How much does McDonald's pay?
In 2026, McDonald's crew members typically earn about $12 to $17 per hour, while shift managers average roughly $16 per hour (around $13 to $20). Pay varies widely because franchise operators set their own wages, and states like California pay closer to $20 per hour.
Cost breakdown
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crew member (national average) | $12 - $14/hr | Typical range; full span roughly $10 to $18/hr. |
| Crew member (California) | ~$20/hr | Reflects the state's fast-food minimum wage law. |
| Shift manager | ~$16/hr | Range about $13 to $20/hr; ~$31,700/yr full-time. |
| Crew (corporate-owned, McOpCo) | Above franchise average | Company-operated stores tend to pay more than franchises. |
| Annual (shift manager, full-time) | ~$31,714/yr | Based on roughly $15.25 per hour at full-time hours. |
Crew member pay
A McDonald's crew member earns about $12 to $14 per hour on average nationally in 2026, with the broader range spanning roughly $10 to $18 per hour depending on the location and the individual franchise. Crew members handle food prep, the front counter, drive-thru, and cleaning, and starting pay often tracks the local minimum wage.
Pay is much higher in some markets. In California, the fast-food minimum wage pushes crew pay to around $20 per hour, and other high-cost states and cities also run above the national average. Corporate-owned (McOpCo) restaurants tend to pay more than franchise locations for the same role.
Shift manager and supervisory pay
Shift managers earn an average of about $16 per hour nationally, generally falling in a $13 to $20 per hour range. At full-time hours that works out to roughly $31,700 per year, or about $15.25 an hour on an annualized basis at some locations. Shift managers oversee crew during a shift, handle cash, and manage scheduling and customer issues.
Moving up to assistant manager or general manager raises pay further, often into salaried roles. As with crew pay, the exact figure depends heavily on whether the restaurant is franchise-operated or company-owned and on the local labor market.
Why McDonald's pay varies so much
McDonald's does not set a single company-wide wage. The large majority of U.S. restaurants are run by independent franchisees who set their own pay, so two locations in the same city can offer different starting wages for identical jobs. Corporate-owned stores set wages separately and generally pay above the franchise average.
Local minimum-wage laws, cost of living, and labor competition are the main reasons for the spread. State and city minimum wages, plus targeted laws like California's fast-food standard, can lift base pay well above the national average, while lower-cost regions cluster near the federal or state minimum.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does McDonald's pay per hour?
- Crew members average about $12 to $14 per hour nationally in 2026 (up to ~$20 in California), and shift managers average roughly $16 per hour.
- Does McDonald's set the same pay everywhere?
- No. Most U.S. restaurants are independently franchised and set their own wages, so pay varies by location, local minimum-wage laws, and whether the store is company-owned.
- How much does a McDonald's shift manager make a year?
- A full-time McDonald's shift manager earns roughly $31,700 per year on average, based on about $15 to $16 per hour.
Researched and edited by Calvin Lauderdale, Lead Researcher & Editor. Figures on this page were verified against the sources above as of June 23, 2026.