How Old Do You Have to be to Work at Dollar Tree?

Generally speaking, to get a job at a Dollar Tree as a store associate, assistant manager, or store manager, you must be at least 18 years old. The store associate position is an entry-level job, while the management positions are for applicants with prior retail management experience. There is also a management training program for store managers and assistant managers that you can apply for.  

Teen Jobs at Dollar Tree and Age Requirements

Store Associate (Hourly)

The store associates at Dollar Tree are responsible for assisting with the store operations, including merchandising, and they are fully cross-trained to assist with cash register operations, customer service, and stock replenishment.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities of a Store Associate are:

• Handle all sales transactions while operating assigned cash register.
• Maintains security of all cash.
• Protects all company assets.
• Maintains a high level of good customer service.
• Maintains a pleasant, friendly, cooperative attitude with customers, co-workers and supervisors.
• Receives merchandise.
• Assist with unloading trucks.
• Works in a safe manner.
• Adheres to and upholds policies and procedures.

Because there is so much cash handling with this job, they do require that you have general math skills to handle the cash accounting, and they are looking for employees with a high level of integrity and honesty. Dollar Tree is also looking for applicants with strong verbal communication skills, so they can easily interact with customers.

You must be at least 18 years old to work as a store associate at Dollar Tree. 

Assistant Manager (Hourly)

As an Assistant Store Manager at Dollar Tree, you’ll support your Manager in all activities that relate to maximizing sales, enhancing customer experiences, and building profits. In this important role, you’ll receive the training, development, and experience you need to one day manage your own Dollar Tree store. 

Armed with the tools you need for success, you’ll become an expert in creatively answering questions and identifying opportunities to maximize sales and drive profitability. You will be responsible for assisting with merchandising and freight processing tasks that have been delegated and assigned by the Store Manager.  You will also assist with the hiring, training, and development of store associates as delegated by the Store Manager.

The principal Duties and Responsibilities of the Assistant Manager at Dollar Tree are:

• Assist with all store functions and day-to-day store activities as directed by the Store Manager
• Able to perform all opening and closing procedures in the absence of the Store Manager
• Assist the Store Manager in protecting and securing all company assets, including store cash
• Adhere to all policies and procedures including safety guidelines
• Maintain a professional and friendly environment with customers, subordinates and supervisors
• Maintain all areas of the store, including the stockroom and sales floor, to company standards to include recovery
• When the Store Manager is not on the premises, direct supervisory responsibility for all hourly Associates
• Process all SSC Corporate directives including Pull and Hold/Destroy, Task Compliance, Key Survey information
• Requests and any additional communications related to store activities as delegated by the Store Manager
• Assist the Store Manager on the receipt and return of DSD merchandise
• Assist the Store Manager in the management of freight flow
• Meet or exceed productivity standards
• Assist the Store Manager in ordering and stocking all merchandise needs, including frozen & refrigerated
• Assist the Store Manager in maintaining stockroom organization
• Assist the Store Manager in ensuring that the sales floor is sales effective on a daily basis
• Assist the Store Manager in planning, merchandising, and maintaining Clip Strips and Power Panels with sales effective items
• Assist the Store Manager in planning and implementing monthly Sales Planners

You must be at least 18 years old to work as an assistant manager at Dollar Tree, and they do prefer that you have prior retail and management experience. 

Store Manager  (Salary)

The store manager training program at Dollar Tree will help you learn how to manage the profitable operation of a retail store with emphasis on recruiting, hiring, training, and developing store associates in both operations and merchandising.

You also learn how to:

• Perform all opening and closing procedures
• Implement all operational and merchandising direction that is communicated from the Store Support Center
• Maintain a high standard of merchandising, placement, store signage, and proper display techniques to create an inviting atmosphere for customers
• Assist in the realization of your store's maximum profit contribution
• Protect all company assets
• Maintain a high level of good customer service
• Creative problem solving in the areas of:
  • Associate Development
  • Maximizing Sales Potential
  • Controlling Expense and Shrink
  • Merchandise Display
  • Store Signage Placement

To join the store management program at Dollar Tree, you must be at least 18 years old. They also prefer that you have at least three years of prior retail management experience.

