Which store roles take beginners
BLS says cashiers are "trained on the job" and retail sales workers "typically do not need formal education" (BLS OOH, read October 31, 2026). No government source counts how many store jobs take beginners, so this page gives no percentage. Here is what postings said when read October 31, 2026. Any may have closed since.
These take beginners:
Scroll horizontally to view every column.
| Role | Employer and location | Pay in the posting | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonal sales associate | Kohl's, Decatur, AL (posted September 23) | Starts at $14.00 | "No retail experience required" |
| Crew | Trader Joe's, Bradenton, FL | $16.00 to $19.00 to start | "We can teach you the rest" |
| Part-time cashier and stocker | Aldi, Palmetto, FL | $19.50 to start | Retail experience "preferred," not required |
| Part-time cashier | Lowe's, Zionsville, IN (posted October 6) | Not shown | Retail experience "preferred." Needs basic arithmetic and computer use |
| Seasonal cashier, stock and more | Target, Dallas, TX | $16.00 to start | No experience line. Target's job description says its training "will help teach you everything you need to know" |
| Stocking team associate | Walmart, North Little Rock, AR | $14.00 to $27.00 | No experience line. Lift "in excess of 50 pounds." Shift starts 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM |
| Sales associate | Dollar General, Burlington City, NJ (posted October 30) | $15.92 to $16.02 | Diploma "preferred." No experience line |
These ask for something first:
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| Role | Employer and location | Pay in the posting | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courtesy clerk | King Soopers, Englewood, CO (posted October 28) | $17.50 to $19.00 | Minimum: "Customer service experience" |
| Cashier | Kroger, Franklin, OH (posted October 28) | Not shown | Minimum: "Customer service experience" |
| Cashier | King Soopers, Arvada, CO (posted October 12) | $17.90 to $25.11 | 18 or older, "Ability to pass drug test," weekends, "any shift" |
| Retail sales associate | Best Buy, Portland, OR (posted October 21) | $16.80 to $21.45 | "3 months of experience working in retail or another fast-paced, team-oriented environment" |
Kroger does not define "customer service experience," so ask whether volunteer or school work counts.
A posting is not always an opening. Costco says its listings do "not mean that any positions are currently open." Kroger says it "continuously" accepts applications and will contact you if a job comes up. Walmart marks some roles "Future opening." Apply, but keep going.
National medians are $15.81 for cashiers and $17.03 for salespersons, and first jobs can start lower (BLS, May 2025). Your metro: pay benchmarks. Store by store: retail pay by store. Unsure about the work? Read what retail work is really like.
Stated age minimums
These come only from employer pages read October 31, 2026. More employers are in jobs that hire at 16.
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| Employer | Minimum stated | Where it says so |
|---|---|---|
| Publix | 14 | Cashier opening, all retail locations: "At least 14 years of age" (page dated June 7, 2023) |
| Kohl's | 16 | Decatur, AL, posting |
| Trader Joe's | 16 | Career FAQ, plus a work permit if you are a minor |
| Aldi | 18 | Palmetto, FL, posting |
| Lowe's | 18 for "most hourly store jobs" | Careers FAQ: "it can vary by location" |
| King Soopers | 18 | Arvada, CO, cashier posting |
| Walmart | 18 | Cashier posting, San Juan, PR. The Arkansas stocking posting states no age |
| Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, Costco | None in the pages read | Ask the store |
Under 18? Your state may require a permit and may cap school-night hours: work permits for minors and teen work hours by state. Parents: ask the manager which tasks a minor will do, since balers and slicers are off limits under federal rules (29 CFR Part 570).
What stores actually screen for
From employer pages and postings read October 31, 2026.
