Fast food restaurants are often the first port of call for individuals entering the workforce. They are known for readily hiring, typically don’t require prior experience for entry-level roles, and sometimes even offer opportunities to younger workers. While accessibility is a major draw, the crucial question for many job seekers remains: which fast food chains offer the most competitive pay?
Determining the highest paying fast food job isn’t always straightforward. Several factors complicate a simple answer. Firstly, the franchise model prevalent in the fast food industry means pay rates can fluctuate significantly based on location and the specific franchise owner. Pay can differ substantially even within the same chain, depending on the state and local market conditions. Secondly, fast food restaurants employ individuals across a range of positions, from entry-level crew members to managerial roles. Comparing a crew member’s wage to a restaurant manager’s salary isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison.
To provide a clear and helpful overview of the Best Paying Fast Food Jobs, this guide focuses on entry-level positions at major fast food chains across the United States. Entry-level roles are the most common starting point for employees in this sector, making them the most relevant benchmark for comparison. Furthermore, we will primarily use nationwide average pay data to mitigate regional pay variations and offer a broad, comparable overview.
Which Fast Food Chains Offer the Highest Hourly Pay for Entry-Level Roles?
When examining the leading names in the fast food sector, here’s a snapshot of the average hourly pay for entry-level positions:
- Burger King: $9.86 per hour
- Subway: $11.52 per hour
- McDonald’s: $12.33 per hour
- Wendy’s: $12.38 per hour
- Dunkin’ Donuts: $12.54 per hour
- Chick-fil-A: $12.92 per hour
- Chipotle: $14.74 per hour
Note: These averages are calculated based on the most common entry-level positions offered at each respective restaurant chain.
As these figures illustrate, the majority of fast food restaurants offer an average hourly wage in the $12 to $13 range for entry-level roles. Restaurants like Burger King fall below this average, while Chipotle stands out significantly above it, representing the higher and lower ends of the pay spectrum.
Currently, Chipotle emerges as the fast food restaurant that generally offers the highest pay for entry-level employees, based on available data. It’s important to remember that these figures represent national averages derived from numerous employee reviews and reports. Regional pay discrepancies exist, and these averages are intended to provide a general comparative perspective across the nation.
To further illustrate the potential earnings at these fast food chains, let’s break down the average entry-level pay into daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly figures.
DISCLAIMER:
The following calculations are estimations based on average hourly wages and assume 260 working days per year (5 days a week for 52 weeks). These calculations do not account for holidays or paid time off, as policies vary between companies and franchises. The figures presented are gross earnings and do not reflect take-home pay after deductions. For net pay calculations, please consult a take-home pay calculator.
Average Entry-Level Earnings at Top Fast Food Restaurants
Using the national average hourly pay rates, we can estimate the potential daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and annual earnings for entry-level employees at these fast food chains.
Burger King
With an average hourly pay of $9.86, Burger King’s estimated earnings are:
- Daily: $78.88
- Weekly: $394
- Bi-weekly: $789
- Monthly: $1,709
- Yearly: $20,509
Burger King’s entry-level pay positions it as one of the lower-paying employers within the fast food industry and generally within the broader spectrum of restaurant jobs.
Subway
Subway offers an average hourly wage of approximately $11.52. This translates to:
- Daily: $92.16
- Weekly: $461
- Bi-weekly: $922
- Monthly: $1,997
- Yearly: $23,962
While Subway’s pay is not the lowest in the fast food sector, it remains positioned towards the lower end of the pay scale compared to many competitors.
McDonald’s
The fast food giant McDonald’s offers an average hourly pay of $12.33. This equates to:
- Daily: $98.64
- Weekly: $493
- Bi-weekly: $986
- Monthly: $2,137
- Yearly: $25,646
Despite variations across different states and franchises, these national averages provide a reasonable indication of the typical earnings for an entry-level employee at McDonald’s.
