When anyone thinks of doing a part-time job, McDonald’s often comes to mind first. Being one of the largest employers in the world, they offer a wide range of entry-level jobs with no prior work experience.
One of the most common job roles at McDonald’s is the cashier position, where employees interact with customers, take orders, process payments, and provide excellent customer service. But before joining, everyone has one big question: “What salary am I going to get?”
In this article, we will discuss the average pay of McDonald’s Cashiers, factors that affect wages, and what benefits you will get after joining.
How Much Does a McDonald’s Cashier Make?
In the United States, McDonald’s cashiers generally earn between $11.30 and $15.38 per hour, which also depends on their experience, location, and local state laws. According to reports from platforms like Indeed and ZipRecruiter, the average hourly wage is around $13.
For someone working full-time, this average pay translates to $538 per week, $2,333 per month, and $28,000 as an annual salary. However, most of the cashier positions at McDonald’s are part-time, which means their actual salary may differ and sometimes can be lower as well.

Factors that Affect McDonald’s Cashier Salary
The hourly wage of a McDonald’s cashier is not actually the same for everyone, and there are so many factors that play an important role in affecting an employee’s salary.
Location
Wages can significantly vary from state to state and sometimes even in different cities. For example, a cashier in California usually has a higher hourly wage and might earn $17-$18 per hour, while someone working in a southern state might earn as low as $11-$15 per hour.
Experience
Although McDonald’s is known for hiring entry-level workers but having prior experience as a cashier or crew member can result in a higher salary. Long-term employees may also receive promotions and increments over time.
Shift Timing
Employees who work during night shifts, weekends, or holidays may receive additional pay because these shifts are often harder to fill, and that’s why the company gives good incentives and bonuses.
Franchise vs Corporate Stores
Both franchises and corporately owned stores have different policies, and due to that, their salary structure and hourly wages may also differ. But don’t worry, all these policies are passed by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Benefits of Working at McDonald’s Restaurant
As compared to other jobs, the hourly wage of McDonald’s crew members is pretty great, but apart from that, this job also offers different types of benefits, such as:
- Employee Discount: All employees and their family members get discount coupons and free meals during their lunch breaks.
- Flexible Schedule: Due to a wide range of shifts and flexible working hours, it is easy for part-time workers to work and fulfill their family commitments & other responsibilities.
- Hands-on Training: During the onboarding process, when you are going under training and learning the cashier duties, customer interactions, and safety protocols, you also get paid.
- Career Advancement: You get proper guidance from McDonald’s so that you can excel in your career, and for that, the company also sends its talented employees to “Hamburger University” for training, where you learn which mistakes to avoid, responsibilities as a manager, and how franchise stores are operated.
- Tuition Assistance: In the U.S., McDonald’s also offers programs like “Archways to Opportunity” to help employees with college fees and completing higher levels of courses & degrees.
- Health Insurance: Full-time employees are also eligible for health, dental, and vision insurance, which really helps in reducing medical expenses and staying healthy while working in a restaurant.
How McDonalds Pay Compares to Other Fast-Food Chains?
When McDonald’s cashier pay is compared with other fast-food restaurant chains, it is considered much more competitive. For example:
- Burger King: Average hourly wage is around $11-$12.
- Wendy’s: Pays around $11-$13 per hour to the cashier.
- Chick-fil-A: Usually ranges from $12-$15 per hour.
- Taco Bell: Average cashier wages are $12 per hour.
All these hourly wages may differ in different states, since they depend on different factors such as industry standards, state laws, and the brand/franchisee you are working for.
Conclusion
Now I hope you have got all your answers about “McDonald’s Cashier Salary” and what their hourly wages, weekly pay, and annual salary are. If you compare them with other fast food brands, then it’s pretty great, but if you compare them with other industries, then it may not be so high.
Apart from salary, McDonald’s also provides valuable perks such as a flexible work schedule, free training, and career growth opportunities.