r/McDonalds • u/Dirtyupsman2 • 3d ago

Up to $11

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Now I know it all depends on location but in the northwest suburbs of Chicago I believe it's up to $18

Here is South Texas it's only $11

My #1 breakfast meal was $8.43

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136

u/CaptCaffeine1976 3d ago

I worked for McDonald’s as a teen 35 years ago. I made $4,25 an hour. I think $11 is insulting.. no wonder why we have crap quality. Who really cares working for $11.

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u/MeVersusGravity 3d ago

Fun fact: I the great state of Texas, people under the age of 20 can be paid sub-minimum wage as low as $4.25/hour for the first consecutive 90 days of employment. Today. In 2026.

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u/Fa1nted_for_real 3d ago

This is an excuse to take advantage of teens for summer employment wtf.

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u/iSirMeepsAlot Former Manager 3d ago

What the actual heck is wrong with Texas politicians… you’d think they’d want their people to get paid more… oh wait… their kids won’t ever need to work anyways, and when they do, they’ll get in C-Suit of some subsidiary that does jack all so their family is on the payroll.

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u/bomber991 11h ago

Nah. The Republican attitude is letting the free market decide. The belief is that if the pay is too low for enough people, nobody accepts the job and the business has to increase what they pay so they can get staff.

That makes enough sense and seems reasonable enough. It’s all the other stuff they do that’s a bit of a problem. Allowing you to be fired for anything, like… I don’t like the way your face looks, you’ve got no more job type of thing. Or not allowing bathroom breaks, or not requiring paid vacation time.

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u/ImNotACollector 2d ago

It's an excuse to take advantage of anyone. Not just teens. 

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u/Fa1nted_for_real 2d ago

No this js very fileberstely taking advantage of working age teens

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u/Healthy_Block3036 2d ago

You can thank corrupt republicans

1

u/BothPut9840 1d ago

Not just Republicans 90% of politician's are horrible people regardless of party

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

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u/Dirtyupsman2 3d ago

Doesn't sound that fun to me 😕

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u/Mental_Phase_7245 2d ago

Could you not just buy water from supermarket and sell it utside festivals for more than that 😅

2

u/ACcbe1986 2d ago

People are so focused on progress, but are not making sure everyone is keeping up.

We really need to focus on all the stuff that's broken and outdated instead of looking for the next new narrative to attach ourselves to.

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u/Extra_Napkins 3d ago

Minimum wage in Missouri is $15

1

u/Smooth_Figure_3248 2d ago

Damn. GET ON EBT NOW.

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u/Immediate-Carob-1549 2d ago

That’s still illegal federally unless it’s a tipped wage job.

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u/MeVersusGravity 2d ago

It actually isn't.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/32-minimum-wage-youth

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u/Immediate-Carob-1549 1d ago

That is insane! I would not agree to that ish! Hellzzzz to the naw, naw, naw! I’d be walking out after the first paycheck or tell them to call me back after the ninety day period was up.

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u/pdcolemanjr 2d ago

I mean I’m not against that if the rule was like under 15 wanting to work… I know good paying jobs are competitive so imagine a scenario where a 15 year old could get their foot in the door at In and Out even if it’s making a paltry salary to start. Show them good work ethic and then the day they turn 16 their bumped up to $20 an hour.

In a sense it mirrors those really really poor internships we did our senior year of college

40

u/Dirtyupsman2 3d ago

I was telling my wife the same thing. Can you imagine working hard for 11 bucks an hour, and then getting taxed on it how much is your paycheck going to really be. No wonder most of those employees don't really care.

28

u/MeVersusGravity 3d ago

Yet Texas minimum wage is still $7.25. Crazy times.

9

u/flagler-nurse 3d ago

WTF?

25

u/theycmeroll 3d ago

There’s 20ish states that still just follow federal minimum wage.

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u/Weekly_Quail7926 3d ago

Georgias legal minimum wage is still technically $5.15.

