What is fast food worker pay? With more than 28,500 fast food employees in the United States in 2024 and over 200,000 fast-food establishments, there’s always room in the market for more restaurant staff to enter the workforce.
However, before you accept the job, you may have questions about what you can earn. That’s what inspired this deep look into fast food hourly pay.
Discover the average fast food hourly salary for such major establishments as Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Starbucks, and lots more.
Average Fast Food Hourly Salary in the US
Let’s peel back the curtain and divulge the average salary of a fast-food worker in the US, with hourly rates for the biggest franchises in the country. Do keep in mind that income varies based on location and experience.
McDonald’s
Are you considering working for the brand with the golden arches? There are more than 13,500 locations in over 50 territories.
The average starting wage at McDonald’s is between $7 and $12. According to Indeed, crew members make $13 an hour based on 2,728 salaries.
As a cashier, you can bring in $13.54 an hour according to more than 1,400 salaries reported to Indeed. Cooks make $14.23 an hour at McDonald’s and line cooks $12.73.
If you upgrade to a shift lead, you can earn $15.60 an hour.
Burger King
Perhaps you start your fast-food employment at another burger restaurant, Burger King. Although BK has begun closing locations, there are more than 6,700 left in 2024.
Indeed reports that the average salary of a Burger King employee is between $7.65 and $23.05 an hour, with the average $15.22 an hour. Even if you earn the middle rate, that’s still higher than what you’d make at McDonald’s.
Dunkin’
With nearly 9,600 locations across the country, the fast-food donut chain once known as Dunkin’ Donuts could be the place you end up working next.
ZipRecruiter states that the nationwide salary is between $8.17 and $17.55 an hour. The average hourly rate at Dunkin’ is $14 an hour, which is about as much as you can make at McDonald’s. However, besides the hourly rush and the weekends, when everyone wants their coffee and sugary frosted treats, working at Dunkin’ might be less stressful.
Subway
Instead of donuts, how about sandwiches? Subway has more than 20,300 locations in the US alone, meaning there’s surely one near you.
As a Subway sandwich maker, Indeed estimates you can make $11.71 an hour on average. The hourly rate can be as low as $7.25 and up to $21.40. With the latter rate especially, you could make decent money, up to $42,800 a year!
Chick-fil-A
What is the average salary of a Chick-fil-A worker? According to Payscale, the rate begins at $9.24 an hour and pays up to $20.80 an hour. Although making almost $21 an hour still isn’t that much, it could be a livable wage in some parts of the country.
Other sources estimate you could earn even more on the higher end, such as $22.25 to $27 an hour.
Chick-fil-A has more than 3,000 restaurants in nearly 50 states, so it has a smaller presence than the other fast-food chains on this list. That could explain why it pays well, at least for some employees.
Taco Bell
What about the average fast food hourly wage for Mexican food establishments like Taco Bell? This is the biggest chain in its genre, with almost 8,000 restaurants in the US in 2024.
Indeed reports that a cook working at Taco Bell makes $14.59 an hour based on 2,952 salaries. Restaurant staff earn $13.40 per hour according to more than 600 salaries, and night team leaders bring in $14.36 an hour per data from almost 4,000 salaries.
You’d need a management role at Taco Bell to bring in the bigger bucks. Shift managers earn $15.25 an hour, assistant managers $18.12 per hour, and general managers $23.41 an hour.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
In the same vein is Chipotle, one of the most popular restaurants of its kind. With more than 3,300 establishments in 2024, crew members can pull in $15.19 an hour, notes Indeed, according to 2,355 salaries.
Grill cooks earn $15.10 an hour, servers $13.82 an hour, and kitchen managers $16.95 per hour. If you work your way up to general manager, you can rake in $19.38 per hour.
Starbucks
Surely, you’re curious about the fast-food hourly pay at Starbucks, the biggest coffee chain in the country, if not the world. After all, Starbucks continues to grow, reaching more than 16,400 locations in the US in 2024.
