Quick Answer

Yes, Chipotle actively hires people with felony convictions and is nationally recognized for fair-chance hiring practices. With over 3,200 locations nationwide, Chipotle offers crew member ($13-17/hour), kitchen manager ($18-22/hour), and service manager ($18-22/hour) positions with genuine advancement opportunities. The company explicitly commits to second-chance employment through formal fair-chance hiring policies.

Chipotle is one of the best fast-casual options for people with criminal records, combining accessible entry-level positions with strong internal promotion and educational benefits.

Last Verified: October 2025

Table of Contents

1. Quick Answer

2. About Chipotle

3. Does Chipotle Hire People with Felonies?

4. Available Jobs at Chipotle

5. What Chipotle Looks For

6. Background Check Process at Chipotle

7. Application Tips for Chipotle

8. Frequently Asked Questions

9. Why Chipotle Stands Out for Second-Chance Employment

10. Final Thoughts

About Chipotle

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in burritos, bowls, tacos, and salads made with fresh ingredients. The company operates over 3,200 restaurants across the United States, Canada, and Europe, employing over 100,000 people. Chipotle is known for "Food With Integrity," promoting from within, and progressive employment practices.

Chipotle restaurants need dedicated employees who can work in fast-paced kitchens, maintain food quality standards, provide efficient service, and embody the company's values. The chain emphasizes speed, quality, and creating a positive work culture.

For people with records, Chipotle matters because the company has explicitly committed to fair-chance hiring as a core business practice, not just a policy. Chipotle actively recruits people with criminal records, offers clear advancement paths, provides educational benefits, and has proven track record of promoting people with records into management. This is genuine second-chance employment, not just lip service.

Does Chipotle Hire People with Felonies?

Yes, actively and intentionally.

Official Fair-Chance Commitment

Chipotle has publicly stated commitment to fair-chance hiring including:

• No automatic disqualification based on criminal history

• Individualized assessment of every applicant

• Consideration of rehabilitation, time since conviction, and relevance to position

• Active participation in fair-chance hiring initiatives and coalitions

• Recognition as a leader in second-chance employment

  
  

This isn't just policy—it's practice. Chipotle actively works with organizations supporting people with criminal records.

Real-World Practice

Crew members and managers with felony records work at Chipotle restaurants nationwide. The company's "promote from within" culture means 90%+ of managers are promoted from crew positions—creating real advancement opportunities for people who start with records.

All positions evaluate candidates fairly. Kitchen manager and service manager roles are genuinely accessible through internal promotion, with many current managers having criminal records.

What Affects Hiring Decisions

Relevance to position: Chipotle considers whether the conviction relates to job duties. Most convictions have limited relevance to food preparation and service.

Time since conviction: Recent convictions get fair consideration. Chipotle focuses more on current behavior and rehabilitation than distant past.

Type of offense: All offense types receive individualized assessment. Violent offenses, theft, drug offenses—all evaluated based on circumstances, time, and rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation evidence: Chipotle values positive change—education, training, sobriety, stable housing, community involvement.

Current capabilities: Your current skills, attitude, and commitment matter more than past mistakes.

What Chipotle Looks For

Chipotle wants team members who embody their culture and values:

• Speed and efficiency (throughput is critical)

• Food quality consciousness

• Team player mentality

• Positive, energetic attitude

• Willingness to learn and grow

• Commitment to "Food With Integrity" values

• Long-term career interest (company invests heavily in development)

  
  

Chipotle cares about your current ability to contribute to their fast-casual operation and grow within the company. Past criminal history is just one factor among many.

Available Jobs at Chipotle

Chipotle offers positions with clear advancement paths:

1. Crew Member

Pay: $13-17/hour

What you do: Prepare food on line, work grill/prep, serve customers, maintain cleanliness, work multiple stations, ensure speed and quality.

Requirements: Ability to work fast, team player, food safety awareness, positive attitude, willingness to learn all stations

Why it works: Entry-level position with Chipotle's fair-chance commitment. Cross-training across all stations. Foundation for advancement. Accessible to people with all types of backgrounds.

2. Kitchen Manager (KM)

Pay: $18-22/hour

What you do: Manage back-of-house operations, oversee food preparation, maintain quality standards, manage inventory, train crew on cooking, ensure food safety.

