Quick Answer
Chuck E. Cheese hires people with felony convictions case-by-case, but positions involving children require careful consideration. With over 500 entertainment centers nationwide, Chuck E. Cheese offers crew member ($11-14/hour), game room attendant ($11-13/hour), kitchen staff ($11-14/hour), and party host ($11-14/hour) positions. Kitchen and maintenance roles are most accessible.
Positions with direct child interaction face stricter scrutiny due to child safety policies and liability concerns. Sex offense convictions are typically disqualifying, while non-violent, non-child-related offenses receive more standard evaluation.
Last Verified: October 2025
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About Chuck E. Cheese
Chuck E. Cheese is a family entertainment center chain featuring arcade games, rides, pizza, and birthday party hosting. The company operates over 500 locations across the United States and internationally, employing thousands of people. The business centers entirely on providing entertainment and food services for children and families.
Chuck E. Cheese locations need employees who can work in energetic environments, prepare food, maintain games and attractions, host birthday parties, provide customer service to families, and maintain safety in child-focused settings.
For people with records, Chuck E. Cheese presents unique considerations. The child-focused business model means enhanced background screening and specific restrictions around certain types of convictions. Understanding these limitations realistically is crucial before applying.
Does Chuck E. Cheese Hire People with Felonies?
Yes, with significant limitations based on conviction type and position.
Official Policy
Chuck E. Cheese evaluates applications case-by-case but maintains enhanced screening due to child-focused business model. The company must balance employment opportunities with child safety obligations and liability concerns.
Critical Restrictions
Sex offense convictions: Typically disqualifying for all positions due to child safety policies and legal liability. This is non-negotiable in child-focused businesses.
Violent offense convictions involving children: Extremely problematic for obvious safety reasons. Unlikely to be considered.
Recent violent convictions: Create significant concerns in family entertainment environments, especially for positions with child interaction.
More Accessible Convictions
Drug offenses: Non-violent drug convictions receive more standard evaluation, particularly for back-of-house positions.
Theft convictions: Evaluated based on circumstances and time, particularly for kitchen positions with limited cash handling.
Other non-violent offenses: Standard case-by-case evaluation based on position requirements.
Position-Specific Considerations
Direct child interaction (party host, game room attendant): Strictest screening due to consistent child contact
Food service (kitchen crew): More accessible, limited child interaction
Maintenance/cleaning: More accessible, primarily behind-the-scenes
Management: Enhanced screening for all supervisory positions
Available Jobs at Chuck E. Cheese
Positions vary in accessibility based on child interaction level:
1. Kitchen Crew Member / Cook
Pay: $11-14/hour
What you do: Prepare pizzas and food items, work kitchen stations, maintain food quality, follow safety procedures, clean kitchen.
Requirements: Food prep ability, attention to safety, teamwork
Why it works: Limited direct child interaction. Back-of-house focus. Most accessible position for people with non-child-related convictions.
2. Maintenance Technician / Game Technician
Pay: $12-15/hour
What you do: Maintain and repair arcade games, rides, and attractions. Troubleshoot technical issues, perform preventive maintenance.
Requirements: Mechanical/technical aptitude, problem-solving, ability to work somewhat independently
Why it works: Behind-the-scenes technical work. Limited customer interaction. Technical skills valued.
3. Cashier / Front Counter
Pay: $11-13/hour
What you do: Process food orders, handle payments, serve customers at counter, answer questions, maintain front area.
Requirements: Customer service, cash handling, friendly demeanor.
Why it works: Adult customer interaction at counter. Less direct child engagement than party host or game room roles.
4. Game Room Attendant
Pay: $11-13/hour
What you do: Monitor game room floor, assist children with games, address game issues, maintain safety, handle game redemptions.
Requirements: Patience with children, customer service, safety awareness
Accessibility concern: Direct child interaction creates stricter screening. Less accessible for many with backgrounds.
5. Party Host / Birthday Party Coordinator
Pay: $11-14/hour (sometimes includes tips)
What you do: Host birthday parties, interact with children and parents, coordinate party activities, serve food, ensure positive experiences.
Requirements: High energy, excellent people skills, patience, party coordination
Accessibility concern: Heavy child interaction makes this position least accessible for those with concerning backgrounds.
6. Shift Manager / Assistant Manager
Pay: $14-18/hour
What you do: Supervise staff, oversee operations, handle customer issues, manage opening/closing, ensure safety protocols.
Requirements: Management experience, leadership, comprehensive background screening
Accessibility concern: Enhanced screening for all management positions due to oversight of child-focused environment.
Best entry point: Kitchen Crew Member offers most realistic opportunity for people with non-child-related felony convictions. Focus on back-of-house positions where child interaction is minimal.
Realistic assessment: If your conviction involves violence against children, sex offenses, or recent violent crimes, Chuck E. Cheese is not a realistic employment option. Focus efforts on non-child-focused businesses.
Background Check Process at Chuck E. Cheese
Enhanced screening reflects child-focused business:
When It Happens
Background checks occur after interviews but before final offers. Given child safety concerns, checks are thorough and occur early in process.
What They Check
Comprehensive background checks including:
Criminal records: Extensive search, often 10+ years
Sex offender registry: Mandatory comprehensive search across jurisdictions
Child abuse registries: Checks in relevant states
Employment history: Verification with focus on any child-related work
Identity verification: Thorough confirmation
Enhanced screening compared to typical restaurants due to child safety obligations.
