The Nine Best Retail and Restaurant Employers: Good Pay and Real Careers
I was surprised to read a couple of news stories recently about high-paying careers at Buc-ee’s and In-N-Out Burger, so I dug into this sector to see if it was really true and, if so, which companies offer desirable career paths.
I started by looking at “best places to work” lists — these are lists of companies highly recommended by their own employees, as measured by confidential surveys. Several publications such as Fortune and Forbes create such lists, as do some job sites such as Indeed and Glassdoor. In this regard, I looked for retailer and restaurants that were highly recommended on more than one top list.
I then asked Grok to determine which of these “best places” companies paid relatively well and to estimate the years of employment it would take to reach a $100,000 salary. Starting hourly pay at the entry-level is universally modest — these are essentially low-skilled jobs, but junior management positions come fast, and some of these companies offer very generous benefits.
The result of this analysis is the following nine companies.
In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger is a fast-food chain specializing in fresh burgers, fries, and shakes, known for its simple menu, quality ingredients (never frozen), and cult following, with a drive-thru focus and no franchising. It’s concentrated in the Southwest U.S. (California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oregon), with over 400 locations but no East Coast presence.
Summary: In-N-Out ranks at or near the top of all measures examined. No other company comes close. Working conditions are highly-rated, compensation is higher than average, and time to earn over $100,000 is amazingly just 2-4 years.
Working Conditions. The company ranks #1 in employee satisfaction among restaurant chains — in a confidential survey of its own staff, 91% said they recommended working there, according to QSR’s Best Brands to Work For 2025. Amazingly, In-N-Out has been top ranked for ten years. Glassdoor concurs, ranking it #3 in its Top 100 Most Recommended Employers list. Likewise, Forbes ranks the company #2 among retail companies on its list of America’s Best Large Employers.
Pay, Benefits, and Career Prospects. Pay starts at $15-20 per hour for associates, averaging $18-22, while store managers earn $180,000+ with bonuses. Time to over $100,000 is 2-4 years, often reaching manager level quickly with dedication. Advancement follows a structured 1-8 level system from associate to manager, with internal promotions common and training emphasized. Benefits include medical/dental/vision, 401(k), paid vacation, free meals, profit-sharing, and life insurance.
Wegmans Food Markets
Wegmans is a family-owned regional supermarket chain renowned for its high-quality fresh produce, prepared foods, and customer service, operating over 100 stores. Wegmans is concentrated in the Northeast U.S., with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Delaware.
Summary: Wegman’s is one of the most frequently recommended employers in the US, based on multiple separate confidential surveys of its employees. This would be a comfortable and happy place to work — compensation and benefits are better than average, but advancement would be less rapid than at some other companies on this list — time to earn over $100,000 is a relatively long 5-8 years.
Working Conditions. It ranks #1 in Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Retail 2025 list, #4 in its Companies that Care list (highest employee morale), and #6 in its 100 Best Companies to Work For (most competitive list). “The company has a very strong family feel to it. Employees are given a lot of opportunities to grow within the company and hard work gets recognized very often and in ways that make people feel important to the company.” Glassdoor concurs, ranking it #93 in its Top 100 Most Recommended Employers list; Forbes ranks the company #7 among retail companies on its list of America’s Best Large Employers; Indeed ranks it #7 in its 15 Best Companies in Retail list; and CareerCloud ranks it #4 in its list of 12 Best Retail Jobs.
Pay, Benefits, and Career Prospects. Pay at Wegmans starts around $15-$20 per hour for entry-level positions like cashiers or stockers, while department managers earn $60,000-80,000 annually, and store managers can exceed $100,000 with bonuses. The estimated time to reach over $100,000 in pay is 5-8 years, typically advancing from entry-level to store manager. Opportunities for advancement are clear, with career paths via internal promotions, mentorship programs, leadership training, and a promote-from-within policy—over 50% of managers start as hourly employees. Benefits are comprehensive, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with company match up to 50% on the first 6%, tuition assistance up to $5,250 per year, paid time off starting at 2-3 weeks, employee discounts of 10-20%, and wellness programs. Full-time employees also get profit-sharing and flexible spending accounts.
Costco
Costco is a membership-based warehouse club retailer offering bulk goods, groceries, electronics, apparel, and services like optical and pharmacy at discounted prices, operating over 800 warehouses worldwide with a no-frills, high-volume model. Costco is nationwide in the U.S. (nearly all states except a few like Wyoming), plus international locations in Canada, Mexico, UK, Asia, and Australia, with heavy concentration in California and Washington.
