How much do Sonic restaurant employees make?

[JustMickey]

I was at Sonic this evening and noticed a small sign that stated "Now accepting applications for bellhop position. $3.13/hr plus tips. Inquire within." Do they really only get paid $3.13? I work in a restaurant where I get paid $2.13 an hour, but I am definitely in a position that's (almost) always tipped. I've never thought to "tip" the bellhop more than just a few cents, just so they didn't have to make change. I didn't think it was the norm to tip the bellhops, and if they were I assumed it wouldn't be on the same level as servers in restaurants. How on earth could it be fair that they only make $3.13?

My first thought was that some bellhop had printed the sign up themselves to post on all the stalls to try to get more tips. But if that's really what they make then I'm glad I don't work there!

 

[bicker]

Fairness is a matter of people being offered a job, subject to certain conditions, completely in accordance with the law, and those people accepting that job.

I think Sonic falls into the same category as Walmart, with regard to its cost structure, without all the "exporting jobs to China" baggage that we're discussing in THIS thread. Specifically, it replaces "Mom & Pop" diners and eateries, with a much more efficient (read: less expensive) option, that efficiency achieved in part through substantially lower-paying employment. Do keep in mind, though, that the workers all get at least minimum wage. If the tips don't bring them up to minimum wage, the company is required to make up the difference.

 

[frisco]

Isn't Sonic just a fast food restaurant? Who would receive any tips?

 

[MichelleVW]

My DD18 worked at Sonic and made over $6 an hour and then got tips on top of that.

I tip the Sonic Bell hops pretty well since my DD was one of them.

 

[java]

I tip 20% at our new Sonic! I was so happy to see it. The young girl was so happy when I gave her the tip it really was worth every penny. Plus she was on rollerblades! gotta tip for that!

 

[jen0610]

At our Sonic or Dog N Suds, when the car hop brings the tray out to us and collects it afterwards, we always tell them no coin with our change and then give them a 20% tip. Now, if we just use the drive thru at Sonic, no tip. But thats just us.

 

[Carl]

I like the new way to pay with credit card at Sonic. However, there doesn't seem to be a way to add a tip. I expected them to bring out a receipt with a place to add a tip, but they don't.

 

[clgwli]

At Sonic if they bring us food we tip. If we go through drive through we don't. I don't know what they make when on the skates but they definitely are doing far more work than the guy in the drive through

 

[HunnyPots]

The kids at our Sonic make around $7 an hour. It is not considered a tipped postion.

FYI: they are car hops, not bell hops!

 

[Justanopinion]

My DS worked at Sonic. Depends on the position as to how much they are paid.

But yes, car hops get a lot of tips. And Sonic covers won't doesn't bring them up to minimum wage.

A lot of people do tip at the drive through also.

If paying with a credit card where you can't tip, a lot of people would hand them change or $1 or so.

 

[MariDisney]

Isn't Sonic just a fast food restaurant? Who would receive any tips?

They bring you the food out to your car. I always tip them a couple of bucks.

 

[~disneydiva~]

I always tip at Sonic.

 

[Sleepy]

Beware of a sneaky tactic. I noticed many years ago at one Sonic I frequented, the drive thu employees had you to come to the window to pay, then tell you to move forward and someone else would bring the food. The one who brought the food would take your money and then ask you if you want change. Ummm.....yeah, I gave you a $20 and my food came to $12. Of course I want change and for forcing me to pull forward so you could gouge me for a tip, I will keep all of my change. My food could have been handed to me at the window. McDonald's and Hardee's doesn't expect a tip for the same drive thru service.

 

[ms.yt]

I guess it depends on the particular Sonic franchise based on what posters are saying here. I had some of my students who worked at Sonic, and they told me they got an hourly wage that was less than minimum wage, but nowhere near as low as $3.13. I can't remember exactly, but I think it was about a dollar below minimum wage.

I know around here a lot of people are cheap and don't tip well at any restaurant, much less Sonic. The other night when they were having their free root beer float promotion, my son and I went to get floats for the whole family. On those nights, they just have car hops going around to all the stalls with trays of floats and ask you how many you want. We got 4, and I handed her $ .85 (all the spare change I could find in my car). She seemed amazed that someone actually tipped her on free float night!

 

[bicker]

How does the price of a comparable McDonald's hamburger compare to the price of a comparable Sonic hamburger (pre-tip)?

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

My DS worked at Sonic. Depends on the position as to how much they are paid.

But yes, car hops get a lot of tips. And Sonic covers won't doesn't bring them up to minimum wage.
A lot of people do tip at the drive through also.

If paying with a credit card where you can't tip, a lot of people would hand them change or $1 or so.

I hope that was a mistype on your part. I have worked restaurants (full service, not Sonic) where I made as little as 2.13/hr plus tips. Restaurants are required to make sure that you make minimum wage. So if your declared tips plus your salary do not equal minimum wage, the restaurant has to make up the difference. So, if the kids are only being paid 3.13/hr and they have a night when their tips do not bring them up to minimum wage, the restaurant is expected to make up the difference.

 

[Tina]

Beware of a sneaky tactic. I noticed many years ago at one Sonic I frequented, the drive thu employees had you to come to the window to pay, then tell you to move forward and someone else would bring the food. The one who brought the food would take your money and then ask you if you want change. Ummm.....yeah, I gave you a $20 and my food came to $12. Of course I want change and for forcing me to pull forward so you could gouge me for a tip, I will keep all of my change. My food could have been handed to me at the window. McDonald's and Hardee's doesn't expect a tip for the same drive thru service.

What?? They want a tip in the drive thru?? That's ridiculous.

 

[bicker]

I hope that was a mistype on your part. I have worked restaurants (full service, not Sonic) where I made as little as 2.13/hr plus tips. Restaurants are required to make sure that you make minimum wage. So if your declared tips plus your salary do not equal minimum wage, the restaurant has to make up the difference. So, if the kids are only being paid 3.13/hr and they have a night when their tips do not bring them up to minimum wage, the restaurant is expected to make up the difference.

Absolutely. They are required to, by federal law.

 

[fairestoneofall]

I always tip at Sonic. One time, I had already ordered and realized that I had no change/dollars in my car and I felt horrible that I couldn't tip her.

I tipped on free float night too. I also ordered something for DH (who wasn't with us). She brought DH's shake and then told me that they'd get around to bringing the floats at some point. But, once I tipped her, she asked how many floats I needed and brought them right out.

 

[sbell111]

We always tip the carhops a buck or two.