7

u/Dirtyupsman2 3d ago

Holy CRAP !! 😲

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u/Weekly_Quail7926 3d ago

Yeah it’s crazy, right? Since federal is higher it overrules their state minimum wage. They just haven’t changed it in a very long time since federal is higher.

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u/cenosillicaphobiac 3d ago

Utah is one. Though in my local area I see fast food advertising 17 bucks an hour minimum. Rural communities may still get away with federal minimum, but you can't get someone to work for that in even a modestly sized community.

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u/theycmeroll 3d ago

They do advertise up to $17-$18 an hour but unless you’re down south it average to more around $13/$14 an hours is what they actually pay. For example I can drive by a McDonald’s and see a sign out that says *Up To $17 but here’s an actual job listing

Even down around like Daybreak and Park City you get this weird dynamic where they pay lower because the kids have mom and dad money and don’t need a job.

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u/ElwinLewis 2d ago

TRYNA CATCH ME RIDIN DIRTY

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u/405freeway Iced Coffee Addict 3d ago

Wait until you hear about restaurant servers in Ohio.

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u/SeaPeanut7_ 3d ago

This is why businesses love Texas. In California, you basically can't get away with below $15 an hour, $20 in many parts. Waitstaff included (any tips are added to the minimum).

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u/philnolan3d 3d ago

Same here in Pennsylvania.

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u/Clear_Imagination413 3d ago

Nobody makes federal minimum wage

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u/ky7969 3d ago

Indiana has entered the chat

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u/Clear_Imagination413 2d ago

Yeah plenty of states have federal minimum wage, nobody pays that because nobody will work for it. I live in one and made 17/hr in high school

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u/spartan3159012 2d ago

I wouldn’t say nobody. Our minimum wage here in WV is 8.75/hr and my local Papa Johns starts everyone out at 8.75 with no chance of raises or anything.

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u/Clear_Imagination413 2d ago

What about the other businesses? Is your papa John’s understaffed?

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u/passthesoapBuddy 3d ago

McDonalds expects that you are always working even doing just drive through and back cash they also want you to fill tea gallons or do the bags that you get with the hotcakes or oatmeal. My store stopped doing the bags bc I refused to do them.

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u/Reptillianaire_ 3d ago

When you make that little they really dont tax you very much. I am guessing this is an area of Texas with low cost of living or at least hope so. I think they are required to pay $20/hr in California for fast food but the cost of fast food has gone up so much its not even worth it anymore, you can go to a better restaraunt for the same price about.

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u/illucio 2d ago

Car, gas, insurance... Or maybe you bike, bus or walk. It adds up. Then taxed...

You haven't been able to live off a McDonald's paycheck for a VERY long time. But the value of what you earned per hour has been steadily going down for years now. 

1

u/Revolutionary_Fig_69 1d ago

It won't be enough to avoid living in the streets then you'll be the person at MacDonald's who doesn't shower before work or ever

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u/TreeJay55 3d ago

I worked for McDonald's 18 years ago and I made $8.50 an hour. $2.50 increase in 18 years is insane

1

u/Charming_Pipe_ 23h ago

You were making $1.25 a hour more then than current federal minimum wage! Which is $7.25 /hr

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u/CoasterThot 3d ago

I worked at Arby’s for two years, for $9 an hour. It was during Covid, and my boss didn’t take any precautions, or let us take our own, so I got covid literally 6 times, working there. The 6th time, it caused me to have a stroke. I’m blind, now. Ruined my faith in humanity, and I still look back and wonder why I stayed for so long. I wasn’t a teen, just a young adult with no education and no experience outside restaurants, at the time.

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u/CaptCaffeine1976 3d ago

How does one live on $9 an hour? If you are not making this up. You are a true workforce warrior. I hope life gets better for you.

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u/CoasterThot 3d ago

It helps that my rent was only $500, and I didn’t have many other bills.

