Best Jobs for 15 Year Olds in Australia

At 15, your job options open up. You can now apply to Coles, Target, and Officeworks — employers that don't hire at 14. You'll earn slightly more per hour than you did at 14, and you have a year of life experience under your belt (even if you haven't worked before).

This guide covers the best jobs for 15 year olds in Australia, including which major employers hire at 15, what you'll earn, and how to apply. Let's find you that first (or next) job.

Major Employers That Hire 15 Year Olds

At 15, you have access to all the employers that hire at 14 (fast food chains like McDonald's and KFC), plus a few more that require you to be 15 minimum. Here's the full list:

Fast Food (Still the Easiest Entry Point)

Fast food chains remain the best option for first-time workers at 15. They're set up to train teenagers with no experience, shifts are short and flexible, and the work is straightforward.

• McDonald's — Australia's biggest teen employer. Hires from 14, so by 15 you're a more competitive applicant. Great training program, flexible hours, and structured progression from lobby to kitchen to register to drive-thru.
• KFC — Hires from 14, active at 15. Kitchen or front counter roles. Less hectic than McDonald's during peak hours.
• Hungry Jacks — Hires from 14, good option at 15. Smaller than McDonald's, but still offers solid training and flexible rostering.
• Subway — Many franchises hire from 14-15. Smaller teams, so you'll learn quickly. Sandwich making, register, and cleaning.
• Domino's — In-store roles from 14-15 (delivery requires a driver's license). Fast-paced pizza making, phone orders, and cleaning.

Supermarkets (More Options at 15)

At 15, you can now apply to Coles — one of Australia's two biggest supermarket chains. Combined with Woolworths and IGA, you have plenty of supermarket options.

• Coles — NEW AT 15: Coles hires from 15 years old (not 14). One of Australia's largest employers of teenagers. Roles include checkout, shelf stacking, service deli, bakery, and online picking. Good training program and flexible hours around school.
• Woolworths — Hires from 14 years 9 months, so accessible at 15. Similar roles to Coles. Apply to both and see who responds first.
• IGA — Minimum age varies by store (14-15). Independently owned, so worth checking your local IGA. Roles include checkout, stocking, and customer service.
• Foodland (SA) — Hires from 14 years 9 months, good option at 15 if you're in South Australia.

Retail Chains (NEW at 15)

At 15, you can now apply to retail stores like Target and Officeworks. These roles involve customer service, product knowledge, and working on a retail floor rather than in a supermarket or fast food kitchen.

• Target — NEW AT 15: Hires from 15 years old. Retail floor work, checkout, fitting rooms, and stock replenishment. Less hectic than supermarkets, more customer interaction. Good option if you're interested in retail fashion or homewares.
• Officeworks — NEW AT 15: Hires from 15 years old. Retail floor work helping customers find stationery, tech, office supplies. You'll learn product knowledge and sales skills. Good stepping stone if you're interested in tech or retail.
• Big W — Hires from 14 years 9 months (part of Woolworths Group). Retail floor, checkout, stock replenishment. Similar to Target but under the Woolworths umbrella.

Other Options

• Local cafes, bakeries, or restaurants — Some smaller businesses hire at 15 for weekend kitchen hands, dishwashing, or wait staff. Ask around in your neighbourhood or check Facebook groups for local job postings.
• Cinemas — Some cinema chains hire at 15 for candy bar or usher roles. Hours are mostly evenings and weekends, which fits well around school.
• Tutoring — If you're strong in a subject, you can tutor younger students. Not "employment" in the traditional sense, but you can charge $20-$30/hour for private tutoring.

What You'll Earn at 15

At 15, you'll earn a junior rate based on your age. The exact amount depends on the award and your industry, but here's a rough guide:

Your pay increases automatically with each birthday. At 16, you'll earn more. At 17, even more. This is built into the award system — you don't need to negotiate.

Work Restrictions for 15 Year Olds

Work hour restrictions at 15 are similar to 14, though some states relax limits slightly:

Maximum Hours

• During school term: 12-15 hours per week maximum (varies by state)
• During school holidays: Full-time work allowed (usually 38 hours/week)
• Per day: 3-5 hours on school nights, up to 8 hours on weekends or holidays

When You Can Work

• Not during school hours
• After school: Usually after 4pm on weekdays
• Weekends: Daytime and early evening (7am-10pm, varies by state)
• Late nights: Most states allow 15 year olds to work until 10pm (slightly later than at 14)

Your employer handles these restrictions when rostering shifts. You don't need to police it yourself.

How to Apply

Applying for jobs at 15 is the same as at 14: online applications through the employer's careers website. Here's the process:

1. Create or update your resume. One page max. Include contact details, school, any work experience (even babysitting or lawn mowing), volunteer work, hobbies, and a short paragraph about why you want the job. Check our resume guide if you need help.
2. Go to the employer's careers site. For Coles, it's jobs.coles.com.au. For McDonald's, it's careers.mcdonalds.com.au. Each employer page on this site links to their application portal.
3. Search for entry-level roles near you. Terms like "team member", "crew member", or "retail assistant" are what you're looking for.
4. Fill out the application form. Be honest and show enthusiasm. Employers value attitude and availability over experience at this level.
5. Upload your resume as a PDF (FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf).
6. Wait 1-2 weeks. If they're interested, you'll get an email for an interview, assessment, or video interview link.

Pro tip: Apply to 5-10 employers at once. Not every application gets a response. The more you apply, the better your odds.

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