As a Smoothie King employee, how much you make depends on several factors including your location, position, experience level, and hours worked. Smoothie King is a popular smoothie franchise with over 1,300 locations across the United States and Asia. Like most food service jobs, Smoothie King offers entry-level positions that are hourly wages, as well as salaried management roles that pay more.
Smoothie King Hourly Wages
Most entry-level Smoothie King employees start out making somewhere around minimum wage or just above. According to Glassdoor data, average hourly pay rates for Smoothie King employees are:
- Smoothie Maker: $9 – $12 per hour
- Shift Leader: $10 – $14 per hour
- Assistant Manager: $11 – $15 per hour
However, wages can vary significantly depending on your location. For example, average hourly pay in some metro areas is reported to be:
- Dallas, TX: $10 – $13 per hour
- Houston, TX: $9 – $12 per hour
- Las Vegas, NV: $10 – $15 per hour
- New York, NY: $12 – $16 per hour
So if you work at a Smoothie King in an area with a higher cost of living, you’ll typically earn more per hour than employees in lower cost of living rural areas.
Smoothie King Management Salaries
Smoothie King Store Managers and multi-unit Area Managers are typically salaried positions. According to Glassdoor estimates, average pay for Smoothie King management jobs include:
- Store Manager: $33,000 – $55,000 per year
- Area Manager: $47,000 – $75,000 per year
However, as with hourly wages, salaries can cover a broad range depending on factors like location, experience, performance incentives, and number of stores managed. Some Store Managers report earning $30,000 to $40,000 per year, while top performers in major metro areas can earn over $70,000 annually.
Factors That Influence Smoothie King Pay
As mentioned above, geographic location is one of the biggest factors influencing Smoothie King compensation. Here are some other elements that can impact how much you make working at Smoothie King:
- Cost of living – Pay rates are adjusted based on the local job market and expenses in an area. Smoothie King positions pay more in high cost of living cities like New York City or San Francisco versus rural towns.
- Store sales and profits – Store Managers and Area Managers typically have opportunities to earn bonuses for meeting or exceeding sales goals. Top performing locations pay more.
- Experience – Employees with proven Smoothie King or restaurant experience often start at higher hourly wages or salaries than entry-level new hires.
- Full time vs part time – Full time employees working 40 hours per week inherently earn more than part time employees working fewer hours.
Smoothie King also provides opportunities for pay increases based on performance. Employees can earn raises for positive performance reviews, taking on additional responsibilities, getting promotions, and acquiring new skills and certifications.
Smoothie King Benefits
In addition to pay, Smoothie King offers various benefits to eligible employees:
- Employee discounts – Employees enjoy 50% off smoothies and retail products.
- Bonuses – Store Managers and Area Managers have bonus opportunities based on sales and profit goals.
- Paid time off – Full time staff earn paid vacation time off.
- Health insurance – Health, dental, and vision insurance plans are available to qualifying full-time staff.
- 401(k) plan – Full time corporate staff and management can participate in a 401(k) retirement savings plan.
- Tuition reimbursement – Smoothie King offers tuition reimbursement to encourage continued education.
However, exact benefits packages can vary. Part time hourly staff generally have access to fewer benefits than corporate and management level employees working full time.
Smoothie King Franchise Owner Salary
If you own and operate a Smoothie King franchise, your earnings potential is much higher than working as an hourly employee. As a Smoothie King franchise owner, your compensation comes from your location’s profits.
According to Smoothie King’s 2022 Franchise Disclosure Document, the average gross sales per store was $767,426 in 2021. However, new franchises generated over $1 million on average during their first year of operation.
Smoothie King franchisees pay an upfront franchise fee of $40,000 to $60,000 as well as an ongoing royalty fee equal to 6% of weekly gross sales. After covering these costs plus your location’s overhead expenses like rent, supplies, payroll, etc., the remaining profits are your compensation as the business owner.
Smoothie King estimates franchisees can reasonably expect to earn around $60,000 – $100,000 in annual compensation on average. However top performing locations in busy metro areas can produce owner earnings well over $250,000 per year.
How Experience Level Impacts Smoothie King Earnings
As you gain more experience working at Smoothie King, you can typically expect to earn higher pay over time. Here is a breakdown of how experience level commonly impacts total compensation:
| Experience Level | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-1 years) | $9 – $12 per hour | $18,000 – $25,000 |
| Mid Level (2-4 years) | $11 – $14 per hour | $25,000 – $35,000 |
| Manager/Supervisor (5+ years) | n/a | $35,000 – $60,000 |
As you move up from entry level roles into supervisor, manager, and multi-unit management positions, your annual compensation has greater growth potential through higher salaries, bonuses, and incentives.
Smoothie King Franchise Owner Return on Investment
For Smoothie King franchisees, the return on your upfront investment in purchasing a new franchise depends on multiple factors. These include:
- Your location’s sales revenue
- Hourly labor costs
- Product costs and profit margins
- Rent and other operating expenses
According to Smoothie King’s 2022 FDD, the average store generated:
- $767,426 in gross sales
- $326,618 in total operating expenses
- $172,647 in estimated owner compensation
So based on these averages, a Smoothie King franchisee could potentially recoup their initial $60,000 franchise investment in around 3 years. However, your specific payback period will depend on the performance and costs associated with your individual store.
Key Takeaways on Smoothie King Earnings
In summary, key points on typical earnings for Smoothie King employees and franchisees include:
- Hourly employees earn $9 – $15 per hour on average
- Store Managers make approximately $33,000 – $55,000 annually
- Multi-unit Area Managers earn around $47,000 – $75,000 per year
- Franchise owners can reasonably expect $60,000 – $100,000 in take home pay
- Higher potential earnings come with more experience and responsibility
- Top performing franchises generate over $250,000 in annual owner income
Smoothie King provides opportunities to enter the job market in an hourly role and progressively advance your career and pay over time through management positions. Purchasing a franchise requires a significant upfront investment but offers greater long term compensation through business ownership.
