Almost every Subway restaurant in the United States is owned by a franchisee, not by Subway itself. That single fact explains most of what is confusing about applying: pay, scheduling, uniforms, breaks and hiring standards are set by the local owner, so two stores in the same town can be very different employers.
The main roles
- Sandwich Artist — the front-line role: prep, baking bread, building orders, register, cleaning, closing.
- Shift lead / keyholder — the same work plus cash handling, opening and closing the store, and covering breaks.
- Assistant manager and store manager — ordering stock, scheduling, food-safety records, labour cost.
- Multi-unit and franchise-office roles — for owners running several locations.
- Corporate roles — marketing, supply chain, technology and development, based at Subway's own offices rather than in restaurants.
What it pays
Sandwich Artist pay in 2026 generally sits between the local minimum wage and a few dollars above it — roughly $12–$17 an hour across most of the country, with higher rates in California, Washington, New York and other high-minimum states, and lower in states still at the federal floor. Shift leads typically earn $1–$3 more, and store managers are commonly $17–$24 an hour or a modest salary. Tips exist at some stores through card tip prompts, but they are not a meaningful part of the pay.
Benefits vary by franchisee. A single-store owner may offer little beyond a free or discounted meal on shift and flexible hours; larger multi-unit operators sometimes offer paid time off, health insurance for full-time staff, and paid training.
Age and eligibility
Most franchisees hire from 16, and some from 15 where state child-labour law allows it with a work permit. Federal rules restrict under-18s from operating certain equipment such as commercial slicers, which is why younger hires are often kept to the front line and register. Expect an hours cap on school nights for minors. No experience or qualifications are required, and food-handler certification is usually arranged after you are hired where the state requires it.
How to apply
- Start at Subway's careers site to search restaurant openings by ZIP code and to see corporate roles.
- Apply in person too. Small franchises hire off a walk-in far more often than from an online queue. Go mid-afternoon, not at lunch rush.
- Apply to several stores. Because owners are independent, each application is a separate process — being turned down at one says nothing about the next.
- Follow up after four or five days. Ask for the manager by name.
To find the stores worth applying to, use the same tools customers use — our store locator hub shows how to list every location around you, and our hours guide tells you which formats run late, early or seasonal shifts.
The interview
It is short, usually 10 to 20 minutes with the store manager, and it is mostly about availability and reliability rather than skill. Expect: which days and hours can you work, can you work weekends, how would you handle a queue of ten people, have you handled cash, how do you deal with a customer who says their order is wrong. Bring your availability written down and a form of ID. Knowing the menu helps — skim our Subway Series guide and bread and toppings guide beforehand and you will sound like someone who has thought about the job.
What the job is actually like
The honest version: it is fast, physical and repetitive. You are on your feet the whole shift, baking bread early, restocking the veg line, working a lunch rush that can be an hour of continuous orders, and cleaning at close. The upsides people consistently cite are flexible scheduling around school, quick training, and a small team where one good manager makes the whole job pleasant. The downsides are low pay, thin staffing at quiet stores, and the fact that store culture is entirely down to the owner.
Frequently asked
How old do you have to be to work at Subway?
Usually 16, sometimes 15 with a permit where state law allows, and 18 for most keyholder and management roles.
Does Subway drug test?
Restaurant-level hiring rarely involves testing; it is a franchisee decision and more likely for management roles.
Do employees get free food?
Most stores give a free or heavily discounted meal on shift. It is a franchise policy, so ask in the interview.
Is there room to move up?
Yes, and quickly at busy stores — shift lead within months is common, and multi-unit owners often promote from inside.
We are an independent guide and not a recruiter for Subway or any franchisee. Pay ranges are general 2026 US estimates; actual wages, benefits and hiring requirements are set by the individual restaurant owner. Apply only through Subway's official careers site or the restaurant directly, and never pay anyone for a job application.
