How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at Dairy Queen?

Are you a teen who wants to become a Blizzard Wizard but don’t know the Dairy Queen hiring age? You’re not alone!

Working at a DQ restaurant is ideal work for high school students during summer breaks. Yet, because of different policies among franchisers, the minimum requirements differ.

So, how old do you have to be to work at Dairy Queen?

We’ll answer this question in detail and give you a handful of tips to help you land a job at DQ as a young worker!

How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at Dairy Queen?

The age requirement to work at the parent company, American Dairy Queen Corporation, is 16 years old.

Teenagers below 16 may get a job at Dairy Queen franchise locations.

This is an exception because franchisees are independent business owners. They can make personal decisions on hiring age, wage, and hours.

Does Dairy Queen Hire 14-Year-Olds?

No. Dairy Queen doesn’t hire 14-year-olds in most cases. You may inquire directly at your local Dairy Queen to be sure.

Some employees mention that you may get hired if you have a work permit and a food handler’s card.

You also have a higher chance of acceptance if you apply as a part-time worker during their busiest months.

Does Dairy Queen Hire 15-Year-Olds?

Yes, some Dairy Queen franchises hire 15-year-olds if the work time is outside school hours.

According to the Dairy Queen Ephrata branch, high school students aged 15 and above may apply for flexible scheduling.

It’s best to approach the branch manager of the DQ near you to find out if they’ll hire you.

Does Dairy Queen Hire 16-Year-Olds?

Yes! You can become a Dairy Queen crew member at 16 years old.

It’s common for a 16-year-old to apply for an entry-level position. The most popular roles involve being a team member, front counter staff, or grill crew.

What’s great about this company is that it’s open to hiring teens part-time. You can even invite your friends to work with you over the summer.

Does Dairy Queen Hire 50-Year-Olds?

Yes, Dairy Queen does hire 50-year-olds. Even retirees may apply for part-time employment here!

Note that being a staff member means walking around the store to prepare ice cream for customers. This might not be an ideal job for an older person.

Other Dairy Queen Hiring Requirements

You’ll need a work permit to get hired as an employee at Dairy Queen. You can get this from the Department of Labor.

This is important because it protects you from an employer that might take advantage of your working hours. Minors aged 14 to 15 can’t work more than three hours on a school day.

The problem with getting a permit is that you’ll need to have a job offer first. In short, you should apply to the DQ branch before anything else.

Learning how to write a resume with no experience is a requirement to get accepted!

Does Dairy Queen Hire Without Experience?

No, you don’t need any experience to work at a Dairy Queen restaurant. All you should do is walk into the nearest store and inquire if they have available positions.

It’s better to go to the exact Dairy Queen location because of fake recruiters that steal your personal information.

Does Dairy Queen Hire Without a High School Diploma?

No, you can start working at Dairy Queen even if you’re a student. You’ll only need a high school diploma for some positions above entry level.

Having the right references for a first job helps as well.

Teen Jobs at Dairy Queen

With 7,000 franchise stores under International Dairy Queen, Inc., you’re sure to find a job that’s fit for you.

Here are a few positions for teens who want to work at Dairy Queen.

1. Chill Staff

Also known as a crew or team member, a chill staff focuses on customer service and treat orders. Daily tasks involve maintaining safety standards and preparing desserts.

This role is considerable because you get trained in the food service industry. You’ll become familiar with food safety procedures while enjoying the occasional chocolate ice cream.

Job Requirements and Skills

Age Requirement: 15 to 16 years old

Typical Pay: $14 per hour

These are some skills you’ll need to work as a chill staff in Dairy Queen:

• Communication Skills: A team member always puts a smile on customers’ faces! To do this, you need to maintain positivity while talking with them.
• Multitasking Skills: Some days are busier than others. During the summer, you could be handling many orders simultaneously!
• Attention to Detail: As a team member, you should pay attention to safety procedures and customer orders.

2. Cake Decorator

As the name implies, part of the job description is to decorate custom cakes for customers.

This is a job that’s perfect for creative teens with experience in handling cake-decorating tools! Every day is different, and each order is challenging and fun.

A perk is that cake decorators may work at the Dairy Queen store part-time. They can come in during the weekends.

Job Requirements and Skills

Age Requirement: 16 years old

Typical Pay: $18 per hour

There’s no need for you to learn how to bake. Here are all the skills you’ll need to apply for this position:

• Drawing Skills: Cake decorators bring their customer’s imagination to life through food. To do this, you’ll need some skills to draw figures and create artistic designs.
• Decorating Skills: Being a decorator means that you’ll use airbrushes, icings, gels, edible pictures, and lettering. You should be familiar with these tools and know how to apply them.
• Listening Skills: You have to follow the brief to make customers happy. Listening and understanding what the customer wants is vital for this role.

3. Shift Leader

Those with the shift leader job title embody the Dairy Queen brand through their work. You should be eager to lead, plus, maintaining discipline is vital as well.

If you have this position, you get to gain leadership experience over a long period. It’ll look good on your resume after graduation!

Job Requirements and Skills

Age Requirement: 18 years old

Typical Pay: $13.33 per hour

You should have the following skills to work as a shift leader:

• Leadership Skills: Taking the initiative to motivate and train new members is vital as a shift leader. As the team leader, you’ll serve as the role model for your co-workers.
• Organization Skills: One of your jobs is to make sure that the store gets organized. You’ll often check the inventory and maintain the cleanliness of the workplace.
• Time Management Skills: To succeed in this role, you have to work well under pressure. Your teammates will look to you when the shift gets overwhelming.

Is Dairy Queen a Good First Job?

Working at Dairy Queen is a good first job because the work is simple.

Anyone can do it, and you don’t have to be there for the whole week. It’s ideal for students who need a flexible workplace.

Many entry-level positions are available, and the pay is reasonable.

Full-time employees get health and life insurance, paid vacation, and sick leaves.

Not to mention, you get to enjoy employee discounts. Some branches even offer a free cake on your birthday!

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that looking for your first job can get overwhelming! Don’t worry, here are some of the questions we often get asked about this company.

Alternative Companies to Consider

Are you still unsure if you should continue with your Dairy Queen application? Here are some related articles that you may want to read.

• Baskin Robbins Age Requirements: Learn about the minimum age requirement to work at Dairy Queen’s top competitor.
• Sonic Age Requirements: Sonic Drive-In is another top choice as a workplace for high school students.
• Dunkin Donuts Age Requirements: Do you love donuts? Dunkin may be an ideal workplace for you!

Wrapping Up

How old do you have to be to work at Dairy Queen? The quick answer is you can nab a job there at 16 years old. Getting in at a younger age may be possible in some cases as well.

Do you think you’ll apply to your local Dairy Queen? Let us know your thoughts, and please share our article if you found it helpful!