Grow Your Career
Move up & earn more
From part-time to full-time, crew to shift lead - how to grow your hours, your title, and your rate.
Hourly work has real ladders. The people who climb them usually are not the most experienced - they are the ones who show up, learn the next role, and ask. Here is how to grow.
Part-time to full-time
- Be flexible early. Picking up open shifts and covering gaps gets you noticed for full-time first.
- Say it out loud. Tell your manager you want more hours - many promotions start with simply asking.
- Cross the 30-hour line. Full-time often unlocks benefits, so it is worth pushing for.
The typical hourly ladder
| Step | Typical bump |
|---|---|
| Crew / associate | Starting rate |
| Trainer / key holder | +$1–3/hr |
| Shift lead / supervisor | +$3–6/hr |
| Assistant manager | +$5–10/hr |
Estimates only - actual steps and pay vary by employer and industry. Each bump is on top of the step before it.
Skills that raise your rate
- Certifications - forklift, food safety, CPR, or a CDL open higher-paying roles.
- Reliability & training others - the fastest, cheapest path to "lead."
- Cross-training - learning a second station or department makes you promotion-ready.