A&W Canada started as a Winnipeg drive-in with car hops and now has more than 1,000 restaurants, each one run by a franchisee. Nearly all openings are crew jobs at the cash or the grill, and steady crew can step up to run shifts.
Counter, grill and supervisor roles at A&W
Four roles with advertised rates and the usual shift pattern.
See Job Openings at A&W →🍔 Today’s order, item by item
- The stations inside an A&W
- Crew and supervisor pay
- What franchise owners look for
- How the chain got here
Stations inside an A&W restaurant
An A&W can be a standalone drive-thru, a dining room or a food court counter. Postings often combine cashier and cook into one crew role, so expect to rotate.
Order counter
Crew greet guests, key in Burger Family orders and take payment.
Drive-thru window
A headset, a timer and a line of cars that grows at noon.
Grill
Cooks sear patties and assemble Teen, Mama and Papa Burgers to spec.
Fryer
Fries and onion rings come out in batches timed to the rush.
Root beer
The house root beer is made fresh on site and served in frosted mugs.
Lobby care
Tables, trays, washrooms and the patio get wiped down between waves.
What A&W crews and supervisors earn
Each franchisee sets its own wages, so pay follows the provincial minimum and the local job market. Supervisor ads usually sit a dollar or two above crew rates.
💡 Check the meal policy at your location: A&W crew mention 50% off meals and free drinks while working, but the owner decides what applies in each restaurant.
What franchise owners look for in crew
Experience is optional for crew roles. A friendly manner and a dependable schedule matter more to owners than previous jobs.
How an A&W application moves along
Mobile form
A&W’s hiring site runs on HigherMe, a quick phone form with your weekly availability.
Owner interview
A franchisee or restaurant manager meets you, often right in the dining room.
First shifts with a trainer
You learn the register, grill timers and food safety steps with a trainer nearby.
Station rotation
Once confident, you cover the counter, drive-thru and kitchen as needed.
You can also walk in and ask for the manager. Some owners still accept printed resumes at the counter, ideally between meal rushes.
⚠️ Peak hours are hard work: crew describe a fast, physical kitchen during rushes, and some say they get asked to pick up shifts on their days off.
An A&W story that started on Portage Avenue
The first Canadian A&W was a Winnipeg drive-in where car hops carried frosted mugs out to parked cars. A group of franchisees later bought the Canadian chain, which is now based in North Vancouver.
Only McDonald’s has more burger restaurants in Canada. Names like the Teen Burger and Mama Burger still come from that original Burger Family menu.
Counter, drive-thru or grill at A&W
People who enjoy chatting do well at the front, and those who like a steady rhythm often prefer the grill. Look over the four A&W openings and pick the station that suits you.
Cash register or grill? Find your A&W station.
Rates and the next step up for each role.
See Job Openings at A&WNext up on A&W
Company history and the restaurant count are from A&W Canada’s own site, job duties from HigherMe listings, and wages and meal perks from what crew post on Indeed and Glassdoor.