How Old Do You Have to be to Work at CVS?

To get an entry-level job at CVS as a retail store associate, shift supervisor/management trainee, or pharmacy technician, you must be at least 16 years old. 

The employees at CVS share a single, clear purpose: helping people on their path to better health. No matter what job you have at CVS, you’ll be part of a team working toward a bold new approach to health care. 

Teen Jobs at CVS and Age Requirements

Retail Store Associate  (Hourly)

As a retail store associate at CVS, you will play a meaningful role within the CVS Health family. With your talent and knowledge, you can help CVS shape the future of healthcare for people, businesses, and communities, and you will play an active and supportive role in each customer’s unique healthcare needs.

The Retail Store Associate position provides an opportunity to excel in a growing, high impact, customer focused role, working both independently and as a member of a team, to positively impact the lives of others.

Job responsibilities of a retail store associate include:

• Providing differentiated customer service by anticipating customer needs, demonstrating compassion and care in all interactions, and actively identifying and resolving potential service issues
• Focusing on the customer by giving a warm and friendly greeting, maintaining eye contact, and offering help locating additional items when needed
• Accurately perform cashier duties - handling cash, checks, and credit card transactions with precision while following company policies and procedures
• Maintaining the sales floor by restocking shelves, checking in vendors, updating pricing information, and completing inventory management tasks as directed by store manager
• Supporting opening and closing store activities when needed
• Providing customer support to all departments, including photo and beauty, ensuring departments are fully stocked and operational while remaining current with all updated services and tools
• Assisting pharmacy personnel when needed, including working regular shifts in the pharmacy as part of opportunities for growth and career development
• Embracing and advocating for new CVS services and loyalty programs that support their purpose of helping people on their path to better health

You must be at least 16 years old to work as a retail store associate at CVS. 

Shift Supervisor/Management Trainee  (Hourly)

The shift supervisor/management trainee role at CVS is an entry-level, short-term role that prepares an employee to perform a higher-level supervisory role, such as Operations Supervisor or Shift Supervisor. 

The Shift Supervisor Trainee performs work as directed in order to prepare for future supervisory responsibilities, completes basic operations and management skills training, and also learns about key aspects of the business (e.g., building customer loyalty through exceptional service) and CVS/pharmacy culture.

Upon successful completion of the training program, Shift Supervisor Trainees are eligible to be considered for promotion to open Operations Supervisor or Shift Supervisor positions. These key leadership roles support the CVS Store Management team in driving store execution and performance while building consumer loyalty to CVS/pharmacy through a focus on excellent customer service. 

When there is no manager onsite, the Operations Supervisor or Shift Supervisor leads the store staff, ensures that store operations run smoothly, and is responsible for ensuring the completion of all opening and closing procedures.

The essential job functions of a shift supervisor/management trainee are:

• Work effectively with store management and store crew
• Supervise the store’s crew through assigning, directing, and following up of all activities
• Effectively communicate information both to and from store management and crews
• Assist customers with their questions, problems, and complaints
• Promote CVS customer service culture (Greet, offer help, and thank)
• Handle all customer relations issues in accordance with company policy and promote a positive shopping experience for all CVS customers
• Maintain customer/patient confidentiality

To work as a shift supervisor/management trainee at CVS, you must be at least 16 years old and have your high school diploma or GED.

Pharmacy Technician  (Hourly)

The pharmacy technician position at CVS provides you with an opportunity to work in a leading retail pharmacy company and in a role that positively impacts the lives and health of others. You will work in an environment where the highest professional and ethical standards are maintained as well as full compliance with all Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations. 

Pharmacy Technicians take important steps to ensure all medication needs and regulatory compliance standards are met for CVS patients, and they demonstrate ethical conduct and maintain patient confidentiality at all times.

If you like working in fast-paced environments and demonstrating compassionate, genuine care for patients and customers, this job is for you!

As a new Pharmacy Technician, you are required to complete an extensive CVS Pharmacy Technician Training Program as well as satisfy all registration, licensing, and certification requirements according to your State’s Board of Pharmacy guidelines. 