Summary: Costco is likewise a frequently recommended employer. This would be a comfortable and happy place to work — compensation and benefits are better than average, but advancement would be less rapid than at some other companies on this list — time to earn over $100,000 is a relatively long 5-10 years.
Working Conditions. Forbes ranks the company #3 among retail companies on its list of America’s Best Large Employers; Indeed ranks it #1 in its 15 Best Companies in Retail list; and CareerCloud ranks it #1 in its list of 12 Best Retail Jobs.
Pay, Benefits, and Career Prospects. Pay starts at $18.50-$20 per hour but rises from there, with cashiers averaging around $40,000-45,000 annually, and managers $100,000-150,000 including bonuses. Estimated time to over $100,000 is 5-10 years, progressing from cashier to department manager or higher via performance. Advancement opportunities are plentiful, with internal promotions emphasized—many executives started as hourly workers—and training programs for leadership. Benefits are excellent: health insurance with low premiums, 401(k) match up to 50% on 4%, stock options, generous PTO (up to 5 weeks), paid parental leave, free memberships, and seasonal extras like turkeys. Full-time employees also enjoy profit-sharing and wellness incentives.
Publix Super Markets
Publix is an employee-owned grocery chain offering fresh produce, bakery, deli, pharmacy, and floral services, known for exceptional customer service and “Publix subs.” The company is concentrated in Southeast U.S. (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky).
Summary: Publix is likewise a frequently recommended employer. This would be a comfortable and happy place to work — compensation and benefits are better than average, but advancement would be less rapid than at some other companies on this list — time to earn over $100,000 is a relatively long 5-10 years.
Working Conditions. The company ranks #3 in Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Retail 2025 list, #28 in its Companies that Care list (highest employee morale), and #42 in its 100 Best Companies to Work For (most competitive list). “People care about you here. They provide mentorship, and want you to succeed and move up in the company. They are also always willing to work with you if you need time off.” Likewise, Forbes ranks the company #8 among retail companies on its list of America’s Best Large Employers. Likewise, Indeed ranks it #14 in its 15 Best Companies in Retail list.
Pay, Benefits, and Career Prospects. Pay starts around $14-18/hour, with managers earning $70,000-100,000+. Time to over $100,000: 5-10 years to senior roles. The company has a high internal promotion (80%+) rate and extensive training programs. Benefits: Profit-sharing, 401(k), health insurance, tuition reimbursement, stock ownership.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A is a fast-food chain specializing in chicken sandwiches, nuggets, and salads, closed Sundays, with a focus on hospitality and community. Nationwide in U.S. (all states except Alaska, Vermont, Hawaii), plus Canada/Puerto Rico.
Summary: Chick-fil-A has very high employee satisfaction. Initial compensation is just fair, but ambitious, hard-working employees will experience rapid advancement — time to earn over $100,000 is just 2-5 years.
Working Conditions. The company ranks #10 in employee satisfaction among restaurant chains — in a confidential survey of its own staff, 72% said they recommended working there, according to QSR’s Best Brands to Work For 2025. Chik-fil-A has been on the top ten list for eight of the last ten years.
Pay, Benefits, and Career Prospects. Pay is above minimum wage — in some locations well above minimum wage, with operators/managers earning $100,000+. Time to over $100,000: 2-5 years to operator. The company has very extensive training and a clear path to advancement, including a management boot camp. Benefits: Health, 401(k), scholarships, Sundays off. The scholarship benefit is noteworthy and unusual — up to $25,000. Funds can cover tuition, fees, books, and other school-related expenses at accredited institutions, and it’s not even tied to continued employment, though recipients are encouraged to stay involved with the company.
QuikTrip
QuikTrip is a convenience store chain with gas, fresh food, and snacks, emphasizing clean stores and quick service. The company is located in the Southwest/Midwest U.S. (Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas).
Summary: QuikTrip has very high employee satisfaction. Initial compensation is just fair, but ambitious, hard-working employees will experience rapid advancement — time to earn over $100,000 is just 3-5 years.
Working Conditions. The company ranks #14 in Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Retail 2025 list. “At QuikTrip your coworkers are like family, and we look after each other and help each other grow and succeed. QuikTrip's profit sharing and employee stock ownership program has been very impressive, and it encourages employees to make a career here with no worries about retirement.” Glassdoor concurs, ranking it #72 in its Top 100 Most Recommended Employers list.