Automatic Disqualifications
Certain convictions typically result in automatic disqualification:
Sex offenses involving minors
Child abuse or neglect convictions
Violent crimes against children
Recent violent felonies (case-dependent)
These restrictions exist due to legal liability and child safety obligations.
Evaluation for Other Convictions
Non-child-related convictions receive more standard evaluation:
Time since conviction considered
Circumstances and rehabilitation weighed
Position requirements factored in
Individual assessment conducted
How Long It Takes
Background checks take 7-14 business days typically, sometimes longer due to comprehensive nature including registry searches across jurisdictions.
Application Tips for Chuck E. Cheese
Realistic strategies if you're considering applying:
1. Honestly Assess Your Eligibility
Before investing time applying, realistically evaluate whether your conviction makes Chuck E. Cheese employment unlikely. If your record involves children, violence, or sex offenses, focus efforts on other opportunities where you have better chances.
2. Target Kitchen Positions
If applying, focus on kitchen crew positions which have least child interaction and most standard hiring evaluation for non-child-related convictions.
3. Apply Online
Visit chuckecheese.com/careers to search positions and apply. Complete applications honestly and thoroughly.
4. Emphasize Food Service Experience
Any kitchen, food prep, or restaurant experience strengthens applications for kitchen positions. Highlight relevant experience.
5. Be Honest About Limitations
If asked about your background during interviews, acknowledge honestly and focus on non-child-interaction positions: "I understand Chuck E. Cheese serves children and families. I'm specifically interested in kitchen positions where I can contribute through food preparation."
6. Demonstrate Safety Consciousness
Child-focused businesses prioritize safety. Emphasize your safety awareness and understanding of the responsibility inherent in family entertainment.
7. Highlight Reliability
Family entertainment centers need consistent staffing for birthday parties and weekend rushes. Stress your reliable attendance.
8. Consider Alternative Family Entertainment
If Chuck E. Cheese doesn't work out, consider bowling alleys, mini golf, or other entertainment venues that serve families but aren't exclusively child-focused, potentially offering more flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will my sex offense conviction prevent me from working at Chuck E. Cheese?
A: Yes, almost certainly. Child-focused businesses cannot risk hiring people with sex offense histories, particularly offenses involving minors. This creates legal liability and violates child safety principles. Focus your efforts on non-child-focused employment.
Q: What about my drug conviction from 5 years ago?
A: Non-violent drug convictions receive more standard evaluation, especially for kitchen positions. Time since conviction (5+ years) helps significantly. Kitchen crew positions are most accessible for non-child-related, non-violent convictions.
Q: Can I work in the kitchen if I can't work around children?
A: Kitchen positions have limited child interaction, but you'll still work in environment serving children. The business model means children are present throughout the facility. If you're legally prohibited from being near children, Chuck E. Cheese isn't appropriate.
Q: Will my assault conviction disqualify me?
A: It depends on circumstances and time. Recent violent convictions create significant concerns in family entertainment. Older assault convictions (7-10+ years) with clean records since receive more favorable evaluation, particularly for kitchen positions. Be honest and let them assess.
Q: Does Chuck E. Cheese do drug testing?
A: Yes, typically. Pre-employment drug testing is standard for family entertainment centers. Some locations conduct random testing during employment.
Q: Are there positions with no customer interaction?
A: Kitchen crew and maintenance positions have limited customer/child interaction, though you'll still work in family entertainment environment. No position is completely isolated from the child-focused atmosphere.
Q: What if I was convicted as a juvenile?
A: Juvenile records receive different consideration legally and may be sealed depending on your state. However, serious juvenile offenses involving children or violence may still create concerns. Consult background check laws in your state.
Q: Should I even bother applying to Chuck E. Cheese?
A: If your conviction involves children, violence, or sex offenses—probably not. Focus efforts where you have better chances. If you have non-violent, non-child-related convictions and are specifically interested in kitchen work, it might be worth applying, but understand the enhanced screening.
Alternative Employment Opportunities
If Chuck E. Cheese isn't realistic, consider:
Regular restaurants: Pizza chains, casual dining, fast food—serve children but aren't exclusively child-focused, often more flexible hiring.
Adult-focused entertainment: Bowling alleys, pool halls, adult arcades—entertainment without child focus.
Food service: Standard restaurant kitchens without family entertainment component.
Retail: Stores serving general public including families but not exclusively child-focused businesses.
Manufacturing/warehouse: Non-customer-facing positions entirely removed from child-related concerns.
Focus your efforts where your background creates fewer obstacles and you have realistic employment chances.
Final Thoughts
Chuck E. Cheese presents significant challenges for many people with felony records due to the child-focused business model. While employment isn't impossible for those with non-child-related, non-violent convictions seeking kitchen positions, this isn't a top-choice employer for most people with criminal backgrounds.
Be realistic about your situation. If your record involves anything related to children, violence, or sex offenses, invest your time and energy applying to businesses where you have genuine opportunities. If you have non-violent, non-child-related convictions and specifically want kitchen work, Chuck E. Cheese might consider you, but understand the enhanced screening and focus on back-of-house positions.
Start here: Visit chuckecheese.com/careers to review available kitchen and maintenance positions. However, you’ll likely find stronger opportunities in restaurants, retail, manufacturing, or warehouse work—fields that offer more flexible, case-by-case hiring.
Does Chuck E. Cheese Hire Felons in 2026?
Everything You Need to Know
Last Updated: January 2026
Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center
Industry:
Food & Hospitality
Pay:
$15.00 – $35.00/hour
Location:
Alaska
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