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Restaurant Steward Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Restaurant Steward in the United States is $33,987 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $16.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $38,669
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $31,190 to $36,438
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $28,643
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Restaurant Steward Salaries

A Restaurant Steward'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 Steward Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Restaurant Steward'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $34,104
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $34,570
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $35,408
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $35,523
  • Expert (over 8 years): $35,713
Levels Salary
Entry Level Restaurant Steward$34,104
Intermediate Level Restaurant Steward$34,570
Senior Level Restaurant Steward$35,408
Specialist Level Restaurant Steward$35,523
Expert Level Restaurant Steward$35,713
View as Graph

How Do Restaurant Steward 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 Stewards. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $37,631.
  • California: $37,488.
  • Massachusetts: $36,988.

Top Paying Cities for Restaurant Stewards

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: $42,868
  • San Francisco: $42,399
  • Oakland: $41,505

What Skills Can Increase a Restaurant Steward's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Communication Skills (Mentioned in 7.5% Job Postings): Communication skills are your ability to share or understand information, ideas, and feelings successfully.
  • Food Service (Mentioned in 3.25% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home.
  • Hospitality Industry (Mentioned in 2.01% Job Postings): The hospitality industry is a broad category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, food and drink service, event planning, theme parks, travel and tourism.
Skills Demand Percentage
Communication Skills 7.5%
Food Service 3.25%
Hospitality Industry 2.01%
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 Steward's salary.

  • Retail Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Retail Operations $43,503
28%
Collaboration $37,386
10%
Innovation $36,366
7%
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Restaurant Steward Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Restaurant Steward roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Hospitality & Leisure sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Restaurant Steward positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Restaurant Steward as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Restaurant Steward

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$44,183$21.030%
Hospitality & Leisure$35,686$17.05%

How Education impacts a Restaurant Steward's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Restaurant Stewards enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Restaurant Steward with a No Diploma is between $31,875 and $34,252).

Restaurant Steward Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Restaurant Steward
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 75.0%
High School 75.0%
Associates 12.5%
Bachelors 12.5%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Restaurant Steward'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
$31,190
Average $33,987/year
$36,438
$2,599
Average $2,832/month
$3,036
$600
Average $654/week
$701
$15
Average $16/hour
$18
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $36,438 $3,036 $701 $18
Average $33,987 $2,832 $654 $16
25th Percentile $31,190 $2,599 $600 $15

Most common benefits for Restaurant Steward

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

Common company salaries for Restaurant Steward

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

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FAQ about Restaurant Steward

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Restaurant Steward?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Restaurant Steward roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

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.

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