Pay, Benefits, and Career Prospects. Pay: Entry $15+/hour, managers $80,000+. Time to over $100,000: 3-5 years. QuikTrip (QT) has a strong promote-from-within culture, with over 75% of store managers starting as entry-level part-time clerks. The company emphasizes internal growth through performance-based promotions, training, and mentorship, allowing employees to advance from store roles to supervisory positions, management, or even corporate opportunities. Benefits: Profit-sharing, ESOP, health, tuition assistance.
Raising Cane’s
Raising Cane’s specializes in chicken fingers, Texas toast, and sauce, with a simple menu. U.S. (30+ states, South/Midwest focus), 900+ locations.
Summary: Raising Cane’s has very high employee satisfaction. Initial compensation is just fair, but ambitious, hard-working employees will have opportunities for advancement — time to earn over $100,000 is 3-6 years.
Working Conditions. The company ranks #2 in employee satisfaction among restaurant chains — in a confidential survey of its own staff, 82% said they recommended working there, according to QSR’s Best Brands to Work For 2025. Raising Cane’s has been on the top ten list for nine of the last ten years. Glassdoor concurs, giving it a 4/5 score for employee satisfaction.
Pay, Benefits, and Career Prospects. Entry-level positions, such as Crew Member or Cashier, typically range from $12 to $18 per hour. Higher roles, like managers average $86,000 annually. Raising Cane’s emphasizes internal growth, providing training and resources for progression from entry-level to leadership roles. The company supports this through development programs like the Restaurant Partner Program, LinkedIn Learning, and cross-training after six months, with many opportunities in operations due to rapid expansion. It typically takes 3–6 years for an entry-level employee at Raising Cane’s to advance to a position earning over $100,000 annually. Benefits include competitive packages like health insurance options, 401(k) matching, paid time off, employee discounts, and education assistance.
Buc-ee’s
Buc-ee’s is a chain of massive convenience stores/gas stations famous for clean restrooms, fresh food (like brisket sandwiches), snacks, and merchandise, operating as travel centers with a fun, beaver-mascot theme. The company is primarily located in Texas (majority of 50+ locations), and the Southeast (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina).
Summary: Buc-ee’s is an unusual recommendation for this list. It does not have strong employee satisfaction — indeed it may be a very demanding and stressful place, but it has made the news several times because its manager pay — even assistant manager — is very generous. In addition, ambitious hardworking employees will rise into management relatively fast. Time to earn over $100,000 is just 2-5 years.
Working Conditions, Pay, Benefits, and Career Prospects. Associates earn $18-21/hour, assistant managers $125,000+, general managers $175,000-250,000. Time to over $100,000 is 2-5 years, advancing to assistant GM. Advancement paths: Associate to team lead to department manager to GM, with rapid growth in expanding company. Benefits include medical/dental/vision, 401(k) match up to 6%, PTO, and employee discounts.
Trader Joes
Trader Joe’s is a grocery chain known for unique, affordable products, and friendly staff. It operates 608 locations across 43 states and DC.
Summary: Trader Joe’s scores highly in employee satisfaction, with some staff even saying it’s fun to work there. This would be a comfortable and happy place to work — compensation and benefits are better than average, but advancement would be less rapid than at some other companies on this list — time to earn over $100,000 is a relatively long 5-10 years.
Working Conditions. Forbes ranks the company #1 among retail companies on its list of America’s Best Large Employers. Glassdoor concurs, ranking it #30 in its Top 100 Most Recommended Employers list.
Pay, Benefits, and Career Prospects. Starting pay is around $15-20 hourly depending on location and experience. In high-cost areas like California, pay averages reach $40/hour. Managers earn $100,000-$225,000 depending on location. Trader Joe’s promotes from within, with 78% of Mates (supervisors) starting as Crew and 100% of Captains (store managers) advancing from Mates. Time to over $100,000: 5-10 years. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage where the company covers most costs for eligible crew, health insurance and 401(k) matching. Other perks include paid time off, flexible schedules, gym reimbursement, and low healthcare premiums.
Pluses and Minuses of Retail and Restaurant Work
Pluses. There are always tons of entry-level jobs in the retail and restaurant sector — and entry-level positions require little experience, providing fast employment. Social interaction, and a dynamic, fast-paced environment keeps work engaging. These roles build strong customer service, communication, and teamwork skills.
Minuses. Jobs often involve low wages starting out, irregular hours, and physically demanding work like standing for long shifts. Dealing with difficult customers can be stressful, while weekend, holiday, and evening schedules disrupt personal life.
Next Steps
Note that the companies above are often regional, so you’ll need to see which ones are located in your area. After that, just apply! The company names above are linked to career homepages.
