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Panda Express salaries
Panda Express salary estimate
$13.46hourly
How much does Panda Express pay?
The average Panda Express salary in the United States is $27,988 per year. Panda Express salaries range between $19,000 a year in the bottom 10th percentile to $40,000 in the top 90th percentile. Panda Express pays $13.46 an hour on average. Geographic location also impacts Panda Express salaries. Panda Express employees in Spokane, WA get paid the most.Highest paying jobs at Panda Express
The highest paying jobs at Panda Express are coach operator, general manager, chef, and supervisor. Coach operator jobs at Panda Express earn an average yearly salary of $75,288, Panda Express general manager jobs average $43,198, and Panda Express chef jobs average $42,140.
The lowest paying Panda Express roles include food server and crew member. Panda Express food server average salary is $24,042 per year. So while the average Panda Express salary is $27,988 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
Highest paying jobs at Panda Express
Rank  | Job Title | Average Panda Express Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coach Operator | $75,288 | $36.20 |
| 2 | General Manager | $43,198 | $20.77 |
| 3 | Chef | $42,140 | $20.26 |
| 4 | Supervisor | $33,617 | $16.16 |
| 5 | Team Leader | $31,265 | $15.03 |
| 6 | Assistant Manager | $31,082 | $14.94 |
| 7 | Shift Leader | $31,061 | $14.93 |
| 8 | Food Handler | $29,485 | $14.18 |
| 9 | Customer Service Representative | $29,185 | $14.03 |
| 10 | Kitchen Staff | $28,972 | $13.93 |
| 11 | Associate | $28,813 | $13.85 |
| 12 | Front Counter Attendant | $28,637 | $13.77 |
| 13 | Cook | $27,901 | $13.41 |
| 14 | Counter Helper | $27,633 | $13.29 |
| 15 | Service Team Member | $26,195 | $12.59 |
| 16 | Kitchen Helper | $25,790 | $12.40 |
| 17 | Cashier | $25,194 | $12.11 |
| 18 | Server And Hostess | $24,968 | $12.00 |
| 19 | Crew Member | $24,966 | $12.00 |
| 20 | Food Server | $24,042 | $11.56 |
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Average Panda Express salary by state
Panda Express pays the highest salaries in California due to higher costs of living and competition in the state.
| Rank | State | Average Panda Express Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $33,630 | $16.17 |
| 2 | Michigan | $28,151 | $13.53 |
| 3 | Texas | $25,250 | $12.14 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $23,257 | $11.18 |
How much does Panda Express pay by location?
Highest Paying Panda Express Locations
| Rank | Location | Average Panda Express Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $34,317 | $16.50 |
| 2 | Medford, MA | $34,106 | $16.40 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $34,005 | $16.35 |
| 4 | Rosemead, CA | $33,374 | $16.05 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $32,783 | $15.76 |
| 6 | Milford, CT | $32,715 | $15.73 |
| 7 | Corvallis, OR | $31,430 | $15.11 |
| 8 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $30,139 | $14.49 |
| 9 | Woodbury, MN | $29,511 | $14.19 |
| 10 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $28,484 | $13.69 |
| 11 | Vernon Hills, IL | $28,397 | $13.65 |
| 12 | Bethesda, MD | $28,254 | $13.58 |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $27,978 | $13.45 |
| 15 | Ann Arbor, MI | $27,915 | $13.42 |
| 16 | Manassas, VA | $27,619 | $13.28 |
| 17 | Cedar City, UT | $27,084 | $13.02 |
| 18 | Glendale, WI | $26,920 | $12.94 |
| 19 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $26,285 | $12.64 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $25,466 | $12.24 |
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Panda Express salaries by department
Salaries at Panda Express vary depending on the department you work in. Panda Express salaries in the education department are the highest with an average salary of $51,406. Employees in the warehouse department at Panda Express receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $30,135 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Panda Express include the retail and the hospitality/service organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $27,407 and $27,623, respectively.
Average Panda Express salary by department
| Rank | Department | Average Panda Express Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $51,406 | $24.71 |
| 2 | Warehouse | $30,135 | $14.49 |
| 3 | Customer Service | $29,073 | $13.98 |
| 4 | Plant/Manufacturing | $29,051 | $13.97 |
| 5 | Sales | $27,945 | $13.44 |
| 6 | Hospitality/Service | $27,624 | $13.28 |
| 7 | Retail | $27,408 | $13.18 |
How much does Panda Express pay by department?