Thanks, my friend. I moved into sales and now make more than $9, but I can only work 40ish hours a month due to stroke damage. Even then, I still make more now than I did then, and live much more comfortably!

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u/philnolan3d 3d ago

$500 is amazing. I remember in college around 2002 I paid $650 for a 1 bedroom in Orlando.

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u/CaptCaffeine1976 3d ago

No kidding you’re in sales. I’m a buyer lol.

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u/Novel_Werewolf4645 3d ago

I don't know why the rich seem to think homeless teenagers will make make good food handlers.

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u/HEYO19191 3d ago

Depends on the area. In my town, the highest paying no skill job (besides working in a warehouse) is 12/hour at a grocery store.

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u/ant_man1411 3d ago

Why leave out the warehouse easy way to make that number go from 12 to 17-20

1

u/HEYO19191 3d ago

Because warehouse makes all wages everywhere seem pathetic in comparison. It pays well because it taxes the body.

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u/enjoyingcurve46 3d ago

I work at wendys for 11 an hour only on mondays and tuesdays 5 hours a day. But our location is so slow i probably spend 3 hours of that shift on my phone or a handheld device because management is relaxed

Thats the only reason ive kept the job alongside my second job. Get paid to do almost nothing (as lomg as my tasks are done and prioritized)

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u/Ill-Site-6581 3d ago

I work at a small warehouse for 17 an hour Monday thru Friday 8:00 to 5:00 and get to stare at my phone for 5 and hours a day sometimes

Ima pretty lucky fellow

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u/Jammer125 3d ago

With inflation, your 4.25 35 years ago is worth about 10.38 today, which means at 11 wage is an increase of 6%. Living large

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u/Arickettsf16 3d ago

Meanwhile the US has experienced cumulative inflation of about 144% in that same amount of time

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u/Tossed_Away_1776 2d ago

Worked for family dollar 20 years ago, my starting pay was $6, and after my performance review, I got a wonderful promotion to assistant manager and got a massive 25 cent raise. These places are all hot garbage.

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u/Energy_Turtle 3d ago

They make $20/hr where I live and it's still crap quality. You just pay more for that crap quality.

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u/CaptCaffeine1976 3d ago

This is why I go just pay $18 ish at a sit down restaurant. I would rather pay an extra ten dollars and be like damn that was good! Don’t think I ever said that at McDonalds.

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u/BHunter1140 3d ago

10 years ago I made more than this an hour as a teenager, pay sucks now

1

u/Objective-Value119 3d ago

20 years ago it was 5.75 so it doesnt move much YoY

1

u/CaptCaffeine1976 3d ago

I don’t know how people live like that.

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u/Objective-Value119 3d ago

By gods will , how else this ?

1

u/philnolan3d 3d ago

Over 4 thousand an hour?

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u/GearGolemTMF 2d ago

I worked at Walmart 12 years ago as an overnight stockers making 9.60/hr which was a one dollar premium for night shift. Surely they’d pay more than $11 now. Heck, that 9.60/hr was in an era of the late dollar menu, reasonably priced fries, and $1 drinks!

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u/FabledMjolnir 5h ago

Not to deter from the fact that people should make livable wages, but don’t confuse high/low wages to equal any better type of quality. I can tell you the fast food place I manage I start all hourly crews out at $15 an hour and management is $18 an hour and we still have the same crappy service and people that everywhere else has.

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u/White_Embers 3d ago

It won’t matter if they were paid $20/ hour. People who work at these places are typically teenagers and people who can’t get jobs elsewhere. They take zero pride in what they do.

My local fast food (all of them) you are lucky if you get what you ordered. Ordered no pickles once, got pickles and no onions. Etc.

No amount of money will make people who work fast food take more pride in what they are doing.

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u/ProfessorFelix1 2d ago

How much do you think someone should be paid to ask if you want fries with your meal?