Last Updated on July 19, 2025 by ThePublic
The golden arches of McDonald’s are more than a fast-food icon, they’re a glaring symbol of an economy that prioritizes wealth over work. While McDonald’s rakes in billions, the workers who keep the restaurants running are struggling to survive. This stark contrast exposes a deeper truth about who creates wealth and who actually benefits from it.
The Reality for Workers
The average McDonald’s crew member earns between $11.54 and $15.14 per hour, depending on their location. For a full-time worker, that translates to roughly $24,000 to $31,500 a year—barely enough to cover rent, groceries, or transportation in most U.S. cities. Shift managers, who take on extra responsibilities, earn around $34,000 annually, still far from a comfortable living. These wages leave little room for healthcare, savings, or any hope of upward mobility.
Now contrast that with McDonald’s CEO, Christopher Kempczinski, who earned $19.2 million in 2024 alone. That’s 1,212 times the median employee salary at McDonald’s. This isn’t just a pay gap, it’s a chasm, one that destabilizes the economic fabric by concentrating wealth in the hands of a few while workers struggle to get by.
Billions for Shareholders, Pennies for Workers
McDonald’s has prioritized profits over people. In recent years, the company spent $7 billion on stock buybacks and $4 billion on shareholder dividends—a total of $11 billion funneled to investors. These are people who don’t flip burgers, mop floors, or work grueling 10-hour shifts. They simply own stock.
To put this in perspective: if that $11 billion were distributed among McDonald’s 150,000 U.S. employees, each worker could receive a $73,000 check. That’s life-changing money—enough to clear debts, pay rent, or provide for families. Instead, it flows to executives and shareholders, rewarding wealth rather than labor.
Who Really Builds the Empire?
The wealth of McDonald’s isn’t created by boardroom decisions or stock market trades. It’s built by the workers who:
- Take orders at the drive-thru, often under intense time pressure.
- Work the grill, ensuring food is prepared quickly and correctly.
- Clean bathrooms and dining areas, maintaining the customer experience.
- Handle complaints with a smile, even after hours on their feet.
These employees are the backbone of McDonald’s $27 billion in annual revenue. Yet, they’re treated as disposable, while those at the top, far removed from the daily grind, reap the rewards.
Why Workers Can’t Fight Back
Why don’t workers strike or demand better pay? The answer is simple: survival. Most McDonald’s employees live paycheck to paycheck. Missing even a single week of work could mean eviction, skipped meals, or unmet medical needs. Striking, while ideal in theory, is a luxury many can’t afford.
The system is stacked against them. Retaliation for organizing is a real threat, union support is minimal, and the fast-food industry thrives on a culture that discourages collective action. Workers are trapped in a cycle where their labor fuels corporate profits, but they have little power to demand a fair share.
A Broken System, Not Just a McDonald’s Problem
McDonald’s is a microcosm of a broader issue in the American economy: labor is undervalued, and wealth is siphoned to the top. Corporate profits soar while wages stagnate, and stock buybacks enrich investors while workers struggle to afford basic necessities. This isn’t sustainable, it erodes trust, stifles economic growth, and deepens inequality.
Solutions for Change
This isn’t just about pointing fingers; it’s about actionable change. Here are steps to address this imbalance:
- Raise the Federal Minimum Wage: The current minimum wage hasn’t kept pace with the skyrocketing cost of living. A living wage would ensure workers can afford basics without relying on public assistance.
- Tax Stock Buybacks: Redirecting revenue from stock buybacks to programs that support low-income workers could level the playing field.
- Protect Unionization: Pass laws that make it easier for workers to organize without fear of retaliation, giving them a voice in their workplace.
- Reward Equitable Businesses: Incentivize companies that share profits fairly through tax breaks or public recognition.
- Increase Transparency: Require companies to disclose pay ratios and shareholder payouts, holding executives accountable to shareholders and the public.
These steps aren’t radical—they’re practical ways to ensure that the people who create wealth share in it.
The Choice McDonald’s Faces
McDonald’s could afford to pay its workers more. It could invest in the people who make its success possible. It could lead by example, showing that a company can thrive while treating employees as partners, not costs.
But it doesn’t. The system rewards maximizing shareholder value over human value, and McDonald’s has chosen to follow that path.
The Real Question
The next time you hear about McDonald’s “success,” ask yourself: success for whom? The workers who keep the restaurants running aren’t seeing it. The $73,000 question isn’t just about McDonald’s, it’s about whether we’re willing to keep accepting an economy that rewards wealth over work.
Until that changes, the golden arches will remain a symbol not of opportunity, but of a broken promise.