Find Your First Job in Australia
Everything you need to know about working as a teenager. Age requirements, work permits, how to apply. No signup required.
Everything you need to know about working as a teenager. Age requirements, work permits, how to apply. No signup required.
There's no single national minimum age. Each state and territory sets its own rules, and they're mostly about protecting your schooling and safety. Victoria and Queensland start at 13 for most work, Western Australia allows some jobs from 10, and the rest don't set a fixed age but limit the type and hours of work for children.
What matters more in practice is who is willing to hire you. Most fast food chains hire from 14, the big supermarkets from around 14 years 9 months, and places like Bunnings and Aldi wait until 16. Under 15 in Victoria, your employer also needs a work permit. Everything else you need is covered in the guides below, and none of it needs a signup.
Pick your state for the full rules on minimum age, permits, hours and where to find work.
| State | Minimum working age | Work permit |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 13 | Yes, under 15 |
| New South Wales | No set minimum | No |
| Queensland | 13 | No |
| Western Australia | 10 to 15, by industry | No (parental consent) |
| South Australia | No set minimum | No |
| Tasmania | No set minimum | No |
| ACT | No set minimum | No |
| Northern Territory | No set minimum | No |
What you can do changes a lot between 14 and 17. These guides cover where to apply, what you'll earn and what to expect at your age.
Best first jobs if you're 14. Where to apply, pay rates, and what to expect from popular employers.
More opportunities open up at 15. Discover which employers hire and what jobs you can do.
At 16, you can work more hours and access better-paying roles. See your options.
Nearly adult pay rates and more responsibility. Find the best jobs for 17 year olds.
Minimum hiring ages for the biggest first-job employers. Some franchise owners set their own limits, so it's worth calling your local store. Each name links to a guide with pay rates and how to apply.
| Employer | Type | Hires from |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | Fast food | 14 |
| KFC | Fast food | 14 |
| Hungry Jack's | Fast food | 14 |
| Red Rooster | Fast food | 14 |
| Chicken Treat | Fast food | 14 |
| Subway | Fast food | 14 to 15 |
| Domino's | Fast food | 14 to 15 |
| Woolworths | Supermarket | 14 years 9 months |
| Coles | Supermarket | 14 years 9 months |
| IGA | Supermarket | 14 to 15 |
| Big W | Department store | 14 years 9 months |
| Target | Department store | 15 |
| Officeworks | Retail | 15 |
| Bunnings | Hardware retail | 16 |
| Aldi | Supermarket | 16 |
If you've never worked before, this is the order that saves the most hassle.
Minimum ages, permits and hour limits differ across Australia. Start with your state page so you know what you're allowed to do before you apply. See the state rules
Without a TFN your employer has to withhold tax at the top rate, so you'd lose a big chunk of every pay. It's free and takes a few minutes to apply. How to get a TFN
You don't need work experience. School, sport, volunteering, babysitting and mowing lawns all count, and employers hiring teens know that. Write your first resume
Most big chains take applications online. Pick two or three that hire from your age and apply to all of them, because replies can take a couple of weeks. Browse employers
Your employer needs somewhere to pay you. Most banks offer a free youth account that you can open with a parent or on your own, depending on your age. Set up a bank account
Junior pay rates, penalty rates, breaks and super all apply to you. Knowing them means you can spot a payslip that doesn't add up. Read your workplace rights
The essentials to sort out before your first shift.
How to apply for a Tax File Number, step by step. Essential for getting paid legally.
Create your first resume, even with no work experience. Templates and examples included.
What super is, whether you'll get it, and why it matters for your future.
Set up a bank account to receive your first pay. Compare teen-friendly options.
Under 21s are paid a percentage of the adult award rate, and that percentage goes up every birthday. At fast food chains it starts at around half the adult rate at 14 to 15 and reaches 100% at 21. Casual staff also get a 25% loading, and weekends, late nights and public holidays pay extra on top.
Rates change every 1 July, so use the Fair Work Pay Calculator for your exact number, and read our workplace rights guide so you know what to check on your payslip.
It depends on your state. Victoria and Queensland set the minimum at 13 for most work, Western Australia allows some work from 10 (such as delivering newspapers), and NSW, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT have no fixed minimum age but restrict the type and hours of work for children. In practice, most big employers like McDonald's, KFC and Hungry Jack's hire from 14, and the supermarkets hire from about 14 years 9 months.
Fast food (McDonald's, KFC, Hungry Jack's, Red Rooster), supermarkets once you're close to 15, and local small businesses such as cafes, bakeries and corner shops. Casual jobs like babysitting, pet minding, lawn mowing, car washing and paper rounds also count as real work experience.
Only in Victoria, where under 15s need a child employment permit that the employer applies for. Other states and territories don't require a permit, although Western Australia requires parental consent for under 18s. Check your state page for the details.
You can start without one, but you should get one first. If you don't give your employer a Tax File Number, they must withhold tax at the highest rate, so you'd take home much less. A TFN is free to apply for through the Australian Taxation Office.
Most awards pay juniors a percentage of the adult rate that rises with age, until you reach the full adult rate at 21. Casual workers also get a 25% loading, and weekend and public holiday work usually pays extra. The Fair Work Pay Calculator shows the exact rate for your job and age.
Yes, if you're 18 or over, or under 18 and working more than 30 hours a week. Employers pay 12% super on top of your wages, not out of them. Most teens working casual after-school shifts fall under the 30-hour rule until they turn 18, so check the super guide to see where you stand.
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We break down the confusing stuff (tax file numbers, superannuation, work permits) into plain language. Written for teenagers, trusted by parents.
Last updated: October 2026. Rules and pay rates change, so check the official sources linked on each page, including Fair Work.