How Much Does McDonald’s Pay in 2023?
Last Updated: March 10, 2023
In 2021, there were 1,725,512 McDonald’s crew members employed in the US. Now, given that McDonald’s is an international organization, it’s more than clear that the number of employees worldwide eclipses this number. Still, the company is always hiring more.
How come?
Well, as the fast-food industry is rapidly expanding (as much as the number of consumers), it’s only natural for the biggest name in the field to grow its capacities, as well. There are a few things that people looking to join the McDonald’s family want to know.
- How much does McDonald’s pay?
- What are the benefits that one can expect at McDonald’?
- How much do managers make compared to cashiers and crew members?
- Is the hourly wage higher or lower than it was in 2021?
- How old does one have to be to start working at McDonald’s?
Now, let’s answer some of these questions.
How Much Do McDonald’s Employees Make?
The biggest problem with giving a definitive answer to this question is the fact that McDonald’s is a global conglomerate. Even the differences between states can be quite significant, not to mention that McDonald’s has franchises all over the world.
In different countries, the average hourly wage of McDonald’s employees is adjusted to the local standard. In fact, it even goes further than that, seeing as how even the prices vary from one country to another. The significance of this is so great that the Big Mac Index (the chart representing the cost of Big Mac across various countries) is sometimes used as an unofficial purchasing power parity index.
Still, when narrowing down to McDonald’s hourly wages in the US, entry-level employees can expect to get $12.33 per hour.
Sure, this is merely for a McDonald’s crew member since the different positions have different average hourly wages. For instance, a general manager will earn an average of $17.44. While the difference is significant, it’s nearly impossible to tell by just how much before you convert it to yearly wage.
How much does McDonald’s pay per hour in 2022?
In 2022, as a crew member at McDonald’s, you stand to get $12.33 per hour. In 2021, the hourly wage was $11.76. While the increase may not seem as much, it’s definitely an upward trend, and it definitely adds up.
How much does McDonald’s pay a week?
Weekly, you stand to earn roughly $493 working at McDonald’s. Naturally, this is the calculation for someone working 40 hours per week. Also, it’s one’s wage before holidays and vacation days are adjusted. In a scenario where there are 10 holidays per year and one takes roughly 15 vacation days per year, the average weekly salary will come down to $446 per week.
It’s also quite important to stress that you most commonly get paid bi-weekly at McDonald’s. So how much does McDonald’s pay every two weeks? Bi-weekly, you get $986 of unadjusted pay, while after adjustments, you get $892.
It’s also important to mention that this is not take-home pay. For this, you would do your best to find yourself a take-home money calculator and consider all your taxes and financial obligations.
How much does McDonald’s pay a month?
Per month, if we take the same average hourly figure, you stand to make $2,137 per month unadjusted and $1,932 adjusted. Again, this is in a scenario where you make $12.33 per hour, work 40 hours per week, have 10 holidays per year, and take 15 vacation days.
How much does McDonald’s pay per year?
Lastly, McDonald’s employees stand to make $25,646 unadjusted per year. When holidays and vacation days are considered, the figure you’re looking at is $23,180.
Once again, this is your gross and not your net pay.
How Much Does McDonald’s Pay Based on Position?
The biggest factor when it comes to one’s salary within a company is their position.
For instance, when you ask, “What is McDonald’s minimum wage?”, you’re most likely talking about the salary of a cook ($10.88 per hour) or team trainer ($10.36 per hour).
On the other hand, if you were to inquire how much McDonald’s managers make, you would find that the hourly wage ranges from $13.33 per hour for a shift manager all the way up to $17.44 per hour for a general manager.
HVAC technicians, who are the best paid in this field, make as much as $27.32 per hour. Just to help you put it into perspective, this is $56,826 per year before adjusting for holidays and vacations. In other words, it’s far above the average total annual income.
One more thing worth pointing out is that, according to one of the most recent surveys, as little as 37% of people working at McDonald’s believe they’re paid fairly.
How Much Does McDonald’s Pay Based on Age and Employment Type?
You need to be at least 14 years of age to work at McDonald’s. This is why it’s such a popular choice for one’s first employment, particularly among high schoolers and college students. Still, at McDonald’s, there’s a common practice not to employ those younger than 15 (depending on the state).
Keep in mind that it’s up to a franchise to decide whether they want to hire people who are that young. A lot of franchises will decide not to take the risk of hiring someone that young, even if the state law does allow it.
How much does McDonald’s pay 15-year-olds?
Now, 15-year-olds will get paid the minimum hourly wage of $7.25. A far bigger issue is the fact that a 15-year-old cannot work more than 3-hour-day shifts. This results in a gross pay of $130.50 a week.
