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Highest Paying Jobs At Sonic Drive-In: Top Sonic Drive-In Salaries [2026]

By Chris Kolmar
Nov. 11, 2022
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Jan. 31, 2026

Highest Paying Jobs At Sonic Drive-In: Top Sonic Drive-In Salaries [2026]

Research Summary. Utilizing public government data, company insights, and information from thousands of job postings, our Zippia team has identified a range of high-paying positions at Sonic Drive-In, along with their average annual salaries. This data set has enabled our experts to produce salary estimates for numerous jobs at Sonic Drive-In.

Here’s a brief overview of our findings regarding the highest-paying jobs at Sonic Drive-In:

  • Co-Manager ranks as the highest-paying position at Sonic Drive-In, offering an average salary of $38,475 and an hourly rate of approximately $18.50.

  • The second highest-paying role is Assistant Manager, earning an average salary of $29,721.

  • Overall, the average annual salary at Sonic Drive-In is $27,013, translating to an average hourly wage of $12.99.

Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs

Background

Many individuals know they want to work for a specific company even before identifying the exact role they wish to pursue. If you’re considering a career at Sonic Drive-In, understanding the highest-paying positions can help you decide whether to apply.

So, what can you expect in terms of earnings at Sonic Drive-In? Salaries can vary based on factors such as role, experience, and location. However, certain positions consistently offer higher compensation. Below are some of the top salaries at Sonic Drive-In:

  1. Co-Manager$38,475

  2. Assistant Manager$29,721

  3. Shift Manager$27,947

  4. Switchboard Operator$27,653

  5. Crew Leader$26,985

Below is a comprehensive table listing the highest-paying jobs at Sonic Drive-In, followed by an explanation of our methodology.

Highest Paying Jobs At Sonic Drive-In

Rank Job Title Average Salary
1 Co-Manager $38,475
2 Assistant Manager $29,721
3 Shift Manager $27,947
4 Switchboard Operator $27,653
5 Crew Leader $26,985
6 Shift Leader $26,819
7 Fountain Worker $25,268
8 Waitress $25,017
9 Crew Member $24,902
10 Cashier $24,885
11 Fast Food Worker $24,802
12 Cook $24,665
13 Car Hop $24,581
14 Server $24,340

Methodology

Zippia utilizes publicly available information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to generate its salary estimates.

Our data science team also reviews job postings and company-released resources to gather the most current salary information.

After collecting the data, the team computes a weighted average for each job title to estimate salaries. For further details on our methodology, please see our detailed methodology.

Highest Paying Jobs At Sonic Drive-In FAQs

  1. What is the highest-paid job at Sonic Drive-In?

    The highest-paid position at Sonic Drive-In is that of a Co-Manager. These professionals earn an average salary of $38,475, equating to about $18.50 per hour.

    The top ten highest-paid jobs at Sonic Drive-In include:

    1. Co-Manager$38,475

    2. Assistant Manager$29,721

    3. Shift Manager$27,947

    4. Switchboard Operator$27,653

    5. Crew Leader$26,985

    6. Shift Leader$26,819

    7. Fountain Worker$25,268

    8. Waitress$25,017

    9. Crew Member$24,902

    10. Cashier$24,885

  2. What is a good salary at Sonic Drive-In?

    A good salary at Sonic Drive-In is considered to be above $27,013 per year. This figure represents the average salary at Sonic Drive-In, so earning more than this indicates you are typically performing well.

    However, $27,013 may still be insufficient for certain positions, so it’s crucial to compare what you earn to the average for your role, skill set, and experience level. If you discover you are earning less, consider requesting a raise or exploring pathways to advance into a higher pay bracket.

    Salary can also vary by location, as Sonic Drive-In, like many companies, adjusts its pay scales based on the cost of living in different regions. For instance, Sonic Drive-In employees in California may earn significantly more than those in the Midwest.

    Research the average salaries of Sonic Drive-In employees in your area to evaluate how your compensation compares.

  3. Do jobs at Sonic Drive-In pay well?

    Generally, jobs at Sonic Drive-In do not offer high pay. The average starting salary is around $18,000 per year or approximately $8.65 per hour. The overall average salary at Sonic Drive-In is $27,013 per year ($12.99 per hour), which is significantly lower than the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.

    In comparison, CKE Restaurants Holdings, a key competitor of Sonic Drive-In, pays its employees an average of $55,377 per year or $26.62 per hour, which is about $28,364 more than Sonic Drive-In’s average salary and $13.64 more per hour than Sonic Drive-In’s average hourly wage.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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