Wendy’s
Entry-level positions at Wendy’s come with an average hourly pay of about $12.38, resulting in:
- Daily: $99.04
- Weekly: $495
- Bi-weekly: $990
- Monthly: $2,146
- Yearly: $25,750
Wendy’s entry-level wages place it in the mid-range among fast food restaurants in terms of pay, offering slightly more than McDonald’s and Subway.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts provides an hourly salary of $12.54 for entry-level roles. This amounts to:
- Daily: $100.32
- Weekly: $502
- Bi-weekly: $1,003
- Monthly: $2,174
- Yearly: $26,083
Dunkin’ Donuts offers a slightly more competitive wage compared to some of its major fast food rivals, placing it above average in entry-level pay.
Chick-fil-A
Starting employees at Chick-fil-A typically earn around $12.92 per hour. This translates to:
- Daily: $103.36
- Weekly: $517
- Bi-weekly: $1,034
- Monthly: $2,239
- Yearly: $26,874
Chick-fil-A is known to generally offer somewhat higher wages compared to many other fast food chains, reflecting a commitment to competitive compensation.
Chipotle
When considering which fast food restaurant pays the most, Chipotle clearly leads with an average hourly wage of $14.74 for entry-level positions. This pay rate leads to:
- Daily: $117.92
- Weekly: $590
- Bi-weekly: $1,179
- Monthly: $2,555
- Yearly: $30,659
These national average pay figures underscore Chipotle’s position as the highest-paying fast food restaurant for entry-level employees, setting it apart as a leader in compensation within the industry.
Highest Paying Roles Beyond Entry-Level in Fast Food
In traditional restaurants, the role of executive chef often commands the highest salary. However, the organizational structure of fast food restaurants differs significantly. Positions like executive chefs, sommeliers, and sous chefs are not typically part of the standard fast food framework.
Within a fast food setting, the highest paying jobs are generally found in management and administrative roles. While career progression is possible, moving from entry-level to management isn’t always a linear or rapid path.
Examples of Higher-Paying Fast Food Positions: General Manager Salaries
Pay disparities can be significant even within management roles across different fast food chains. For example, average hourly wages for General Managers at some of these restaurants are reported as:
- Burger King: $15.87 per hour
- Wendy’s: $18.48 per hour
- Subway: $15.73 per hour
- Chipotle: $29 per hour
Notably, even comparing a regional manager’s average pay at Subway (around $24 per hour) to a General Manager’s pay at Chipotle highlights Chipotle’s higher compensation levels, even in management positions.
Ultimately, the employer you choose, in addition to the state and specific role, significantly impacts your earning potential in the fast food industry.
Which Fast Food Chains Provide the Best Employee Benefits?
Beyond competitive pay, employee benefits are a critical consideration for job seekers. The landscape of benefits in the fast food industry can be complex and varies widely. A key challenge in comparing benefits is that not all benefits are universally available across all positions within every franchise. For instance, comprehensive health insurance or 401(k) plans may be offered, but exclusively to salaried management or corporate staff, not necessarily to hourly crew members.
In terms of employee inclusivity and benefits packages, Chipotle again often distinguishes itself from competitors. Chipotle commonly offers:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Performance-based bonuses (daily, quarterly, yearly)
- Employee discounts on food
- Free employee meals
- Paid time off (accrued after a year of employment)
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Tuition assistance programs for eligible employees
These benefits are often extended to a broad range of employees, enhancing the overall appeal of working at Chipotle. While maternity leave might be primarily offered to salaried employees, this is a fairly standard practice within the industry. Few fast food chains offer more comprehensive or inclusive maternity leave policies for hourly workers.
Minimum Age Requirements for Fast Food Employment
Age eligibility for working in fast food restaurants largely depends on both the specific restaurant’s policies and state labor laws. While some states, like Montana, permit employment for individuals as young as 14 in certain sectors, this is not a national standard.
Most fast food restaurants set a minimum hiring age of 16 years old. Even at 16, some restaurants may require a minor to obtain a work permit from their school or parents. While some employers might pay minors a lower wage, many fast food chains offer the standard entry-level hourly rate regardless of age.
However, even at the best paying fast food restaurants, younger employees are likely to earn less overall than their adult colleagues. This is primarily due to two factors:
- Limited working hours: Labor laws often restrict the number of hours minors can work, sometimes limiting shifts to as few as three hours per day during school weeks. While the hourly wage might be the same, restricted hours reduce daily, weekly, and monthly earnings.
