How much does McDonalds pay?

[prostuff1]

Us people?

Working with customers is bad enough, but when food (I use that term lightly when talking about McDonalds) is added into the mix it gets even worse. I found a better paying non-food job shortly after McDondalds, and an even better one after that. Now I don't have to work with customers at all.

I use to work at a golf course doing maintenance and grounds keeping. I really really liked that job becuase I was told what to do and then i could go and do it pretty much at my own pace. I put my headphones in and listened to books while i worked, twas great. I am doing Helpdesk work and fixing computers locally which i enjoy, but every once in a while we get those calls from idiot that have no idea what they are doing. Sometimes it almost makes me want to go back to the golf course.

I can't see myself ever doing a food service type job. It would be to much **** to put up with and I might end up going crazy on some idiot that is being obnoxious.

 

[notjustjay]

Any job where you have to deal with the public is horrible.

For a few months I worked a minimum wage retail store at a hardware store (Canadian Tire). It was hard work. The intent was to make some money part time while working on my thesis for school, but I came home every day exhausted and in no mood to do any studying. I did, however, feel a definite improvement in my arm muscle tone from lifting and stacking boxes and paint cans all the time.

I also appreciated that it taught me a lot about hardware, paint, home maintenance, tools, woodworking, etc. I went in knowing nothing, got yelled at by angry customers who expected me to be an expert in everything, but quickly learned the answers from the more experienced guys. I also learned a lot about retail, customer service, and I think I learned a lot of patience. There are a LOT of weird people out there, excessively rude, boorish, self-serving, dumb, whatever. You learn to deal with them and laugh about it. There are also a lot of nice people, and you feel good about helping them out.

I've also learned to cut the sales floor guys some slack, now that I've been on the other side. Sometimes it's frustrating in new ways ("Come on dude, if I was this slow/rude/bad when I worked here, I'd have been fired by now", or "Why don't you just move over and let me key it into the system?") but at least now I know how they feel.

 

[foidulus]

I worked there for a while

it paid a decent amount above minimum wage, and the best part for me was that since I was in high school, they pretty much let me dictate my hours so I could schedule around all my school activities.

Work was stressful, but it really depended on the manager and how good you are at the job. The customers ranged from really friendly to just total nightmare, so not much different than dealing with people elsewhere. The worst part though was that if you worked in the back you would end up smelling like onions for days, no matter how hard you showered.

They did pay me to go to the hospital once after sticking my hand in a fryer.

 

[it5five]

I use to work at a golf course doing maintenance and grounds keeping. I really really liked that job becuase I was told what to do and then i could go and do it pretty much at my own pace. I put my headphones in and listened to books while i worked, twas great. I am doing Helpdesk work and fixing computers locally which i enjoy, but every once in a while we get those calls from idiot that have no idea what they are doing. Sometimes it almost makes me want to go back to the golf course.

I can't see myself ever doing a food service type job. It would be to much **** to put up with and I might end up going crazy on some idiot that is being obnoxious.

I do data-entry for the Postal Service right now, and it's great. I get to pick my own hours and listen to music/books at work. I've been doing the job long enough so that I don't even have to think about what I'm doing anymore. I like to think I'm getting paid to listen to music and books all day.

 

[bradl]

Have a question to the OP: How old are you?

I ask because it is not a secret that Maccas is the #1 employer of youth in the US. I was one of them. I worked there from 1989 to 1993, ages 15 to 19. I can safely say that to start, they'll put you about $0.50 - $0.75USD above State or Federal minimum wage. That's pretty much been the trend since I started. Back in '89, minimum wage was $3.35/hr. I started at $3.85/hr.

Compare that to now (and once again, follow the trends for it (just create the proportion to today's minumum wage to what I listed above), or just do the simple math), and you'll come up with what it should approximately be.

As for stress, with the exception of location, it is hardly that. If your store is in a tourist trap (like the 3 on Las Vegas Boulevard), good luck. Otherwise, it is hardly stressful except during lunch rush, and Friday nights (in the US). At the time in Omaha, my McDonalds was the last one on I-80 between Omaha and Lincoln. And Nebraska is nothing but a College Football state. So everyone makes the drive down there on Saturdays. We'd get hit doubly then. It's just working at it faster but still keeping quality up and that's it. Otherwise, it's a cakewalk.

BL.

 

[notjustjay]

Otherwise, it is hardly stressful except during lunch rush, and Friday nights (in the US). At the time in Omaha, my McDonalds was the last one on I-80 between Omaha and Lincoln. And Nebraska is nothing but a College Football state. So everyone makes the drive down there on Saturdays. We'd get hit doubly then. It's just working at it faster but still keeping quality up and that's it. Otherwise, it's a cakewalk.

I've noticed a definite decline in service (speed) at my local McDonalds'. They've renovated to make the restaurant look trendy: granite countertops, a big glass aquarium, halogen spot lights. But along with the classy look came a lot slower service. Almost as if a directive came down from management saying "We are trying to be hip and upscale, just relax, have fun, take your time."

Maddening when you're trying to get breakfast in a rush, in a long line up, one till is open, one guy is both handling the till and assembling all the orders, but you can see 9 people working in the back!

