Four Years Ago, This Chick-Fil-A Started Paying $17 An Hour. It Transformed the Business. Posted byFrances Dodds May 10, 2022 Leave a comment on Four Years Ago, This Chick-Fil-A Started Paying $17 An Hour. It Transformed the Business. Back in 2018, Eric Mason made headlines when he began paying his employees a “living wage.” On this side of the great recession, his experience could be a roadmap for other fast food franchises.