- Job role limitations: Minors are typically restricted from holding managerial positions and are often excluded from roles deemed potentially hazardous. These limitations mean younger employees are generally confined to lower-paying entry-level roles.
These restrictions inherently impact the earning potential of minors in the fast food industry, regardless of the hourly pay rate.
Identifying the “Best” Fast Food Restaurants to Work For
When evaluating job opportunities, pay rate is a significant factor, but it’s not the only one. Prospective employees should also consider benefits, workplace culture, and overall employee treatment. Unfortunately, workplace conditions can be inconsistent and often depend heavily on local management and team dynamics within each franchise.
When discussing the “best” fast food places to work, it’s important to preface that definitive rankings are challenging, and generalizations can be misleading. While some chains may have higher average pay or better benefits nationally, the actual employee experience can vary considerably from one franchise to another.
Therefore, the concept of the “best” fast food workplace is somewhat subjective and context-dependent. Objectively, Chipotle stands out for its higher average pay and more inclusive benefits package. However, this doesn’t guarantee it will be the ideal workplace for everyone, everywhere.
Beyond Chipotle, Chick-fil-A and Dunkin’ Donuts are also often recognized for offering above-average wages, reasonable benefits, and somewhat higher levels of reported employee satisfaction compared to much of the fast food sector. However, it’s crucial to remember that employee reviews are subjective and may not always provide a complete or unbiased picture of what working at these restaurants is truly like.
Pay Comparison: Sit-Down Restaurants vs. Fast Food
The term “sit-down restaurant” encompasses a broad spectrum of dining establishments, generally contrasting with fast food venues. Sit-down restaurants can range from fine dining establishments to casual dining, family-style eateries, and contemporary casual restaurants.
It’s a common misconception that sit-down restaurants inherently pay more than fast food. While upward mobility opportunities might be greater in some sit-down restaurant settings, entry-level pay isn’t always significantly higher.
Entry-level positions like dishwashers in sit-down restaurants often earn between $8 and $11 per hour, which is comparable to entry-level fast food wages. In fact, some of the highest paying fast food chains might offer even better starting pay than some sit-down restaurants.
However, some larger sit-down restaurant chains do offer slightly better entry-level wages compared to the fast food average. For example, dishwasher roles at chains like:
- Outback Steakhouse: $13.99 per hour
- Red Lobster: $13.82 per hour
- Red Robin: $13.62 per hour
- Longhorn Steakhouse: $15.05 per hour
These averages are often moderately to significantly higher than those in fast food entry-level jobs, suggesting that these sit-down chains could be among the best-paying entry-level options in the broader food service industry. Among these, Longhorn Steakhouse appears to offer the highest average wages for dishwashers.
In Conclusion
With a notable average hourly pay of $14.74 for entry-level roles, Chipotle distinguishes itself as a leading payer in the fast food industry. This contrasts sharply with the industry average of $11 to $13 per hour, highlighting Chipotle’s commitment to higher wages. While Chipotle’s benefits are competitive, their universal application across employee roles is a significant advantage.
The question of the “best” employer remains subjective and varies based on individual priorities and local franchise management. Ultimately, the “best paying fast food job” depends on what factors are most important in your job search – whether it’s entry-level pay, management salaries, or overall benefits packages.
When comparing pay across the board, fast food chains that prioritize higher wages for servers, crew members, and baristas typically also offer better compensation for their management teams, making them attractive employers at all levels.
FAQ
Do sit-down restaurants generally pay their staff more than fast food restaurants?
While some entry-level positions in sit-down restaurants might offer slightly higher pay, the difference isn’t always substantial. However, certain specialized roles in sit-down restaurants, such as sous chefs and executive chefs, do command significantly higher salaries compared to any roles in fast food.
What is the minimum age to work at a fast food restaurant?
The minimum age to work in most fast food restaurants is 16 years old. Although some states permit younger workers (14 years old) in certain jobs, most fast food franchises adhere to a 16-year-old minimum age policy.
Which fast food restaurant is known to pay the most?
Chipotle is widely recognized as the fast food restaurant that pays the most at the entry-level. The average hourly wage for a restaurant staff member, a common entry-level position, is approximately $14.74 per hour nationwide.