Requirements: Typically promoted from crew after 12-18 months, leadership ability, deep food knowledge, reliability

Why it works: Internal promotion path from crew. Demonstrates company values performance over background. Many KMs have criminal records and advanced through crew positions.

3. Service Manager (SM)

Pay: $18-22/hour

What you do: Manage front-of-house operations, lead customer service, maintain speed of service, handle customer issues, train crew on service standards.

Requirements: Typically promoted from crew after 12-18 months, customer service excellence, leadership, communication skills

Why it works: Another internal promotion path. Customer-facing leadership for those with strong people skills. Advancement from crew demonstrates fair evaluation.

4. Apprentice / General Manager Track

Pay: $20-25/hour (apprentice level)

What you do: Train to become general manager, rotate through all management functions, learn P&L management, develop leadership skills, prepare to run restaurant.

Requirements: Proven performance as KM or SM, leadership potential, business acumen, commitment to Chipotle career

Why it works: Path to general manager (salary $60,000-$100,000+). People with criminal records have become GMs through this track. True career advancement opportunity.

5. Prep Cook (Specialized Crew Role)

Pay: $13-16/hour

What you do: Focus on food preparation before service, prep vegetables and proteins, maintain prep quality standards, support grill operations.

Requirements: Attention to detail, knife skills (training provided), food safety, early morning availability typically

Why it works: Behind-the-scenes focus. Important role in Chipotle's fresh food model. Advancement to full crew or KM track.

Best entry point: Start as Crew Member, learn all stations thoroughly (grill, prep, line, cash, expo), demonstrate speed and quality, show leadership potential, advance to Kitchen Manager or Service Manager within 12-24 months based on performance. General Manager possible within 3-4 years.

Critical advantage: Chipotle's internal promotion culture means your criminal record doesn't prevent advancement—performance and leadership determine career path.

Background Check Process at Chipotle

Chipotle's fair-chance approach impacts their background check process:

When It Happens

Background checks occur after interviews, before final offers. However, Chipotle's fair-chance policy means findings don't automatically disqualify you.

What They Check

Standard 7-year background checks covering:

• Criminal records with individualized assessment

• Employment history verification

• Identity confirmation

Fair-Chance Evaluation Process

When background checks reveal criminal records:

1. Individualized review: Each case evaluated based on specific circumstances

2. Relevance assessment: Whether conviction relates to job responsibilities

3. Time consideration: How long since conviction and evidence of rehabilitation

4. Opportunity to explain: You can provide context and demonstrate positive change

5. Holistic decision: Multiple factors considered, not just the conviction

   
   

This process reflects genuine fair-chance principles, not just technical compliance.

What This Means Practically

• Recent convictions receive fair consideration

• Serious offenses evaluated individually, not automatically rejected

• Your interview performance and demonstrated capabilities matter significantly

• Rehabilitation efforts and current life situation weighed heavily

• Many people with serious criminal records work at Chipotle successfully

  
  

Application Tips for Chipotle

Maximize your chances with these strategies:

1. Apply Online

Visit chipotle.com/careers or jobs.chipotle.com to search positions and apply. Complete applications thoroughly and honestly.

2. Emphasize Interest in Advancement

Chipotle wants career-focused employees: "I'm interested in Chipotle specifically because of the internal promotion opportunities. I want to build a restaurant management career, starting as crew and working toward management."

3. Highlight Speed and Quality

Chipotle values both: "I work quickly without sacrificing quality. I understand Chipotle's reputation depends on both fast service and fresh, quality food."

4. Show Team Player Mentality

Chipotle emphasizes teamwork: "I understand Chipotle's assembly line requires everyone working together efficiently. I communicate well and help teammates stay synchronized."

5. Be Honest About Your Background

When asked, emphasize growth: "I have a [type] conviction from [year]. That experience motivated me to build a better life. I'm drawn to Chipotle because the company truly promotes based on performance and offers real advancement opportunities."

6. Research "Food With Integrity"

Understand Chipotle's values: "I respect Chipotle's commitment to sustainably sourced ingredients and Food With Integrity. Those values align with my interest in working for a company with purpose."

7. Demonstrate Availability

Fast-casual requires flexibility: "I'm available for opening, mid, and closing shifts, plus weekends. I understand peak periods require full team availability."

8. Show Long-Term Thinking

Chipotle invests in development: "I see this as a career opportunity, not just a job. I'm interested in learning all stations, developing leadership skills, and growing toward management."