Then again, the student’s wage is considerably higher in some areas. It can range anywhere between $6 and $26 per hour. Also, while above we’ve discussed the 18-hour-week, there are areas in which students can work as much as 28 hours per week. Also, keep in mind that student salaries apply to anyone below the age of 18. This means that when asking what 15-year-olds get paid, you’ll get the same answer as if you asked the question, “How much does McDonald’s pay 16-year-olds?”.
How much does McDonald’s pay part-time?
Typical part-time employee salaries at McDonald’s range between $8 and $16 per hour, the average being roughly (rounded up) $11 per hour.
Remember that since McDonald’s pays hourly, it’s more about the number of working hours per week than an hourly wage. Part-time is an umbrella term and can mean anything from 25-35 hours per week. In some extreme cases (especially if you tick off your manager), you might get as little as 10 hours per week.
McDonald’s Employee Benefits
Of course, McDonald’s hourly pay is not the only reason people work at McDonald’s. The employee benefits are quite numerous.
For instance, when it comes to insurance, you can count on:
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
While most McDonald’s employees are satisfied with insurance benefits (almost 80% of them), some argue that it’s inferior to equivalent private insurance options.
In terms of leave, the reviews by former McDonald’s employees are mixed. On the one hand, there’s access to:
- Parental leave
- Paid time off
Other than this, one can argue that holiday pay is pretty decent, but the lack of plans for maternity leave may be a problem. Also, there’s only so much paid leave that you’ll have access to. Remember, McDonald’s hourly wages are only relevant if you can work enough hours.
When it comes to flexibility, things are looking great, seeing as how the schedule is flexible and, in some positions, there’s even an option to work from home. Aside from the fact that they hire crew members as young as 15, this is one of the factors that makes the company the most appealing to students.
In terms of health and wellness, some franchises have an on-site gym, while others offer a special gym membership plan.
Now, the thing that people care about the most is financial perks. Here, you can count on:
- Bonus pay
- Stock options
- Yearly bonus
- Employee discount
McDonald’s also has a retirement plan, albeit for those who make management.
Lastly, while McDonald’s starting pay may not be much, many students decide to pursue a career here due to the tuition reimbursement benefit.
Wrap Up
While McDonald’s starting wage really isn’t much to look at, the truth is that employment here has numerous other perks. The average hourly wage in 2022 is $12.33 per hour, which is slightly higher than it was in 2021. What matters the most is that there’s a growing trend and a lot of room for advancement.
First, McDonald’s employs students and provides them with a flexible work schedule. This allows them to make some pocket money, get their first working experience, and, over time, advance to a better-paid position.
Second, McDonald’s is the biggest name in the fast-food industry. Just to put things into perspective, it’s important to stress that 85% of Americans eat there at least once per year. This means that the capacities of this fast-food conglomerate are great and that there’s always a need for new employees.
The benefits at McDonald’s are not that impressive, but they’re not below industry standards either. Also, once you get to the position of a manager, you might get access to 401K, as well as McDonald’s manager salary, which is not too shabby either. In other words, there’s room for growth.
Related reads:
Which Fast-Food Restaurant Pays the Most?
How Much Does Burger King Pay?
FAQ
Entry-level pay at McDonald’s will range from $11 to $17 per hour. Keep in mind that this is a wage for McDonald’s crew members and that it depends on the franchise you’re employed at and the state/country you’re in. Remember, McDonald’s is a global enterprise, and its salaries are often adjusted to a local standard. This is why, when speaking about averages, it’s only fair to talk about nationwide averages or state averages.
In order to work at McDonald’s, you need to be at least 14 years of age. Now, while this is a minimum, not all states allow for employees aged 14 and up. Also, just because this practice is allowed in some states, this doesn’t mean that local franchises will hire 14-year-olds. Still, it’s worth pointing out that not many companies out there employ as many high schoolers as McDonald’s does.
The average hourly pay in McDonald’s is $12.33 in 2022, which is slightly higher than the $11.76 that the company used to pay on average in 2021.
When discussing questions like “How much does McDonald’s pay in 2022?”, it’s only fair to make a comparison to the figure from 2021 and years prior to that. Here, a growing trend (even though slight) is more than present.
ABOUT AUTHOR
Content writer and amateur boxer. A few years ago, I dived into the financial world with an aim to help both heavyweight and lightweight investors make a knockout. I love to spend my free time watching movies and playing video games. Other than this, doing the best I can to support my kid in achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a Ninja Turtle.
