career-minded 16-year-olds seeking to maximize their professional and personal growth. The investment Target makes in teens leads to tremendous long-term dividends as they develop into the next generation of leaders.

The Bottom Line

Here‘s a quick recap of what 16-year-olds need to know about working at Target:

• Minimum age to work at Target is 16 years old
• Starting wage is at least $15 per hour with potential raises
• Cashier, salesfloor, fulfillment, food service, and cart attendant roles available
• Work hours limited based on state child labor laws
• Excellent benefits like 10% discount and 401(k) offered
• Hands-on training and growth opportunities provided
• Must have proof of age, social security card, and permits to apply

As a leading employer of teens seeking their first job, Target offers a rewarding and educational work experience. If you‘re asking "Does Target hire 16-year-olds?", the answer is a clear yes! With better wages, benefits, and advancement potential than many retailers, Target is a great option for teens starting their careers.