In-N-Out just opened its first restaurant in Idaho. And it's paying workers 141% above the state's minimum wage.

• In-N-Out opens its first restaurant in Idaho on Tuesday.
• The chain said the starting wage for employees is $17.50 an hour.

Crowds in winter coats camped out on lawn chairs early Tuesday morning to be among the first customers to dine at In-N-Out's first restaurant in Idaho.

Once in the door, they'll be served by some of the highest-paid fast food workers in the state. The starting wage for the 80 employees at the Meridian, Idaho, location is $17.50 per hour, the Southern California burger chain said.

That's $10 more than the state's current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. The average wage for fast food workers in the state is $11.25 an hour, according to a 2023 Idaho wage survey.

In-N-Out is known for paying its workers well above industry standards. The average manager makes $180,000 a year. To become an In-N-Out manager, you must work up from the bottom and learn every role necessary to run a restaurant, chain owner Lynsi Snyder wrote in her new book.

That's the case in Idaho. The chain said that manager Valene Henriquez is a 23-year brand veteran.

If history repeats itself, Henriquez will oversee huge crowds at the new Idaho location. Every time In-N-Out enters a new state, a frenzy of cars lines up for miles to get their hands on the chain's most famous burgers – Animal-Style burger or the Double-Double.

With temperatures in the 30s, some fans set bonfires to keep warm. Local transportation authorities were called in to help with the crush of traffic expected for the opening.

In-N-Out Burger, founded by the Snyder family in 1948, is one of the most beloved burger brands in the US. It's known worldwide for its cheap, freshly made burgers. However, its availability in the US is limited.

Until today, In-N-Out only served burgers in about 400 restaurants in seven states.

Idaho represents the chain's entry into an eighth state. The company's ninth state is expected to be Tennessee.

"Everyone in Idaho is waiting for In-N-Out to come," one fan told KTVB news Tuesday morning before the doors opened.

He said he loves In-N-Out's cheap burgers and shakes – a welcome value amid rising fast-food prices.

"I've always been a big fan," he said. "The food quality is so good. You can not beat In-N-Out's prices. Tell me anywhere you can get a milkshake and burger for under $10. You can't beat that at any other fast-food restaurant right now."

Fast food costs have soared over the last two years, with McDonald's raising menu prices by roughly 10% each year since 2022. Chipotle has raised prices five times since June 2021.

A McDonald's Big Mac in Southern California costs $5.49, while In-N-Out's Double-Double costs $5.15.

According to the Idaho State Journal, the Meridian store is one of at least three restaurants planned for Idaho. A second restaurant is expected to open in a mall in Boise, Idaho. The Journal reported that it will replace a former Pier 1 store.

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