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

Generally speaking, to get an entry-level, part-time job at Dairy Queen as a Front Counter, Kitchen, Chill Staff, or Cake Crew Team Member, you must be at least 16 years old.  However, Dairy Queen restaurants are independently owned and operated, so some locations will hire 14 and 15-year-olds with a work permit.

Teen Jobs at Dairy Queen and Age Requirements

Team Member - Front Counter  (Hourly)

As a front counter team member at Dairy Queen, you will be responsible for greeting customers as they enter the restaurant or drive thru, assisting them with menu navigation and production ingredient questions, processing register transactions and maintaining an accurate drawer count, and delivering quality service. You will work in a team environment and follow all health and safety procedures.

This position requires you to work well under pressure. You must be able to stand for long periods of time and lift up to 50 pounds.

You must be at least 16 years old to work as a front counter team member at Dairy Queen.

Team Member - Kitchen  (Hourly)

Being a kitchen team member at Dairy Queen means you are responsible for quickly and accurately preparing food, properly maintaining the restaurant equipment, including grill, fryer, and freezer, and completing assigned preparation work for stocking and setting up the grill area.

You must be able to work well under pressure, stand for your entire shift, and lift up to 50 pounds. You will also be required to handle raw, frozen, and cooked food products, so you must follow all food handling procedures and health regulations.

To work as a kitchen team member at Dairy Queen, you must be at least 16 years old.

Team Member - Chill Staff  (Hourly)

Being a chill staff team member at Dairy Queen means you are responsible for assembling and presenting completed treat orders and stocking, cleaning, and maintaining all customer areas. Job requirements include communicating with co-workers to make sure orders are correct, preparing treat products while following restaurant health and safety standards, and properly operating and maintaining all chill equipment.

You must be able to move cases of products and buckets of sanitizing liquid or cleaner that weigh up to 50 pounds.

To work as a chill staff team member at Dairy Queen, you must be at least 16 years old.

Team Member - Cake Crew  (Hourly)

Being a cake crew team member at Dairy Queen means you are responsible for assembling and preparing soft serve and Blizzard cakes, as well as decorating cakes with icing, gel, drawings, decorating kits, air brush, edible images, and letterings.

You must maintain an adequate inventory of decorated cakes at all times, keep the display freezer full, and take and fill customer cake orders in a professional and timely manner.

To work as a cake crew team member at Dairy Queen, you must be at least 16 years old.

Can a 15 Year Old Work at Dairy Queen?

The minimum age to work at Dairy Queen is 16, so 15-year-olds can work there. We have a page on our website specifically for 15-year-olds that you can view for more options.

Can a 16 Year Old Work at Dairy Queen?

The minimum age to work at Dairy Queen is 16. We also have a page on our website specifically for 16-year-olds that you can view for more options.

How Much Does Dairy Queen Pay Part-Time Workers?

The hourly earnings for employees at Dairy Queen vary because of state and city minimum wage laws. However, we can give you a general idea of what the hourly pay is for each position.

Team Member - Front Counter (Hourly)

As a front counter team member at Dairy Queen, you will be making somewhere between minimum wage and $12 per hour. If you are coming in at entry-level without any prior experience, then you will most likely start out at minimum wage.

The average hourly rate for a Dairy Queen front counter team member is $8.

Team Member - Kitchen (Hourly)

The rate of pay for kitchen team members is between minimum wage and $12 an hour. This position is entry-level, so you will most likely start at minimum wage. However, if you do have some previous kitchen experience, you can possibly negotiate a higher rate.

The average hourly rate for a Dairy Queen kitchen team member is $8.

Team Member - Chill Staff (Hourly)

The rate of pay for chill staff team members is between minimum wage and $12 an hour. If this is your first job, you will most likely start out at or near minimum wage.

The average hourly rate for a Dairy Queen chill staff team member is $8.

Team Member - Cake Crew (Hourly)

The rate of pay for cake crew team members is between minimum wage and $12 an hour. If this is your first job, you will most likely start out at or near minimum wage. But, since this job requires a specific skill, you can negotiate a higher wage.

The average hourly rate for a Dairy Queen cake crew team member is $11.

How Much Experience Do You Need to Work at Dairy Queen?

Dairy Queen is an entry-level friendly company, so you can apply to be a team member without any prior experience and get hired. However, if you do have some work experience, it could get you a higher hourly pay rate and move you faster into supervisory and management positions.

What Should You Wear to a Job Interview at Dairy Queen?

Dairy Queen is a quick-service restaurant, so when you show up for your interview, you will want to look nice and be dressed in business casual attire.  Consider something like a buttoned-down shirt with nice slacks and dress shoes. You do not want to show up too casual in a t-shirt and jeans.

Dairy Queen Interview Questions

The possible questions in a job interview are endless, and it always depends on the interviewer. But, there are some questions that are more common than others. At a Dairy Queen interview, you will likely talk with at least one manager.  Here are some questions that they have been known to ask.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Why are they asking?  

If they ask you this question, they are trying to find out if you have any career and education goals. They are also trying to find out if you’re looking at a job at Dairy Queen as being something temporary while you are in school, or if you have plans to work with the company as a career.

What’s the ideal answer?

Know your goals and be ready to share them. Maybe you plan to have a college degree in five years, or maybe you see yourself working your way up in the company and working at the corporate office. Whatever your education and career goals are, let them know. There is no wrong answer to this question.

Why do you want to work at Dairy Queen?

Why are they asking?  

Fast food restaurants rely on entry-level teen workers. They make an excellent first job for young people to get work experience, and there are a lot in the market to choose from. If they ask you this question, they want to know what makes Dairy Queen stand out over other options like McDonalds, Burger King, or Jimmy John’s.

What’s the ideal answer?

There is no wrong answer to this question. Whatever your reason is for applying at Dairy Queen, tell them! Maybe you have a friend that works there, you love their Blizzards, or the location is close to home. Whatever your reason is for applying at Dairy Queen, just be specific and honest with your answer.

Have you ever worked in a fast-paced environment?

Why are they asking?  

If a manager asks you this question, they want to know what they can expect from you when it comes to your work productivity and to see if you fit in with the pace of a fast-food environment. If you are a slow, methodical worker, fast food might not be the best fit.

What’s the ideal answer?

You want to let them know that you work well in a fast-paced environment, and give them examples from a previous job or school activity. Say that you can get a lot accomplished in a short amount of time, and you would much rather stay busy instead of being bored.

Benefits of Working at Dairy Queen

Everyone who works at Dairy Queen gets a discount on meals. However, other benefits are limited to full-time workers only. Because each restaurant is independently owned and operated, the benefits package may vary.

Benefits include:

• Paid time off and paid sick days
• Performance Bonuses
• Vacation
• Family Medical Leave

What it’s Like to Work at Dairy Queen

How to Apply at Dairy Queen