With over 40,000 locations worldwide, Subway is one of the largest fast food chains on the planet. The restaurant is known for its customizable sandwiches, salads, and wraps made with fresh ingredients. If you‘re considering a job at your local Subway shop, one of the key questions on your mind is likely to be: How often will I get paid? More specifically, does Subway pay its employees on a weekly basis?
The short answer is no, Subway does not pay weekly at most of its locations as of 2023. The vast majority of Subway restaurants issue paychecks to employees on a biweekly (every two weeks) basis. This is fairly standard in the fast food industry. Like many chains, Subway franchises operate on a biweekly pay schedule to reduce payroll processing costs and simplify accounting.
However, it‘s important to note that since the bulk of Subway stores are independently owned and operated franchises, each location may have slightly different policies. A small percentage of Subway franchisees opt to pay workers weekly, so it‘s always a good idea to confirm the pay frequency during the hiring process at your specific store. But biweekly pay periods are definitely the norm across the Subway brand.
A Closer Look at Subway‘s Pay Rates and Schedules
So now that we‘ve established that Subway generally pays every two weeks rather than weekly, let‘s dive into some more details about the company‘s compensation approach. What kind of hourly wage can you expect to earn in various roles? How quickly do you get your first paycheck after being hired? And what other benefits and perks does Subway provide? Here‘s what you should know.
Typical Hourly Wages for Subway Staff
According to data from job sites like Indeed and Glassdoor, the average hourly pay at Subway breaks down as follows for common positions:
- Sandwich Artist: $11.27 per hour
- Shift Leader/Supervisor: $12.67 per hour
- Assistant Manager: $13.88 per hour
- Store Manager: $16.05 per hour
It‘s worth noting that these figures are national averages and actual pay rates will vary quite a bit based on factors like geographic location and the policies of individual franchise owners. For example, minimum wage laws differ from state to state and can heavily influence starting pay. Subway stores in expensive urban areas also tend to pay more than those in smaller towns and rural regions.
In general though, entry-level crew member jobs at Subway usually start around minimum wage, with modest bumps for additional responsibilities and experience. Shift supervisors and assistant managers can expect to make a few dollars more per hour than base associates. Store managers are the highest paid non-corporate employees but still typically make less than $20 per hour on average.
Paychecks, Direct Deposit, and Payroll Schedules
For the typical Subway employee who works at a location with a biweekly pay schedule, here‘s a rundown of how the payroll process usually works:
- Biweekly pay periods run for 14 days, starting on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday.
- Time worked is tabulated after the pay period closes and paychecks are issued the following Friday.
- Most Subway stores offer direct deposit, which means your earnings are automatically transferred into your bank account.
- If you opt for a traditional paper check instead of direct deposit, you‘ll usually be able to pick it up at your store on payday.
- Any tips earned during the pay period are paid out in cash separately from your regular wages.
- In most cases, you‘ll receive your first paycheck about 3 weeks after your start date, since you‘ll begin in the middle of a pay period.
- If you‘re hired as a salaried manager, you may be paid monthly instead of biweekly, but this varies by franchise.
The exact payroll policies and procedures can differ between franchise locations. But this biweekly schedule with a Friday payday and direct deposit option is the most common setup across the Subway system. You can always check with your manager for specifics on when and how you‘ll be paid.
Additional Compensation and Benefits
Along with your hourly wage, Subway provides some extra perks to enhance the compensation package. Again, the details may vary by store, but here are a few of the common benefits:
- Employee Discounts: Subway workers often get a discount on food purchased at their store, usually in the 50-75% off range. Some locations also offer a free 6-inch sub during shifts.
- Flexible Scheduling: Many Subway stores are willing to work around school and family schedules, which makes it a popular job for students and parents. Part-time, full-time, and seasonal roles are available.
- Paid Time Off: Vacation days, sick leave, and other forms of paid time off are not guaranteed for part-time or hourly Subway workers. However, some franchisees do provide PTO to full-time staff.
- Health Insurance: By law, Subway franchisees with 50 or more full-time employees must offer health coverage to those who work at least 30 hours per week. But most stores have limited full-time roles.
- 401(k) Plans: Some Subway owners provide access to 401(k) retirement plans for employees who meet eligibility requirements. Company matching of contributions is rare though.
- Tuition Assistance: While not widely available, a small number of Subway franchisees offer tuition reimbursement or assistance to student employees in an effort to attract and retain talent.
The overall benefits package at Subway is fairly slim compared to some other employers, especially for part-time and entry-level workers. The employee discount is nice, but the lack of health coverage, paid time off, and other common perks for hourly team members is a notable downside. Subway is best suited for those seeking part-time income with a flexible schedule.