Can a 15 Year Old Work at Dollar Tree?

Because the minimum age to work at Dollar Tree is 18, 15-year-olds can’t work there, but we have a page on our website specifically for 15-year-olds that you can view instead.

Can a 16 Year Old Work at Dollar Tree? 

The minimum age to work at Dollar Tree is 18, so 16-year-olds can’t work there. We have a page on our website specifically for 16-year-olds that you can view for other options.

How Much Does Dollar Tree Pay Part-Time Workers?

The hourly earnings for employees at Dollar Tree 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. 

Store Associate (Hourly)

Store associates at Dollar Tree make somewhere between minimum wage and $15 per hour. If you are coming in at entry-level without any prior experience, then you will most likely start close to  minimum wage.

The average hourly rate for a Dollar Tree store associate is $9.

Assistant Manager (Hourly)

The rate of pay for assistant managers is between $10 and $19 an hour. You will most likely start at the lower end of the range, but depending on your previous experience, you might be able to negotiate a higher starting wage.

The average hourly wage for assistant managers at Dollar Tree is $12.

Store Manager (Salary)

The salaries for store managers at Dollar Tree range between $29K and $69K, and that’s based on geography, store sales, and your previous experience.  Managers also receive quarterly bonuses in addition to their salary.

The average annual salary for a Dollar Tree Store Manager is $47,000. 

How Much Experience Do You Need to Work at Dollar Tree?

Dollar Tree is an entry-level, friendly company, so you can apply for a store associate position without any experience and get hired. However, if you do have previous retail experience, that can help you get a spot in their management training program.

What Should You Wear to a Job Interview at Dollar Tree?

When you show up for your interview at Dollar Tree, 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, but you don’t need to be too formal and show up in a business suit.

Dollar Tree Interview Questions

The possible questions in a job interview are endless, and it always depends on the interviewer. There are some common questions that they have been known to ask most applicants. However, be prepared for some curveball questions. 

Are you available to work nights, weekends, or holidays?

Why are they asking?  

Since they are a retail chain, Dollar Tree is open late during the week, and they are also open on weekends and some holidays. If they are asking you this, they are wanting to make sure you have the availability to work those hours.

What’s the ideal answer?

The ideal answer to this question is yes. You don’t necessarily have to have complete open availability to work at any hour, day or night. If you can work at least a few nights or weekends, it is a huge plus to landing a position with the company.

Why Dollar Tree?

Why are they asking?  

Dollar Tree makes an excellent first job for teens to get work experience, but there are a lot of different retail options in the market to choose from. If they ask you this question, they want to know what makes Dollar Tree stand out over other retail options like Dollar General, Target, or Walmart.

What’s the ideal answer?

There is no wrong answer to this question. Whatever your reason is for applying at Dollar Tree, tell them! Maybe you have a friend that works there or you are interested in their management program. Whatever your reason is for applying at Dollar Tree, 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. A big part of your job at Dollar Tree is to give customer service and to be able to drive sales with excellent communication and product knowledge. 

They are wanting to find out how well you can communicate while being positive and professional. If you can sell yourself, you can sell their merchandise.

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 are creative, have above average verbal communication skills, have a friendly and upbeat demeanor, and can successfully sell merchandise.

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

Benefits of Working at Dollar Tree 

Because every item in the store only costs $1, there is no merchandise discount. However, they do offer benefits for full-time workers.

Benefits include:

• Paid time off, paid holidays, and paid sick days
• Performance Bonuses
• Vacation 
• 401K With Company Match
• Wellness Program
• Medical and Prescription Plans
• Dental and Vision

What it’s Like to Work at Dollar Tree