Yes, you can work at Subway at 15 in most of the United States. Federal law lets 14- and 15-year-olds hold non-hazardous fast-food jobs, and Subway restaurants fall within that permission.1U.S. Department of Labor. Non-Agricultural Jobs – 14-15 Whether the specific store near you will actually hire you at 15 is a separate question, because nearly every Subway is an independently owned franchise and the owner sets the hiring age within the federal floor.
Whether a Specific Subway Will Hire You at 15
Because each location is independently operated, the minimum age policy varies from store to store. One franchise may welcome 15-year-old applicants; another a few miles away may prefer 16 and up. Owners can raise the bar above the federal minimum, but they cannot drop it below 14. State law can also push the effective minimum age higher or add its own requirements.
The fastest way to find out a store’s policy is to call and ask for the manager, or walk in during a slow part of the afternoon and ask in person. A short, direct question saves you filling out an application that will not go anywhere.
Hours a 15-Year-Old Can Work
Federal rules cap how much a 15-year-old can work, and the caps change depending on whether school is in session.2U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet 43 – Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act for Nonagricultural Occupations
While school is in session:
- No more than 3 hours on a school day, including Fridays
- No more than 18 hours in a school week
- Shifts only between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- All work has to fall outside school hours
When school is out, including summer break:
- Up to 8 hours a day
- Up to 40 hours a week
- Shifts between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day; otherwise the cutoff is 7:00 p.m.
Federal law does not require meal or rest breaks for workers of any age. Many states do require employers to give minors a 30-minute unpaid break after roughly four or five consecutive hours, so check your state labor department for what applies where you live.
What You Can and Cannot Do Behind the Counter
Federal regulations draw a firm line through a fast-food kitchen. On the allowed side, a 15-year-old can prepare and serve food, run a register, clean the dining room, restock, and operate equipment like toasters, dishwashers, blenders, coffee grinders, warmers, steam tables, heat lamps, and microwaves used only to warm prepared food.3U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet 58 – Cooking and Baking Under the Federal Child Labor Provisions In Subway terms, that covers most of the daily job: building sandwiches, toasting bread, prepping vegetables, ringing up orders, and wiping down tables.
Several tasks are off-limits under federal rules for anyone 14 or 15:
- Power-driven food equipment, including meat slicers, food grinders, food choppers, food processors, and food mixers.4eCFR. 29 CFR 570.33 – Occupations That Are Prohibited to Minors 14 and 15
- All baking activities, regardless of oven size.
- Loading, operating, or unloading trash compactors and balers. You can carry cardboard or trash to the compactor and set it on the ground, but someone else has to put it in.5U.S. Department of Labor. Are Your Teen Workers Taking Out the Cardboard or Other Trash
- Any work on a ladder, scaffold, or substitute.
- Extended work in walk-in freezers or meat coolers, though briefly stepping in to grab something is fine.
If a manager ever asks you to do something on the prohibited list, you can refuse. Federal law protects employees, including minors, from being fired or punished for raising a labor-law concern.6U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet 77A – Prohibiting Retaliation Under the Fair Labor Standards Act If a violation continues, you or a parent can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.
Work Permits and Documents
Many states require minors to get a work permit or employment certificate before starting a job. Some issue one only on request, and some do not use permits at all. Where state law is more protective than federal law, the state rule applies; where it is less protective, federal law controls.7U.S. Department of Labor. Employment/Age Certificate
Where permits are used, they are usually issued by your school’s guidance office or your state labor department. You will generally need:
- A completed application with your personal information
- A birth certificate, passport, or government-issued photo ID
- A parent or guardian’s signature
- Proof of a recent physical exam or a doctor’s note in some states
Even in states with no permit requirement, the franchise owner has to verify your age and identity before your first shift. Bring a birth certificate or school ID and your Social Security card to the interview.
Pay and Taxes
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, and many states and cities set a higher floor that the franchise has to follow. Federal law also allows employers to pay workers under 20 a reduced rate of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment.8U.S. Department of Labor. Wages for Youth – FLSA Advisor After 90 days, or once you turn 20, whichever comes first, full minimum wage applies. Any state minimum wage above $4.25 overrides the youth rate, and not every franchise uses the reduced rate anyway. Ask what starting pay is before you accept.
If Subway requires you to buy or wear a specific uniform, the employer cannot deduct the cost from your paycheck in a way that drops your effective pay below minimum wage for that workweek. If you are already at minimum wage, they cannot charge you for the uniform at all.9U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet 16 – Deductions From Wages for Uniforms and Other Facilities Under the FLSA
Social Security tax (6.2 percent) and Medicare tax (1.45 percent) come out of your paycheck regardless of your age, because a franchise is a business rather than a parent’s sole proprietorship.10Internal Revenue Service. Family Employees Federal income tax is separate. When you fill out your W-4 on your first day, you may be able to write “Exempt” if you had no federal income tax liability last year and expect none this year.11IRS. Form W-4 Most 15-year-olds qualify, because with the hour caps their yearly earnings usually stay below the standard deduction, which is $16,100 for a single filer in 2026.12Internal Revenue Service. IRS Releases Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2026 If you do not claim the exemption, any over-withheld tax comes back as a refund when you file.
How to Apply
Start with the Subway careers site, or walk into the location you want to work at and hand an application to the manager. In person tends to work better with franchise owners, who often make quick judgments about attitude and availability. If they are interested, expect a short interview about your schedule and why you want the job.
Before your first shift, the owner will verify your work permit if your state uses one, confirm your age with a birth certificate or ID, and collect a signed parental consent form if the location or state requires one. You will fill out a W-4 for tax withholding and provide your Social Security number for payroll. Once the paperwork clears, you will get a training schedule and any uniform items, and your first day starts.