Shake Shack has broken the stereotype of fast food companies only paying their employees minimum wage. The popular East Coast burger chain pays a starting salary of $9.50 an hour for workers outside of New York and $10 an hour for New Yorkers, according to Think Progress.
With locations in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. in addition to international locations in the Middle East, Russia, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, the Shake Shack "offers full-time employees health, dental, vision, retirement, disability benefits and paid time off."
The chain also offers a program it called "Shack Bucks," which pays its workers $10.70 an hour. According to CEO Randy Garutti, every month the chain's employees give a percentage of the company's top-line sales. Garutti said he is excited about all the opportunities employees are given to move up into manager roles.
"We're incredibly proud of the hard work of our team and believe deeply in a compensation package that rewards their effort," Garutti wrote in a statement to The Huffington Post. "We're committed to giving our team the opportunity to make Shake Shack a long term career choice."
Garutti said many employees start off at $9 an hour then move on to become general managers. Adding that the restaurant's "turnover is lower," allowing that chain to hire the best workers, who end up staying longer.
"If the team feels taken care of, then they'll go out and take care of the guests," Garutti added. Shake Shack also does not franchise.
Considering the recent public battle of low wages and insufficient benefits at many of the world largest fast food chains, Shake Shack is essentially slapping other chains in the face. Working at McDonald's, Wendy's or Burger King, employees are paid slightly higher than the national minimum wage of $7.25.
Shake Shack is joined by several eateries that offer its worker above average pay. Michigan's Moo Cluck Moo pays entry-level workers $15 an hour; In-N-Out pays $10.50 an hour for entry-level employees; Boston-based burrito chain Boloco pays starting workers $9 to $11 an hour.