Opportunities for Advancement and Raises
If you‘re hoping to turn a job at Subway into a long-term career, you may be wondering about the potential for promotions and pay increases. Subway does offer some opportunities to move up the ranks from entry-level roles into management. However, significant advancement can be challenging.
Most Subway employees start out as Sandwich Artists, and with good performance can progress to shift supervisor roles, then assistant manager, and finally store manager. Pay bumps usually come along with these title changes, but the raises tend to be modest, especially in the transition from associate to shift leader.
Seniority also plays a role in earning power at Subway. As you gain experience and prove your reliability, you‘ll likely be given more hours and may see a slight increase in your hourly rate. Annual cost of living raises are common too. But again, the pace of pay growth at Subway is relatively slow.
Subway does provide training programs to help workers develop additional skills in areas like food safety and customer service. Completing these courses can improve your chances of promotion. However, many franchise owners prefer to hire externally for management roles rather than promoting from within.
To reach higher levels like district manager or Subway corporate staff jobs, you‘ll likely need to change stores or regions. Gaining experience managing your own franchise is also a potential path to bigger opportunities. But the funnel gets narrow as you move up, with fewer jobs available at each successive rung of the ladder.
How Subway Compares to Other Fast Food Jobs
Subway is one of the biggest brands in the quick-service restaurant space, but it‘s far from the only option for job seekers. You may be curious how it stacks up against some of the other major players in the industry in terms of pay and overall desirability as a workplace. Here‘s a quick overview:
- McDonald‘s: The golden arches are Subway‘s biggest competitor, with even more locations worldwide. McDonald‘s also pays biweekly in most cases. Starting wages are similar, but McDonald‘s offers slightly more robust benefits on average, including college tuition assistance for some employees.
- Burger King: Like Subway, Burger King operates on a biweekly pay schedule. Hourly pay rates are in the same general range as Subway. BK focuses more on burgers and fries than sandwiches but the nature of the work is quite comparable.
- Wendy‘s: With its signature square burgers, Wendy‘s falls into the same quick-service category as Subway. The chain also shares a biweekly payroll approach. Wendy‘s recently bumped starting pay to $15 per hour at company-owned stores, which is higher than Subway averages. But franchisees set their own wages.
- Chipotle: Known for its burritos and bowls, Chipotle is a booming fast-casual chain. It stands out from Subway and other competitors with a weekly pay schedule. Chipotle also offers an attractive benefits package including health insurance, paid time off, and sick leave for part-time staff. But the hiring process is more selective.
- Chick-fil-A: Beloved for its fried chicken sandwiches, Chick-fil-A is another fast food heavyweight. The company recently moved from biweekly to weekly pay. However, Chick-fil-A is extremely selective in hiring and puts workers through an intensive training program, which sets a high bar for employment.
- KFC: The biggest name in fast food chicken, KFC has a mix of company-owned and franchise stores. Most pay biweekly like Subway, with average starting wages slightly higher at corporate locations. But franchisee pay is similar to Subway.
- Domino‘s: One of the top pizza delivery chains, Domino‘s stands out from Subway in a few ways. Delivery driver jobs offer the chance to earn substantial tips. Domino‘s also gives workers a free pizza each shift. But delivery carries some risk and liability that Subway jobs don‘t have.
Clearly, there‘s no shortage of options in the world of quick-service restaurants. They all have slightly different pros and cons for employees. Subway‘s biweekly pay approach is pretty typical though.
The Bottom Line: Is a Job at Subway Right For You?
So where does this all leave us? Is Subway a good employment option for you? As with any job, there are tradeoffs to consider. On the plus side, Subway offers relatively stable income, a simple hiring process, and extremely flexible scheduling. It can be a solid choice for students, parents, seniors, or anyone looking for predictable part-time work.
However, Subway falls short in some aspects. Upward mobility is limited, benefits are slim for hourly employees, and pay increases slowly. Weekly paychecks are rare, with biweekly being the standard. And at the end of the day, it‘s a fast food job – which means you‘ll be on your feet a lot, dealing with impatient customers, likely working some evenings and weekends, and constantly smelling like sandwiches. It‘s not glamorous.
Overall, if you‘re looking for a basic, entry-level job with a well-known company, a role at Subway is worth considering. Especially if you‘re a student, have limited work experience, or need something with flexible part-time hours, it‘s a solid option in the quick-service space. You‘ll get your paycheck every two weeks and can build some transferable customer service and foodservice skills. Just don‘t expect big money or lavish benefits.
Ultimately, whether "working at Subway" sounds appetizing is a question only you can answer. But hopefully this in-depth look at the sandwich giant‘s compensation approach has given you something to chew on as you weigh your job options. Thanks for reading!