Best paying Panda Express hospitality/service salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Panda Express Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chef | $42,140 | $20.26 |
| 2 | Front Of House Manager | $37,615 | $18.08 |
| 3 | Kitchen Staff | $28,972 | $13.93 |
| 4 | Front Counter Attendant | $28,637 | $13.77 |
| 5 | Kitchen Crew | $28,274 | $13.59 |
| 6 | Cook | $27,901 | $13.41 |
| 7 | Counter Helper | $27,633 | $13.29 |
| 8 | Food Service Worker | $26,859 | $12.91 |
| 9 | Server And Hostess | $24,968 | $12.00 |
| 10 | Waitress | $24,368 | $11.72 |
| 11 | Food Server | $24,042 | $11.56 |
Best paying Panda Express retail salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Panda Express Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Manager | $43,198 | $20.77 |
| 2 | Team Service Leader | $32,017 | $15.39 |
| 3 | Shift Supervisor | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| 4 | Team Leader | $31,265 | $15.03 |
| 5 | Assistant Manager | $31,082 | $14.94 |
| 6 | Counter Clerk | $29,086 | $13.98 |
| 7 | Store Associate | $28,889 | $13.89 |
| 8 | Front Counter Attendant | $28,637 | $13.77 |
| 9 | Key Holder | $28,328 | $13.62 |
| 10 | Front End Associate | $26,655 | $12.81 |
| 11 | Cashier | $25,194 | $12.11 |
Best paying Panda Express plant/manufacturing salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Panda Express Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Manager | $43,198 | $20.77 |
| 2 | Shift Manager | $31,316 | $15.06 |
| 3 | Line Cook | $30,006 | $14.43 |
| 4 | House Worker | $29,197 | $14.04 |
| 5 | Kitchen Assistant | $28,152 | $13.53 |
| 6 | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | $27,694 | $13.31 |
| 7 | Service Team Member | $26,195 | $12.59 |
| 8 | Kitchen Helper | $25,790 | $12.40 |
| 9 | Line Up Worker | $25,302 | $12.16 |
Panda Express competitors’ average salaries
Average salaries at Panda Express competitors, like Cafe Services, Panda Restaurant Group, and Chipotle Mexican Grill, vary. Cafe Services employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $33,224. The average salary at Panda Restaurant Group is $33,150 per year, and the average salary at Chipotle Mexican Grill is $32,507 per year.
Highest paying Panda Express competitors
| Rank | Company Name | Zippia Score | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cafe Services | 4.4 | $33,224 |
| 2 | Panda Restaurant Group | 4.6 | $33,150 |
| 3 | Chipotle Mexican Grill | 4.4 | $32,507 |
| 4 | Bruegger's Bagels | 4.3 | $31,564 |
| 5 | P.F. Chang's China Bistro | 4.5 | $30,886 |
| 6 | QDOBA Catering - Twin Cities Group | 4.6 | $28,977 |
| 7 | Zippy's | 4.0 | $28,856 |
| 8 | Boston Market | 3.9 | $27,399 |
| 9 | Bojangles | 4.1 | $27,396 |
| 10 | Church's Chicken | 4.2 | $27,270 |
| 11 | Hardee's Food Systems Inc | 4.2 | $27,230 |
| 12 | Luby's | 4.0 | $27,203 |
| 13 | Sonic Drive-In | 4.3 | $27,013 |
| 14 | Whataburger | 3.8 | $26,990 |
| 15 | Taco Bell | 4.2 | $26,941 |
| 16 | Dairy Queen | 4.1 | $26,822 |
| 17 | Burger King | 4.5 | $26,543 |
| 18 | Wendy's | 4.3 | $26,046 |
| 19 | Subway | 4.2 | $25,489 |
| 20 | KFC | 4.2 | $25,307 |
Recently added Panda Express salaries
| Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panda Express In Person Management Interview Day-Tucson, AZ (3339) | Tucson, AZ | 09/21/2024 | $41,740 |
| Panda Express In Person Interview Day-LAS Vegas, NV (1281) | Las Vegas, NV | 09/19/2024 | $35,479 |
| Shift Leader | Waipahu, HI | 09/18/2024 | $39,653 |
| Shift Leader | Columbia, MO | 09/18/2024 | $54,262 |
| Panda Express In Person Interview Day-SAN Diego, CA (3267) | San Diego, CA | 09/17/2024 | $43,827 |
What employees say about salary at Panda Express
Good pay for food ($18.50 to $19.50 for starting positions for front/back of house)
Management was awful
Free food
The manager was actively trying to replace the entire crew that was currently working
I would like for them to care more about their employees.
I didn't really prepare.
They offer many types of insurance, scholarships, and good pay
It was very diverse
The opportunity to make connections with customers.
Poor leadership skills from management.
Creating amazing friendships with my coworkers.
The thing I like about working there is that I get to meet new people
The thing I do not like about working there is how I am working in hard times
My favorite benefit is maybe the PTO I get when I work certain hours
I like fast pace work. Working in fast food helped me work fast paced all the time.
I loved everything at first. However, over time the management went downhill and it just became miserable.
I love that Panda Express offered insurance.
Fast-paced and very diverse, employees from at least 3 different countries each shift. Also, the food was very good and fun to cook.
The dishwashing equipment broke a lot (gloves), and my hands were allergic to the soap.
The free food during breaks was definitely my favorite.
The pay was decent for a fast-food job. The work is a lot depending on whether you work in the front or the back.
The management was terrible.
The food and the people.
All the drama and Panda Express is very unprofessional.
Bonuses that I received while working there.
I liked the hours, I would always get a lot of hours.
There wasn’t much I didn’t like about this job.
Free food & could have worked almost however much I wanted.
I liked the hours, I would always get a lot of hours.
There wasn’t much I didn’t like about this job.
Free food & could have worked almost however much I wanted.
Pays very well, and encourages moveing up
Very long hours
Scholarships, food, and learning benefits
Frequently asked questions about Panda Express salaries
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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Panda Express, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Panda Express. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Panda Express. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Panda Express. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Panda Express and its employees or that of Zippia.
Panda Express may also be known as or be related to Panda Express, Panda Express Inc, Panda Express Inc. and Panda Express, Inc.