How Old Do You Have to be to Work at Taco Bell?

Generally speaking, if you are interested in getting a job at Taco Bell as a team member or shift lead, you must be at least 16 years old.  However, because many locations are franchises, so the hiring age does vary. Some stores in some states do hire as young as 14 years old with a work permit, but you will have to go to the location you are interested in working at and ask their minimum hiring age.

Taco Bell believes in helping their employees get more out of life. Their restaurants strive to live this out through teamwork, exciting new products, and many career opportunities.

Teen Jobs at Taco Bell and Age Requirements

Team Member (Hourly)

As a  team member at Taco Bell, your job is to operate a cash register (both in-restaurant and in drive-thru) and assist with front line food preparation procedures. You will also wipes tables, and maintain a clean dining room and parking lot.

Being a team member at Taco Bell means you enjoy people and providing friendly, accurate service to customers as well as your teammates and managers. Key responsibilities include greeting customers in the restaurant or drive-thru, taking and ringing up orders, handling payment, and thanking customers. You’ll also prepare and store food ingredients, assemble food, and beverage orders, check to make sure they’re correct, package products, and maintain a clean, safe work, and dining environment.

Team Member behaviors include:

• Being friendly and helpful to customers and co-workers.
• Meeting customer needs and taking steps to solve food or service issues.
• Working well with teammates and accepting coaching from management team.
• Having a clean and tidy appearance and work habits.
• Communicating with customers, teammates, and managers in a positive manner.

To work as a team member at Taco Bell, you must be at least 16 years old. However, some stores do hire as young as 14 years old with a work permit.

Shift Lead (Hourly)

Being a shift lead at Taco Bell means that you support the Restaurant General Manager (RGM) by running great work shifts and meeting Taco Bell standards. You take ownership and responsibility to solve problems, seek help when needed, and are willing to help and guide others. Key responsibilities include making sure Team Members complete all assigned duties and serve safe, quality food in a friendly manner. You’ll also ensure that the restaurant is a safe place for Team Members to work and customers to visit.

Shift Lead behaviors include:

• Solving customer complaints quickly and with a smile.
• Providing feedback to Team Members in a positive manner.
• Communicating openly and honestly with the Restaurant Management team.
• Following cash, security, inventory and labor policies and procedures.

To work as a shift lead at Taco Bell, you must be at least 16 years old.

Can a 15 Year Old Work at Taco Bell?

Because the minimum age to work at Taco Bell is 16, 15-year-olds can’t work here. However, in some locations, they do hire 15-year-olds with a work permit.  We do 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 Taco Bell? 

The minimum age to work at Taco Bell is 16, so 16-year-olds can apply for a team member or shift lead position. We do have a page on our website specifically for 16-year-old’s that you can view for more options.

How Much Does Taco Bell Pay Part-Time Workers?

The hourly earnings for employees at Taco Bell 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 (Hourly)

As a team member at Taco Bell, 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 at minimum wage.

The average hourly rate for a Taco Bell team member is $9.

Shift Leader  (Hourly)

The rate of pay for a shift lead at Taco Bell is between $9 and $14 an hour. This is not an entry-level position, but chances are you will be on the lower end of the range. 

The average hourly rate for a shift lead is $11 an hour.

How Much Experience Do You Need to Work at Taco Bell?

Taco Bell is an entry-level friendly company, so you can apply for a position without any experience and get hired as a team member. 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 Taco Bell?

Taco Bell is a fast food restaurant, 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 or nice jeans and dress shoes. 

Taco Bell 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 Taco Bell interview, you will most likely talk with at least one or two different managers. Here are some questions that they have been known to ask during interviews.

How do you handle stressful situations? Can you work in a fast-paced environment?

Why are they asking?  

Taco Bell is a popular fast food restaurant that can have incredibly busy lunch and dinner rushes. There are times when working there can be extremely fast-paced and stressful. They are asking you this question to find out how well you would handle that stress, and make sure you are a good fit for the team.

What’s the ideal answer?

The interviewer wants to hear that you work well under pressure. Tell them how you have handled stressful situations in the past, and that you are able to handle a busy dinner rush. However, you never want to lie. If you can’t handle stressful situations well, working in a restaurant may not be the best fit. If you lie about your ability to handle the work environment, it could lead to big problems.

With all of the different fast food companies out there to choose from, why do you want to work at Taco Bell?

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 Taco Bell stand out over other options like McDonalds, Burger King, or Subway.

What’s the ideal answer?

There is no wrong answer to this question. Whatever your reason is for applying at Taco Bell, tell them! Maybe you have a friend that works there or the restaurant is located close to home. Whatever your reason is for applying at Taco Bell, just be specific and honest with your answer.

What job skills do you have?

Why are they asking?  

If a manager asks you this question, they are trying to get you to sell yourself. Part of your job as a team member is upselling to Taco Bell customers. They are wanting to find out how well you can communicate, while being positive and professional.

You may not have any previous work experience, but you can still have skills like communication, time-management, money-handling, etc...

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 good verbal communication skills, have a friendly and upbeat demeanor, and can give good customer service. 

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

Benefits of Working at Taco Bell 

Everyone who works at Taco Bell gets discounts on meals.  However, the benefits they offer are only for full-time workers.

Benefits include:

• Paid time off and paid sick days
• Performance Bonuses
• Vacation 
• 401K and Long-Term Savings Plans
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

What it’s Like to Work at Taco Bell

How to Apply at Taco Bell

If you are interested in working at Taco Bell, you can apply directly on the company website, which is the most accurate source for up-to-date hourly job listings, as well as management and corporate positions. 

You can also fill out an application online at sites like Glassdoor and Indeed, and it will be sent to the specific restaurant you are applying to.  You can also apply in-person at the location you are interested in.