McDonald’s Wages in New York City: An Overview

Introduction

McDonald’s has been a household name in the fast-food industry for more than six decades, serving billions of people across the world. The New York City is home to more than 270 McDonald’s outlets, employing over 20,000 workers, making it the largest employer for fast-food chain workers in the city. Given that McDonald’s employees have been rallying for better wages across the country in recent years, it is worth exploring the salaries of McDonald’s workers in New York City.

The Minimum Wage and Wages at McDonald’s

A report by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) in 2013 showed that the average worker at a fast-food chain in New York City earned less than $9/hour, well below the living wage in the city. However, since then, there have been incremental increases in the minimum wage, and by 2021, the minimum wage in New York State will be $15/hour, which also applies to fast-food chain workers. According to Glassdoor, a platform for current and former employees to review and rate their employers, the average hourly wage for a McDonald’s crew member in New York City is around $12/hour. However, the most accurate information about McDonald’s wages in the city comes directly from the company itself. McDonald’s website states that the starting wage for crew members in New York City is $15/hour, which is the same as the minimum wage.

Room for Improvement

Despite the minimum wage having increased in recent years, the wages at McDonald’s, like many other fast-food chains, remain low. Furthermore, the report found that fast-food employees in New York City tend to work 26.6 hours a week, making their average annual salary around $16,000, which is well below the poverty line. However, there is room for improvement as the website also states that employees could earn up to $3000 a year in tuition assistance and General Education Development (GED) classes.

Developments for McDonald’s Workers

In November 2020, a lawsuit against McDonald’s was settled, resulting in $26 million being paid to hundreds of current and former employees of stores that were critical of their wages and safety measures in response to Covid-19. The fast-food giant has also introduced a $100 million bonus pay plan for the workers on the front lines during the pandemic, including McDonald’s team members in New York City.

Conclusion

While McDonald’s educational assistance is commendable, the fact that many employees need to work multiple jobs to make ends meet is indicative of a larger issue of the increasing wealth gap in the country. Nevertheless, the recent lawsuits and pay hike for frontline workers are encouraging signs that fast-food employees’ voices are being heard and that progress is being made. Ultimately, the onus is on McDonald’s and other fast-food chains to recognize the imperative of providing a living wage to their employees, both in New York City and across the country.