Fred Young was born and raised in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. He attended the Stephen S. Palmer High School and graduated in 1965. After graduation, he attended the Pennsylvania State University and graduated in 1969. After graduating from Penn State he was hired by the Palmerton Area School District, where he taught in the Social Studies Department for 37 years, retiring in 2006. He received his Master's Degree from Lehigh University in 1972. He did further study at the Robert A. Taft School of Government, the Economics Institute of Lehigh University, and Villanova University.