Your Pharmacy Technician duties will be restricted by your manager at first until you complete all necessary requirements. Once you satisfy all requirements and expand your Pharmacy Technician duties, you have the opportunity to continue to build your clinical, technical, and insurance knowledge and expertise by leveraging available tools and training to build your pharmacy career.

Please note in select markets the collective bargaining agreement rules regarding the Pharmacy Technician would apply.

To work as a pharmacy technician at CVS, you must be at least 16 years old. However, the licensure requirements vary by state.

Can a 15 Year Old Work at CVS?

Because the minimum age to work at CVS is 16, 15-year-olds can’t work there. But we do have a page on our website specifically for 15-year-olds that you may view instead.

Can a 16 Year Old Work at CVS? 

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

How Much Does CVS Pay Part-Time Workers?

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

Retail Store Associate (Hourly)

As a retail store associate at CVS, you will be making somewhere between minimum wage and $16 per hour. If you are coming in at entry-level without any prior experience, then you will most likely be in the lower end of the range. 

The average hourly rate for a CVS retail store associate is $10.

Shift Supervisor/Management Trainee (Hourly)

The rate of pay for shift supervisor/management trainees is between $9 and $20 an hour. As you progress through the management training program, your rate of pay will increase.

The average hourly rate for a shift supervisor/management trainee is $14.

Pharmacy Technician (Hourly)

The pay range for pharmacy technicians at CVS is between $9 and $22 an hour. If this is your first pharmacy tech job and you are going through the training program, you will most likely be at the lower end.

As you gain experience and education, your rate will go up, with senior techs making closer to $20 an hour.

The average hourly rate for a pharmacy technician is $14 an hour.

How Much Experience Do You Need to Work at CVS?

CVS is an entry-level, friendly company, so you can apply for a position without any experience and get hired. 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 CVS?

CVS is a pharmacy, so when you show up for your interview, you will want to 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.

Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed. You want to dress to impress. For males, make sure you are clean shaven or have your facial hair trimmed and clean.

CVS Interview Questions

The possible questions in a job interview are endless, and it always depends on the interviewer. But, there are some common questions that they do often ask. At a CVS interview, you will most likely talk with a manager. You will also take a skill-assessment test and fill out a computer questionnaire. Also, be prepared to take a pre-employment drug screen.

Here are some questions that they have been known to ask during interviews.

Can you work strange hours?

Why are they asking?  

Many CVS locations are open 24 hours, and this means you could be facing overnight shifts, split shifts, and early morning shifts. They need to know that you are available to take shifts and will be okay with working weird hours.

What’s the ideal answer?

The interviewer wants to hear that you are flexible with your schedule and can work outside of traditional working hours. However, if there are limits to your schedule, be honest about it. It won’t do you any good to lie about your availability.

Why do you want to work at CVS?

Why are they asking?  

Working at CVS is an excellent opportunity for teenagers to get work experience, but there are a lot of other options in the teenage job market to choose from. If they ask you this question, they want to know what makes CVS stand out over their competitors, like Walgreens. They also want to know why you would want to work in a pharmacy instead of more traditional teenage jobs like fast food, convenience stores, or clothing retail.

What’s the ideal answer?

There is no wrong answer to this question. Whatever your reason is for applying at CVS, tell them! Maybe you have a friend that works there or you want to have a career in the healthcare industry. Whatever your reason is for applying at CVS, just be specific and honest with your answer.

Why should we hire you?

Why are they asking?  

If a manager asks you this question, they are trying to get you to sell yourself. Part of your job at CVS is giving exceptional customer service, and if you can sell yourself, you can sell their products and promotions.

They are wanting to find out how well you can communicate, while being positive and professional.

What’s the ideal answer?

Know your strengths. If you get asked this question, tell them how you will benefit their business. They want to hear that you have above average verbal communication skills, have a friendly and upbeat demeanor, and can successfully sign up new members to their rewards program.

Tell them that you are a reliable worker who will show up to work on time for every scheduled shift. If you are interested in a career with the company, definitely let them know. 

Benefits of Working at CVS 

Everyone who works at CVS gets a merchandise discount.  However, the customizable benefits package they offer is for full-time workers only.

Benefits include:

• Paid time off and paid sick days
• Performance Bonuses
• Vacation 
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Medical and prescription coverage
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Health care savings account

What it’s Like to Work at CVS