 

[bradl]

I've noticed a definite decline in service (speed) at my local McDonalds'. They've renovated to make the restaurant look trendy: granite countertops, a big glass aquarium, halogen spot lights. But along with the classy look came a lot slower service. Almost as if a directive came down from management saying "We are trying to be hip and upscale, just relax, have fun, take your time."

Maddening when you're trying to get breakfast in a rush, in a long line up, one till is open, one guy is both handling the till and assembling all the orders, but you can see 9 people working in the back!

I have noticed that too. But also if you notice on any ads that they've had, you don't see anything in terms of 'fast and friendly' or their '60 seconds or it's free' promotions. That's because now they are sacrificing their speed for making it fresh for you. And streamlining for quality than quantity (and it was quantity that made their name; remember "Billions and Billions sold!"?).. Lately they've been under the pump in key markets (especially here in the west/desert southwest USA). In-n-Out Burger has been slaughtering them all over the place. they came up around the same time the McDonalds brothers did in San Bernardino, and when Ray Kroc bought them out and concentrated McDonalds on the fast food experience and the system of duplication, In-n-Out kept their food simple (Burgers/fries/drinks/shakes only), their menu simple (see food), and their expansion simple. There's a reason that the furthest east In-n-Out expanded to was Phoenix. There are less than 10 restaurants in Nevada, only one in Utah, and the rest in California alone. they wanted to endear themselves to the people they already had instead of expanding all this food.

It's so funny (read: interesting) to see an In-n-Out and McDonalds on opposite sides of the street, and see cards wrapped around the In-n-Out building at just about every hour of the day, and barely see any at McDonalds at all.

As far as working at McDonalds? I have no regrets working there at all; in fact, I could still go back there and make just about everything on their menu (and that's bad, seeing I was there 20 years ago!). Great entry into the work force, and a stepping stone towards bigger/better things.

BL.

 

[motulist]

$8 is a lot.

I don't know how things are in Cape Town, but the cost of living in the US is very high, so $8 an hour is definitely NOT a lot of money here in the US. Let me give you some perspective. After taxes, you may take home like $7 or something like that. A BigMac cost over $4 here, plus fries and soda plus tax will have a total cost of like $7. So working at mcdonalds for an hour allows you to afford to buy 1 single fast food meal there.

I don't know about you, but I don't consider it a lot of money if 1 hour's work earns you just barely 1 fast food meal.

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

Any job where you have to deal with the public is horrible.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. It's kind of bothersome to my psyche sometimes, because I've never considered myself a cynic, and I really don't hate people...but some of the people who come into Subway, some of the things they say, and the way they speak, et cetera. Ugh, it drives me up a ****ing wall.

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

It is for the people with minimum wage jobs...

I suppose... But still, after taxes and all, not to mention the costs of getting to and from work.

I have never worked for minimum wage, and vowed to never back when I was 15; my time is worth more than that.

 

[leekohler]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. It's kind of bothersome to my psyche sometimes, because I've never considered myself a cynic, and I really don't hate people...but some of the people who come into Subway, some of the things they say, and the way they speak, et cetera. Ugh, it drives me up a ****ing wall.

Oh god, no it's true. After a while, you just really can't believe how nasty people can be. You have to get away from it to regain your faith in humanity.

 

[Unspeaked]

I suppose... But still, after taxes and all, not to mention the costs of getting to and from work.

I have never worked for minimum wage, and vowed to never back when I was 15; my time is worth more than that.

Unfortunately, some people don't have that luxury.

That's the whole reason the minimum wage is in place, afterall - otherwise, companies would pay even less than that for some of these positions, and I don't think they'd have trouble filling them...

 

[LethalWolfe]

Oh god, no it's true. After a while, you just really can't believe how nasty people can be. You have to get away from it to regain your faith in humanity.

I used to work at a Blockbuster in a mostly rich suburb and the amount stupidity and nastiness was mind boggling. Later I transfered to a store in a not-so-great part of the city and the customers where much nicer. Theft was high, the store was robbed once at gun point (thankfully I wasn't there at the time), and I always felt uneasy working alone but I enjoyed working there way more than getting yelled at by some dumb-@ss yuppie driving a $70k car throwing a hissy fit about $5 in late fees because he swears he dropped the movie off on time. Which he might have, but he rented the DVD at Blockbuster but returned an *empty* DVD case to the Hollywood Video on the other side of town and somehow that's my problem. F*cking @ssholes.

One time someone dropped off empty, clear VHS cases from another video chain at our store. Yes, it was from a different rental chain. Yes the cases were empty. And, yes, the cases were see-thru. Brilliant.


Lethal

 

[benflick]

I don't know about you, but I don't consider it a lot of money if 1 hour's work earns you just barely 1 fast food meal.

Then don't work at McDonalds...

 

[cdcastillo]

...I'm a PC, and I'm 15...

Ok, recognizing you have a problem is the first step to solve it...

 

[motulist]

Then don't work at McDonalds...

What is your point? Do you have anything to add to the conversation, or do you just enjoy making pointless comments?