Baristas at Starbucks make more than your average fast-food worker, with Indeed reporting that the hourly earnings are $15.34 according to 7,970 salaries. Shift managers make $19.60 per hour, managers $21.12 an hour, and general managers up to $31.94 per hour.
KFC
Switching gears now to fried chicken, major chain KFC has almost 4,300 US locations as of 2024. Working for them means earning $13 an hour on average, notes ZipRecruiter. The lower end of the earnings range is $7.93, and the higher end is $17.31 per hour.
Other estimates from ZipRecruiter suggest income between $11.54 and $15.14 per hour, about on par with the average salary of a fast-food worker in the US.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Join the crew as a Popeyes employee. The US chain restaurant has more than 3,000 locations throughout the country.
What will you make if you work there? The earnings are about average for fast-food employees, with Indeed estimating an hourly salary of $13.34 on average. The earnings can be as low as $7.25 an hour and up to $21.25 per hour.
Pizza Hut
As the third-biggest pizza chain in the country (behind Domino’s and Hunt Brothers), Pizza Hut has 6,805 locations as of 2024. The chain refers to its associates as Team Members, so does that mean making a higher salary?
No, unfortunately, it doesn’t. The average earnings according to Indeed are only $11 an hour, but they can be even lower, such as $7.25. Even the higher wages are only $18.10 an hour, so you’re not even cracking $20.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s continues to grow globally, but it’s made a major name for itself in the US, where it has over 6,500 locations. So, what can you make as a Wendy’s employee? ZipRecruiter notes that the average pay is $14 an hour.
The lowest pay available is $8.17, and the highest is $17.55 an hour, the standard fast-food rate.
Dairy Queen
The burger and ice cream joint Dairy Queen, or DQ for short, has 4,269 locations in 49 states in the US. What can you earn while working there?
Indeed breaks down the revenue per role. As a crew member, your earnings are capped at $12.11 an hour according to 1,967 shared salaries. Cooks make $12.53 an hour, grill cooks $13.16 an hour, and cake decorators up to $14.34 an hour.
Once again, managerial jobs are where it’s at. DQ shift managers earn $14.79 per hour, managers $16.74 an hour, and assistant managers $15.90 hourly.
Domino’s
As the second-most popular pizza chain, Domino’s has 6,902 US locations. That should translate to plenty of job opportunities, but precisely what can you earn as a Team Member?
Dominos pays $9.98 an hour on average, and sometimes lower, $7.25 an hour, notes Indeed. The highest-earning employees make $19.25 per hour, which is a bit low, even if the job offers insurance.
Sonic Drive-In
Although a smaller chain than most, Sonic Drive-In remains a viable fast-food place to get your next job. Since it opened in 1953, the chain has amassed a presence in 45 US states, and today has more than 3,549 locations.
According to Payscale, the hourly wage is $10.63 to work at Sonic. Employees can earn up to $15 an hour.
Little Caesars
Domino’s and Pizza Hut aren’t the only pizza joints around. What is the fast-food hourly pay worth at a place like Little Caesars, which is known for its low prices?
Working as a crew member will pay $12.66 an hour, says Indeed, according to 3,141 salaries. Shift leaders make slightly more at $12.94 per hour.
As you would have guessed, the highest pay is reserved for the managerial positions, with store managers raking in $16.46 an hour, co-managers $16.36 an hour, and general managers $17.51 an hour.
Little Caesars has 4,203 locations in the US as of 2024.
Papa John’s
Papa John’s is a bigger pizza spot with 4,456 franchises nationwide. However, does it pay any better than a place like Little Caesars?
A little bit, yes! ZipRecruiter notes the pay rate is $8.89 to $17.31 an hour, with $14 an hour the standard.
Fast Food Worker Pay – Wrapping Up
Fast food worker pay remains consistent across the board, whether you’re flipping burgers or stretching out pizza dough. Some chains have bucked the trend, but if only in cooking or serving roles, your glass ceiling is rather low.
This information should come in handy as you plan your next career steps in hospitality.
