It depends on the state you live in and what type of job you want. In our state, if you are under the age of 16 you are required to have working papers for companies that don't pay under the table. Some exceptions to the laws have to do with family owned businesses and such and it gets complicated. Other than that most places just wont hire until you are 16. If you are younger than that, I might suggest working as a busboy at a restaurant that pays under the table. That was my first "real" job at 14 and the money is good.