This Is How Much In-N-Out Employees Really Make

Some fast food chains have locations everywhere, to the extent that it would be difficult to avoid them. Others, like In-N-Out Burger, are a bit more elusive. Though it's gained the kind of reputation expected of an international chain, In-N-Out still has a relatively small presence. Per their website, as of 2018, there were 334 In-N-Outs across six states, with most locations in California. In addition to quality food, low prices, and Christian beliefs, In-N-Out is widely considered one of the better fast food joints to be employed by. But how much do In-N-Out workers really make?

Data collected by job site Indeed reveals pay rates for entry-level positions at In-N-Out, like cashiers, is around $13-14 an hour. Minimum wage in California, where In-N-Out is primarily located, is currently $14/hour for larger companies and has been increasing by a dollar a year since 2018 (via State of California).

A whopping 89 percent of people on Indeed, out of over 2,500 polled, feel In-N-Out pays them fairly. The combination of solid pay and "opportunities to advance" even earned In-N-Out the number three spot on job review site Glassdoor's 2019 list of best places to work.

It's undeniable that In-N-Out Burger's starting wage is a cut above the rest, even if it does mostly just echo California's minimum wage. But the money doesn't stop there. Moving up the ranks at In-N-Out bestows workers with much more than extended exposure to the delicious scent of grilled onions. There's real cash to be made.

According to The California Sun, the truly big-earning position at In-N-Out is that of manager. The publication found that in 2018, the average salary for an In-N-Out store manager was $160,000, a number considered to be triple the average pay for such a role. The California Sun also reported that In-N-Out doesn't require a college degree for career advancement, and often offers benefits like health insurance and a 401(k). 

It's true that In-N-Out pays their workers well. But they aren't immune to the wealth disparity created by most large, successful companies, the kind where workers get a decent wage but CEOs and the like earn astronomically more. According to Forbes, In-N-Out heiress and current president Lynsi Snyder is worth $3 billion.