Scroll horizontally to view every column.
| Screen | What employers state | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Costco: "open availability is needed," apart from religious or disability reasons. Best Buy: "holidays, nights and weekends." Trader Joe's: greatest need is "evenings and weekends" | Give your real days and hours. A mismatch shows up in your first schedule. See part-time retail jobs |
| Online test | Home Depot: a 20-minute assessment on teamwork, dependability and learning, with 96 hours to finish once you open the link. Walmart: "some positions require" assessments | Do it the day you apply. Ask for an accommodation if you need one |
| Basic math and reading | Publix: "read, write, and do simple math problems." Kroger: "counting, addition, and subtraction" | Practice making change if you are rusty |
| Lifting | Lowe's cashier: 10 pounds minimum. Target guest advocate: up to 44 occasionally. Aldi: up to 45. Dollar General: 40 often, 55 at times. Walmart stocking: over 50 | Pick jobs by the number. Do not say yes to a weight you cannot lift |
| Drug test or checks | King Soopers: "Ability to pass drug test." Aldi: may depend on a drug test or reference check. Walmart: "drug-free workplace" policy, no test step stated | Ask before you quit anything. See background checks explained |
| Work papers | Costco uses E-Verify. Form I-9 comes after you accept an offer (USCIS, reviewed April 2, 2025) | See documents you need to start a job |
No source shows how much each screen counts, so no "top three things managers want" list appears here.
Your first week
- Training is short. Up to a few weeks for cashiers, and a few days to a few months for salespeople (BLS OOH). An experienced worker typically shows you the equipment. Publix describes training led by "a designated expert" in your department. No source read gives a day-by-day schedule, so none appears here.
- Training should be paid. Under federal law, training counts as work unless it is outside normal hours, voluntary, not job related, and you do no other work (U.S. DOL Fact Sheet 22, revised July 2008). Told to train for free? Call the Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.
- Your feet will notice. 51% of cashiers and 46% of salespersons stand continually or almost continually (O*NET, updated 2026). Publix says "standing at a register for prolonged periods."
- Rude customers come early. 26% of cashiers deal with one every day, and 58% more do weekly (O*NET).
- Your money is counted. You count the drawer at the start and reconcile it at the end (O*NET). Kroger lists cash, checks, cards, SNAP EBT, WIC and coupons. For alcohol or tobacco, you check age (BLS OOH).
- Ask what you must buy. If a uniform is required, its cost is the employer's business expense, and a charge to you cannot take your pay below minimum wage (U.S. DOL Fact Sheet 16, revised July 2009). Your first check will also look small: your first paycheck explained.
A plan to start this week
Day 1: write your real hours. In school? List the hours after class. A parent? List the hours your child care truly covers. Pick two references.
Day 2: apply to three to five stores on your real route. Read each posting for age, experience, lift and hours. Apply on the employer's own site. Walmart says a first application takes 20 to 25 minutes. Need a page to send? See retail resume tips.
Day 3: walk in. Go on a weekday mid-morning or mid-afternoon, not during a rush (JobPin's advice). Bring ID, a pen and your hours on paper. Say this:
"Hi, my name is (your name). I applied online on (date) for the (job title) job. Is the hiring manager here for one minute?"
If yes: "I wanted to put a face to my application. I have not worked in a store yet, but I (your own example, such as a school job or caring for family). I can work (days and times), and I can start (date). Is there anything else you need from me?"
If no: "When is a good time to come back? May I leave my name and number?"
Day 4: go back when they told you to. Apply to two more stores. Practice with retail interview questions.
Day 5: follow up once. Use how to follow up after applying. Then keep going, because replies take time. Walmart says it tries to respond within a week. Lowe's says most store roles take about two weeks to reach an offer. Trader Joe's typically reviews candidates within three weeks.
The honest part. No source shows that walking in raises your odds. Most chains here take applications online, so it does not replace the form. It does let you see the store and ask about hours. Lowe's suggests asking your local store about hiring events. American Job Centers give free help: free job help.
Holiday jobs are hiring now, and most end in January: seasonal jobs.
Current openings
See retail jobs and part-time retail jobs. By city: Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Orlando.
More retail openings
Current source-linked listings could not be confirmed in this sample. Check the category search and each original posting for availability.
How to verify a listing
Every opening on JobPin links to its source posting. Open it and check three things: the store address, the age line and whether it says "Future opening." Apply only on the employer's own site. Honest employers never ask you to pay to get a job (FTC, read October 31, 2026). More: how JobPin verifies listings and job scam warning signs.
How JobPin dates and sources listings: How JobPin verifies listings and events. Report a listing.