9. Prepare for Pace Questions

Chipotle is genuinely fast-paced: "I thrive in fast environments. I stay calm under pressure, work efficiently during rushes, and maintain quality even when it's hectic."

10. Mention Educational Benefits

Chipotle offers tuition assistance and debt-free degrees: "I'm interested in pursuing [education goal], and Chipotle's educational benefits through Guild Education make this opportunity especially valuable."

11. Visit During Slower Times

If visiting in person after applying, go during off-peak (2-4pm weekdays). Observe operations, note the pace and teamwork, mention observations in follow-up communications.

12. Follow Up Professionally

After applying/interviewing, follow up within a few days expressing continued interest and enthusiasm for the opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Chipotle's fair-chance hiring real or just marketing?

A: It's real. Chipotle has formal policies, participates in fair-chance coalitions, actively recruits people with records, and has proven track record of hiring and promoting people with criminal histories. This is genuine commitment, not public relations.

Q: Will my violent felony prevent me from getting hired?

A: Not automatically. Chipotle evaluates all convictions individually. Violent offenses receive the same fair assessment as other convictions—considering time, circumstances, rehabilitation, and relevance to position. Many people with violent felonies work at Chipotle successfully.

Q: How quickly can I advance to management?

A: 12-24 months typically from crew to Kitchen Manager or Service Manager for high performers. General Manager possible within 3-4 years. 90%+ of Chipotle managers are promoted from crew, so advancement is standard practice, not rare exception.

Q: Does Chipotle do drug testing?

A: Policies vary. Some locations drug test, others don't. It's more common for management positions. However, Chipotle's fair-chance approach means even this is evaluated individually. Ask during interview if concerned.

Q: Can I work at Chipotle while on probation?

A: Yes. Many Chipotle employees work while on probation. Be upfront about scheduling needs for probation appointments. The company works with people in various situations.

Q: What makes Chipotle different from other fast-casual?

A: Explicit fair-chance hiring commitment, 90%+ internal promotion rate, educational benefits (tuition assistance and debt-free degree programs through Guild Education), competitive pay, proven track record of advancing people with records into management, genuine culture of development and opportunity.

Q: Will my theft conviction matter?

A: It will be considered but not automatically disqualifying. Chipotle evaluates theft convictions (like all convictions) individually based on time, circumstances, and rehabilitation. Many people with theft convictions work at Chipotle.

Q: Are there positions that don't require background checks?

A: No. All positions require background checks. However, Chipotle's fair-chance policy means findings receive individualized assessment rather than automatic disqualification.

Q: Can I get the educational benefits with a felony record?

A: Yes. Chipotle's educational benefits through Guild Education are available to all employees meeting eligibility requirements (typically 120 days of employment). Your criminal record doesn't affect educational benefit eligibility.

Q: What if I don't have restaurant experience?

A: That's fine. Chipotle provides comprehensive training. Many successful managers had no restaurant experience before Chipotle. They prefer teaching "the Chipotle way" rather than unteaching habits from other restaurants.

Why Chipotle Stands Out for Second-Chance Employment

Chipotle deserves special recognition among employers:

Formal commitment: Explicit fair-chance policies, not just case-by-case evaluation

Active recruitment: Partners with organizations supporting people with records

Proven advancement: 90%+ managers promoted from within, including many with criminal records

Educational investment: Tuition assistance and debt-free degree programs available to all employees

Living wage focus: Competitive pay compared to fast-casual competitors

Company culture: Values people development, growth mindset, opportunity creation

Track record: Numerous success stories of people with records building careers at Chipotle

This combination makes Chipotle one of the genuinely best opportunities for people with criminal records in the restaurant industry.

Final Thoughts

Chipotle is one of the best fast-casual restaurant opportunities for people with felony records. The company's genuine commitment to fair-chance hiring, combined with strong internal promotion culture and educational benefits, creates real career opportunities rather than just jobs.

Be honest about your background, emphasize your interest in advancement and long-term career development, and demonstrate the speed and teamwork Chipotle values. Many people with felonies have built successful careers at Chipotle, advancing from crew to management positions and utilizing educational benefits to further their lives.

Start here: Visit chipotle.com/careers to apply for crew member positions, emphasize your interest in the company's advancement opportunities and fair-chance hiring practices, and prepare to demonstrate your commitment to building a restaurant career with a company that genuinely invests in people development.