How much does a Restaurant Associate make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Restaurant Associate in the United States is $30,221 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $15.
However, a Restaurant Associate's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $34,369
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $27,978 to $32,392
Key Factors That Influence Restaurant Associate Salaries
A Restaurant Associate'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 Associate Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Restaurant Associate'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): $29,651
Early Career (1-2 years): $30,061
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $30,764
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $30,859
Expert (over 8 years): $31,019
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Restaurant Associate
$29,651
Intermediate Level Restaurant Associate
$30,061
Senior Level Restaurant Associate
$30,764
Specialist Level Restaurant Associate
$30,859
Expert Level Restaurant Associate
$31,019
$29,6510 yr
$30,061< 2 yrs
$30,7642-4 yrs
$30,8595-8 yrs
$31,019> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Restaurant Associate 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 Associates.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $33,460.
California: $33,333.
Massachusetts: $32,889.
District of Columbia$33,460
California$33,333
Massachusetts$32,889
Washington$32,768
New Jersey$32,756
Alaska$32,714
Connecticut$32,297
New York$32,128
Hawaii$31,587
Rhode Island$31,333
Maryland$31,161
Minnesota$30,925
Colorado$30,834
Illinois$30,804
Oregon$30,689
Delaware$30,605
New Hampshire$30,551
Virginia$30,432
Pennsylvania$30,085
Nevada$29,909
North Dakota$29,852
Michigan$29,761
Wisconsin$29,728
Vermont$29,662
Texas$29,477
Maine$29,465
Arizona$29,447
Ohio$29,426
Georgia$29,148
Indiana$29,009
Wyoming$28,982
Utah$28,939
Iowa$28,921
Kansas$28,776
Louisiana$28,734
North Carolina$28,719
Missouri$28,713
Florida$28,595
Montana$28,531
Nebraska$28,471
Kentucky$28,438
South Carolina$28,317
Tennessee$28,241
Idaho$28,211
New Mexico$27,990
Oklahoma$27,942
Alabama$27,764
South Dakota$27,465
Arkansas$27,301
West Virginia$27,214
Mississippi$26,951
Top Paying Cities for Restaurant Associates
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: $38,117
San Francisco: $37,700
Oakland: $36,906
San Jose, CA$38,117
San Francisco, CA$37,700
Oakland, CA$36,906
New York, NY$34,796
Paramus, NJ$34,373
Queens Village, NY$34,371
Passaic, NJ$34,343
Bergenfield, NJ$34,340
Stamford, CT$34,273
Huntington, NY$34,261
Newark, NJ$34,038
Bridgeport, CT$33,974
Vallejo, CA$33,914
New Brunswick, NJ$33,902
Petaluma, CA$33,883
Middlesex, NJ$33,826
Somerset, NJ$33,805
Santa Cruz, CA$33,766
Boston, MA$33,581
Monterey, CA$33,475
Seattle, WA$33,406
Santa Rosa, CA$33,400
Los Angeles, CA$33,391
Juneau, AK$33,312
Washington, DC$33,279
Orange, CA$33,171
Santa Ana, CA$33,092
Long Beach, CA$33,061
Anaheim, CA$33,055
Anchorage, AK$33,040
Santa Maria, CA$32,950
Everett, WA$32,944
Danbury, CT$32,837
Bremerton, WA$32,796
Tacoma, WA$32,687
New Suffolk, NY$32,686
Sacramento, CA$32,678
Santa Barbara, CA$32,644
Trenton, NJ$32,611
