Some workers who serve up the Big Macs and fries are getting a pay increase.
McDonald’s officials announced Thursday that the company will be paying workers at 650 company-owned stores about 10% more this year, The Associated Press reported.
The average pay will be increased this year to $13 an hour and will be $15 an hour by 2024. Entry-level workers will make at least $11 while shift managers will be paid at least $15 an hour, the AP reported.
The New York Times reported that the $15 threshold may be met in some areas by the end of this year.
While it seems that there’s a McDonald’s every few miles in some areas, only about 5% are owned directly by the company. A majority are owned and operated by franchisees who set up their own pay scales.
McDonald’s is asking those franchise owners to follow the company’s lead.
“We encourage all our owner/operators to make this same commitment to their restaurant teams in ways that make the most sense for their community, their people and their long-term growth” president Joe Erlinger wrote to employees, according to the AP.
The company hopes that the pay increase will bring as many as 10,000 new employees, the Times reported.
It also said earlier this year that it would stop trying to block the fight for the increase of minimum wage to $15 an hour, the Times reported.