 

[thechidz]

Unfortunately, some people don't have that luxury.

That's the whole reason the minimum wage is in place, afterall - otherwise, companies would pay even less than that for some of these positions, and I don't think they'd have trouble filling them...

people work for less than minimum wage in the city all the time, particularly immigrants. It is ridiculous and sad that we can't figure out a way to make everyone more independent of injustice. I'm not talking socialism but there needs to be something in place to help those less fortunate climb out of their rut or why should they even try?

 

[7on]

Minimum Wage. When I worked there in '02 I made $5.15 an hour

 

[YS2003]

Any job where you have to deal with the public is horrible.

Amen to that. I am in total agreement with you. I was in the sales and marketing field for the B-to-B business. So, I did not really have to deal with the general public. But, I know I would rather starve to death if I needed to do the B-to-C business dealing with the general public.

 

[AdrianaThePanda]

McJob

It depends on the state you live in and the minimum wage within that state. I personally have worked for McDonalds for two years, since 2009, and have been promoted to Crew Trainer and am on the brink of being promoted again. The job started out at the minimum wage in the state( Washington), and that applies to all the non-managerial jobs including grill, fries, window ( presenting the food), and front counter service. At least in my experience, it's most DEFINITELY a difficult job for the money. It can be a cake-walk and it can be very stressful at times, depending on how busy it is, the temperament of the customers, your familiarity with your job, and if it's mystery shop or not. When it's very busy, the manager will be yelling for us to get the drive thru moving under 90 seconds as you have to dodge the front counter people who are running around trying to get orders to the front, but that's the industry it's all in - quick and efficient. The crew and I have worked hard and got a 10 cent raise every 6 months and as I crew trainer I now make 9.03 instead of 8.55. As a first- level white shirt, you'll make a dollar more than what you had before you became the white shirt - from 9.55 to 10 dollars. Holidays and night shifts are not paid any more money, and you're not allowed to accept tips, (which I never listened to Bwa ha ha) If you work at McDonalds, be sure to be able to multitask very well. And again, it may depend on the store. The one I work at gets hit hard by flocks of customers and their herds of hungry, ravenous children. Personally, I do drive thru and take the drive thru cash. I can also say that there areeee some customers that give me no hope for the future and goodness of all human kind, but there are always the nice ones too. Just smile and nod.

And commenting on the "Don't work at McDonalds" statements, its tough though, many people at my work do not have green cards and therefore are not even legal to be in the United States. They HAVE to work here because they can't do much more. Most work two or three jobs to support their families and children, but I'm lucky enough to be living with my parents and in college, so I do not depend on the paychecks. In this economy, people would love to have ANY job.

Oh, and if you do drive thru never again will you say " Will that be all?" but ask " Would you like an Apple Pie for 50 cents?" 400 times a day

 

[puma1552]

Why work at McDick's when you can work at the grocery store?

At 15 years old--in 1999--they started me off at $7.55/hr, and I had a very, very strong union, and FULL health/dental insurance for the paltry sum of two hours' pay per month.

Couldn't beat it. Secure, insured, and the highest paying job for any 15 year old at the time.

Did the job and dealing with society suck? Absolutely, and I was damn glad when I got out of there five years later at almost $13/hr, but for a part time job it was probably the best job there was at the time.

EDIT: Cashiering is what sucked so bad; after 1.5 years of that when I got to move into dairy/produce/meat stock, it was 500 times better...except the part where the front end would absolutely refuse to properly staff enough cashiers, constantly calling the stock people up to cashier, over and over and over again, taking away from our already busy stock jobs and having to deal with the nasties of society at what by default then were always the busiest times. It was kind of like, hey if you weren't such a rude, fat, self-absorbed douche who actually shopped regularly with a small basket of food rather than making a four hour mystical journey with two carts and $600 worth of crap to make you fatter than you already are, then maybe the lines wouldn't be so long. Not my fault you can't read the damn coupons either. Did you buy two? No? Then shut the **** up and stop complaining about the coupons you can't read.

 

[ucfgrad93]

EDIT: Cashiering is what sucked so bad; after 1.5 years of that when I got to move into dairy/produce/meat stock, it was 500 times better...except the part where the front end would absolutely refuse to properly staff enough cashiers, constantly calling the stock people up to cashier, over and over and over again, taking away from our already busy stock jobs and having to deal with the nasties of society at what by default then were always the busiest times. It was kind of like, hey if you weren't such a rude, fat, self-absorbed douche who actually shopped regularly with a small basket of food rather than making a four hour mystical journey with two carts and $600 worth of crap to make you fatter than you already are, then maybe the lines wouldn't be so long. Not my fault you can't read the damn coupons either. Did you buy two? No? Then shut the **** up and stop complaining about the coupons you can't read.

Bitter, party of one, your table is now ready!

 

[iJohnHenry]

Bitter, party of one, your table is now ready!

One of us should be billing by the 20 minutes.

 

[Old Muley]

Try changing diapers and tube feeding disabled teenagers for $4.00USD an hour...

 

[InsanelyApple]

Miniumin wage.