Starting wages at Dick’s Drive-In to be $19 per hour

Seattle-based Dick’s Drive-In, which has a location in Kent on Pacific Highway South, announced that starting wages will increase to $19 per hour starting Sept. 27.

Dick’s President Jasmine Donovan announced the wage hike on the restaurant’s Facebook page. As with many restaurants, Dick’s is trying to keep employees on the job and find new employees to fill out its shifts.

“My grandfather and his original partners believed that investing in their employees was one of the best investments a business could make,” Donovan said. “That’s why Dick’s has prioritized paying the best wages and benefits in the industry for many decades.”

When new employees finish their initial training, typically between six and 12 weeks, they will move up to $20 per hour. Employees also can earn raises and bonuses as they complete advanced skills training.

The top hourly rate for a crew member is $21.75. Shift managers, who are all promoted from within, make up to $7 per hour more than the top crew pay rate, Donovan said.

Employees also are eligible for the company’s $28,000 scholarship program and child care benefit.

Through the remainder of 2021, employees who work more than 32 hours per week will earn overtime for those additional hours.

“Most of our employees are working in restaurants that are understaffed and need to work harder than ever to deliver the quality food and instant service our customers expect,” Donovan said.

Because of staff shortages, the locations at Lake City, Holman Road and Queen Anne will close at 8 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and be open normal hours to 2 a.m. on Thursday through Saturday.

The Kent, Wallingford, Broadway and Edmonds locations will maintain normal hours from 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.