How much does McDonald’s pay per hour?
There is no single McDonald’s wage, because most McDonald’s restaurants are not run by McDonald’s. Its annual report for 2025 (Form 10-K) says about 95% of its restaurants were franchised at year-end, including 95% of its 13,706 U.S. restaurants. The report describes franchising as a way for an owner to be their own employer, with control over all employment matters.
That creates two pay systems:
| Restaurant type | Share of U.S. restaurants (2025) | Who sets pay |
|---|---|---|
| Franchised (independent owner) | About 95% | The franchisee, within federal, state and local wage laws |
| Company-owned | About 5% | McDonald’s, which says it bases pay on the local labor market |
McDonald’s sends U.S. restaurant job seekers to its McHire job site, where listings are labeled by owner type, such as “US Restaurants - Franchise Owned.” Check that label before you apply, because it tells you who your employer would be.
What does McDonald’s pay at company-owned restaurants?
The most detailed public pay statement from McDonald’s dates to May 13, 2021. It covered more than 36,500 employees at McDonald’s-owned restaurants and:
- Raised hourly wages by an average of 10%
- Set the entry-level crew range at a minimum of $11 to $17 an hour, depending on location
- Set the starting range for shift managers at a minimum of $15 to $20 an hour
- Projected that the average hourly wage at company-owned restaurants would reach $15 by 2024
At 40 hours a week, that 2021 shift manager range works out to $31,200 to $41,600 a year. These figures are more than five years old, and McDonald’s said it would review wages periodically. We did not find a newer company-wide wage figure from McDonald’s, so treat the 2021 ranges as past minimums, not today’s offer.
For a current benchmark, BLS reports that fast food and counter workers earned a national median of $15.00 an hour in May 2025. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers, the BLS category for restaurant supervisors, had a median of $21.19.
How does California’s fast food law affect McDonald’s pay?
California is the clearest exception to franchise-by-franchise pay. Under California Labor Code section 1475, the minimum wage for fast food restaurant employees has been $20 an hour since April 1, 2024. The law covers limited-service restaurants in national chains with more than 60 establishments, which includes McDonald’s restaurants in the state, with exceptions such as certain airport locations and restaurants inside grocery stores that are staffed by the grocery store’s own employees.
The state’s Fast Food Council can raise the rate once a year by up to 3.5% or the change in inflation, whichever is less. It had not adopted an increase as of this update, and CalMatters reported in May 2026 that the council’s meetings were on hold. That leaves $20 as the floor, compared with California’s general minimum wage of $16.90 in 2026. See the California minimum wage page for local rates.
At $20 an hour and 40 hours a week, a California crew member earns $41,600 a year before taxes. The $20 an hour salary breakdown shows what that leaves after taxes in each state.
Outside California, the floor is your state or local minimum wage. In Texas and Georgia, where the federal $7.25 applies to most jobs, the local job market drives the franchisee’s offer more than the law does. Compare your state in the minimum wage by state table.
What benefits does McDonald’s offer?
Benefits also depend on the owner. In its 2021 announcement, McDonald’s listed these for eligible employees at company-owned restaurants:
- Paid time off for all company-owned restaurant employees
- A 401(k) match of 100% on contributions up to 6% of pay, for employees at least 21 years old with 1,000 hours in a 12-month period
- A free meal during each shift, plus menu discounts outside work
- Short-term counseling for employees and family members on topics such as housing, child care and finances
The education program, Archways to Opportunity, reaches further. It is open to employees of company-owned restaurants and of participating independent franchisees, and it covers college tuition assistance, a high school diploma program, English classes and education and career advising. In 2021, McDonald’s listed tuition assistance of $2,500 a year for crew and $3,000 for managers, after 90 days of work at an average of 15 hours a week. The Archways site says more than 92,400 U.S. restaurant employees have enrolled in a program since it launched in April 2015.
Ask the hiring manager which benefits apply at that restaurant, since franchisees choose whether to take part.
How much does McDonald’s pay a year?
Hours matter as much as the rate. Multiply the hourly rate by your weekly hours, then by 52.
| Hourly rate | 20 hours a week | 30 hours a week | 40 hours a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 (BLS fast food median) | $15,600 | $23,400 | $31,200 |
| $17.00 (top of 2021 company crew range) | $17,680 | $26,520 | $35,360 |
| $20.00 (California fast food minimum) | $20,800 | $31,200 | $41,600 |
| $21.19 (BLS restaurant supervisor median) | $22,038 | $33,056 | $44,075 |
These are gross figures before taxes. Weeks over 40 hours add more, since nonexempt workers must get at least 1.5 times their regular rate for overtime. Check a long week with the overtime calculator.
How does McDonald’s pay compare with Starbucks and Chick-fil-A?
The three chains publish very different amounts of pay information, which is worth knowing before you job hunt.
| Chain | Who employs restaurant or store workers | Published pay information |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s | Independent franchisees at about 95% of U.S. restaurants | 2021 ranges for company-owned restaurants only |
| Starbucks | Starbucks at its company-operated U.S. stores | Average over $19 an hour (April 2025) and pay ranges on store postings |
| Chick-fil-A | Independent Operators at most restaurants | No company figure; each Operator decides |
In California, all three must meet the same $20 fast food minimum if their restaurants are covered by the state law, so pay differences there show up above that floor.
How do you find out what a specific McDonald’s pays?
Because pay is set restaurant by restaurant, take a few minutes to check before you apply:
- Find the listing on McHire. Note the owner label and any pay shown on the posting.
- Check the legal floor. Your state or city minimum wage, or $20 in California for covered fast food jobs, is the lowest rate the restaurant can offer.
- Compare with the benchmark. The BLS national median for fast food and counter workers was $15.00 in May 2025, which gives you a reference point for any offer.
- Ask about benefits separately. A franchisee’s package can differ from the company-owned one, so ask about paid time off, retirement savings and Archways.
If the posting does not show a rate, ask during the interview:
“Could you tell me the starting hourly rate for crew at this restaurant, how often pay is reviewed, and whether the restaurant takes part in Archways to Opportunity?”
How can you raise your pay at McDonald’s?
- Compare owners, not just locations. Two McDonald’s restaurants a mile apart can belong to different franchisees with different pay scales and benefits.
- Aim for shift manager. In McDonald’s 2021 company-owned ranges, shift managers started at $15 to $20, compared with $11 to $17 for crew.
- Ask about Archways. Tuition assistance is paid on top of wages where the restaurant participates.
- Track your hours. Overtime after 40 hours in a workweek is one of the fastest ways to raise a paycheck, and the rules are the same for part-time and full-time crew.
- Benchmark other chains. See how much Chick-fil-A pays, which also relies on local owners who set their own wages.
How do you prepare for a McDonald’s interview?
Crew roles center on fast, accurate orders, food safety, cleanliness and friendly service. Expect questions about your availability, handling a rush and dealing with an upset customer. Shift manager candidates should also be ready to talk about leading a team and handling cash.
Practice with the McDonald’s interview quiz, which uses questions you are likely to hear for crew and shift roles.
Wage laws differ by state and city. If you think you were paid less than the legal minimum, your state labor department can review your situation.
JobQuix is not affiliated with McDonald’s. Pay and hiring practices change; check the company’s careers site for current details.