I Make $20 an Hour Working at a Burger Chain in Seattle

• Jasmine Ritter, 22, works at Dick’s Drive-In, a burger chain in Seattle that has increased hourly wages to $ 19 for new hires and $ 20 for trained staff.
• The raise is just one of a few great perks for employees – Ritter says they also receive health benefits and educational grants.
• This is what her job looks like, as she tells freelance writer Claire Turrell.

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This essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Jasmine Ritter, a senior crew member at Dick’s Drive-In in Seattle, Washington. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My first memory of Dick’s drive-in was when I was in high school buying burgers, fries, and shakes with my theater buddies. After we finished rehearsing, we all went to Dick’s as there were too many of us to sit together and eat in a regular restaurant.

I started at Dick’s in August 2019 to fund my studies at Seattle University. Dick’s was great because they were happy to work with my school and theater schedule. I had classes during the day, rehearsals from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at night, and when I wasn’t studying I worked at Dick’s. Not many jobs are open to that much flexibility. I am now a Senior Crew Member and Certified Trainer in the Capital Hill Store.

We learned that our wages will be increased in September.

Ritter says she’s glad she worked consistent hours during the pandemic.

Jasmine Knight

It’s so neat. I have a lot of student loans and it was amazing to have a steady job during these times, as well as getting salary increases and bonuses. Most of Dick’s stores remained open during the pandemic, some had closed earlier, but our Broadway store chugged along. We haven’t closed once.

Editor’s Note: On September 27th, Dick’s Drive-In announced that the starting wage for new hires would be $ 19 an hour and would rise to $ 20 after training and passing the proficiency test.

Now that I’ve graduated from college, I work at Dick’s up to 40 hours a week. We open at 10.30am and close at 2am. I live a five-minute walk from the store and when I get to work I usually open the grill. The shift is divided into quarters, so maybe I’ll start the grill, then take a break and switch to the window, run french fries or dip ice cream.

The best job in a restaurant is what we call reverse work when you are not assigned to a specific area. You can float around and do your own thing. You sweep, fill spice boxes or pack burgers when someone wants to go to the bathroom. It’s very relaxing.

The worst job is making the shakes. In the summer months the ice cream can melt and splash on you while you are mixing the shakes, and in winter the ice cream can be so cold that you can’t get it on the spindle.

Chocolate shakes on the spindle.

Dick’s drive-in

The fries are the hardest product to make. We have a list of what to look out for when you have a finished french fry: is the color correct, is it floating in the oil, and when you shake a basket of french fries does it rustle like a pile of autumn leaves? Shaking a basket and hearing the right sound is always very satisfying.

I really love mastering new skills so Dick’s was great for that. It’s a real rush when you master one skill and then move on to the next. When I started with fries, my arms were so weak that the training supervisor said, “I don’t know if you can make fries,” and now I’m training new employees with fries.

A big plus about the work here is the great atmosphere.

If you want to become a Dick’s employee, you need a good attitude, but you also get a lot of training and support.

Some interesting people stop by on weekends. There are lots of drunk, happy people who say, “You are the best thing that happened tonight” when they get their food, and there are also some angry customers who don’t understand why we have to close at 2am

Dick’s Deluxe Burger, Shake and Fries.

Dick’s drive-in

Dick’s is very popular with Seattle locals, but we also have a lot of California customers who love to see how our food compares to In-N-Out burgers. My coworkers served Bill Gates and they said he was very nice.

The raise isn’t the only benefit we have as Dick’s Drive-In employees.

We get health and dental insurance, paid vacation, 401 (k) games, discounted meals, educational grants, and we also compensate for volunteer work. Dick’s has given me a scholarship to study theater and has given me a lot of support in working towards my goals.

If you’ve just moved to Seattle and want to be part of the community, take it from me – you will be honored for working at Dick’s Drive-In.