Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Restaurant Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Restaurant Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Restaurant Manager in the United States is $57,235 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, a Restaurant Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $71,237
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,851 to $64,564
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,039
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Restaurant Manager Salaries

A Restaurant Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Restaurant Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Restaurant Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Assistant Restaurant Manager (0-3 years): $42,410
  • Restaurant Manager (3-5 years): $57,235
  • Regional Restaurant Manager (5+ years): $86,250
  • Restaurant Director (5+ years): $120,133
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Assistant Restaurant Manager0-3 years$42,410
Restaurant Manager3-5 years$57,235
Regional Restaurant Manager5+ years$86,250
Restaurant Director5+ years$120,133
View as Graph

How Do Restaurant Manager Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Restaurant Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $63,371.
  • California: $63,130.
  • Massachusetts: $62,289.

Top Paying Cities for Restaurant Managers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $72,191
  • San Francisco: $71,400
  • Oakland: $69,895

What Skills Can Increase a Restaurant Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.4% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Service Quality (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Service quality is a measure of how an organization delivers its services compared to the expectations of its customers.
  • Catering (Mentioned in 1.18% Job Postings): Catering is the business of providing food service at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, hospital, pub, aircraft, cruise ship, park, festival, filming location or film studio.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.4%
Service Quality 2.08%
Catering 1.18%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Restaurant Manager's salary.

  • Security Policy: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Motivating: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Organizing: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Security Policy $65,248
14%
Motivating $61,814
8%
Organizing $61,241
7%
Get Latest Data

Restaurant Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Restaurant Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $62,268. While startup companies pay approximate $52,539.

Restaurant Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $52,539
Growth Stage 51~500 $55,603
Established 501~5000 $60,101
Enterprise 5000+ $62,268

How Education impacts a Restaurant Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Restaurant Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Restaurant Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $56,623 and $59,890.

Restaurant Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Restaurant Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 35.0%
Associates 18.1%
Bachelors 40.7%
Masters 4.7%
Doctorate 0.2%
View as Graph

Restaurant Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Restaurant Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$50,851
Average $57,235/year
$64,564
$4,238
Average $4,770/month
$5,380
$978
Average $1,101/week
$1,242
$24
Average $28/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $64,564 $5,380 $1,242 $31
Average $57,235 $4,770 $1,101 $28
25th Percentile $50,851 $4,238 $978 $24

Restaurant Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Restaurant Manager

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Restaurant Manager, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Food & Beverage Manager $90,628 58%
Food Services Manager $85,882 50%
Regional Restaurant Manager $86,250 51%

Most common benefits for Restaurant Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Restaurant Manager

Here are companies hiring for Restaurant Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Restaurant Manager Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Restaurant Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Restaurant Manager

1. Where can a Restaurant Manager earn the most?

A Restaurant Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Restaurant Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Restaurant Manager is $72,191.

2. What is the highest pay for Restaurant Manager?

The highest pay for Restaurant Manager is $71,237.

3. What is the lowest pay for Restaurant Manager?

The lowest pay for Restaurant Manager is $45,039.

4. What are the responsibilities of Restaurant Manager?

Responsible for overall operations of the restaurant, which may include overseeing the staff, monitoring inventory, purchasing equipment and supplies, and ensuring quality customer service and compliance with all food and beverage regulations. Trains, hires, and schedules other employees. Requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a top management. Supervises a group of primarily para-professional level staffs. May also be a level above a supervisor within high volume administrative/ production environments. Makes day-to-day decisions within or for a group/small department. Has some authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 3-5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. Thorough knowledge of functional area and department processes.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job