San Diego, CA$32,611
Brockton, MA$32,578
Fairbanks, AK$32,504
Lompoc, CA$32,427
Lowell, MA$32,402
Ventura, CA$32,397
Nashua, NH$32,391
Stockton, CA$32,388
Modesto, CA$32,167
Poughkeepsie, NY$32,100
Olympia, WA$32,043
Kennewick, WA$32,043
New Haven, CT$32,031
Lawrence, MA$31,922
Hartford, CT$31,892
Riverside, CA$31,886
New Bedford, MA$31,856
Richland, WA$31,856
Bakersfield, CA$31,813
San Bernardino, CA$31,801
New Britain, CT$31,798
Atlantic City, NJ$31,798
New London, CT$31,786
Norwich, CT$31,777
Portsmouth, NH$31,771
Boulder, CO$31,707
Portland, OR$31,665
Worcester, MA$31,662
Minneapolis, MN$31,569
Philadelphia, PA$31,526
Honolulu, HI$31,427
Saint Paul, MN$31,412
Vineland, NJ$31,405
Providence, RI$31,318
Chicago, IL$31,230
Bellingham, WA$31,194
Springfield, MA$31,170
Baltimore, MD$31,161
Chico, CA$31,085
Pittsfield, MA$31,003
Manchester, NH$30,946
Spokane, WA$30,813
Denver, CO$30,810
Albany, NY$30,668
Troy, NY$30,656
Nassau, NY$30,624
Schenectady, NY$30,592
Wilmington, DE$30,568
Burlington, VT$30,526
Salem, OR$30,514
Portland, ME$30,420
Yakima, WA$30,390
Rochester, MN$30,296
Reno, NV$30,281
Fresno, CA$30,281
Milwaukee, WI$30,254
Detroit, MI$30,224
Ann Arbor, MI$30,219
Allentown, PA$30,215
Colorado Springs, CO$30,163
Syracuse, NY$30,148
Carson City, NV$30,148
Houston, TX$30,106
Eugene, OR$30,091
Gary, IN$30,054
Springfield, OR$30,030
Bismarck, ND$30,024
Galveston, TX$30,003
Medford, OR$29,958
Fort Collins, CO$29,946
Concord, NH$29,931
Austin, TX$29,922
Mesa, AZ$29,858
Reading, PA$29,855
Phoenix, AZ$29,852
Dallas, TX$29,843
Saint Cloud, MN$29,814
Madison, WI$29,773
Utica, NY$29,692
Rochester, NY$29,643
Des Moines, IA$29,640
Raleigh, NC$29,637
Atlanta, GA$29,592
Battle Creek, MI$29,583
Salt Lake City, UT$29,574
Lancaster, PA$29,529
Harrisburg, PA$29,486
Kansas City, MO$29,456
Champaign, IL$29,450
Kansas City, KS$29,450
Fort Worth, TX$29,447
Columbus, OH$29,442
Boca Raton, FL$29,435
Pittsburgh, PA$29,423
Richmond, VA$29,411
Indianapolis, IN$29,405
Cleveland, OH$29,402
Las Vegas, NV$29,365
Cincinnati, OH$29,365
Petersburg, VA$29,320
Huntsville, AL$29,275
Lansing, MI$29,255
Lebanon, PA$29,251
Pueblo, CO$29,248
Appleton, WI$29,239
Buffalo, NY$29,226
Dayton, OH$29,217
Racine, WI$29,211
Charlotte, NC$29,208
Saint Louis, MO$29,199
York, PA$29,181
Elkhart, IN$29,181
Gastonia, NC$29,175
Billings, MT$29,168
Beaumont, TX$29,160
Lorain, OH$29,154
Benton Harbor, MI$29,148
Toledo, OH$29,142
Binghamton, NY$29,127
Rock Hill, SC$29,124
Rockford, IL$29,109
Springfield, IL$29,096
Elyria, OH$29,093
Fargo, ND$29,093
Flagstaff, AZ$29,072
Fort Lauderdale, FL$29,054
Duluth, MN$29,036
Miami, FL$29,036
Cheyenne, WY$29,015
Grand Forks, ND$29,015
Bangor, ME$28,948
Cedar Rapids, IA$28,915
Durham, NC$28,902
Louisville, KY$28,900
Grand Rapids, MI$28,894
Hialeah, FL$28,891
Casper, WY$28,849
Scranton, PA$28,812
New Orleans, LA$28,803
Virginia Beach, VA$28,800
Akron, OH$28,785
Peoria, IL$28,746
Sarasota, FL$28,740
Nashville, TN$28,719
Omaha, NE$28,719
Green Bay, WI$28,719
Baton Rouge, LA$28,704
Charleston, SC$28,698
Jamestown, NY$28,682
Davenport, IA$28,682
Tucson, AZ$28,667
Saint Petersburg, FL$28,649
Tampa, FL$28,643
Evansville, IN$28,625
Port Arthur, TX$28,625
Bradenton, FL$28,613
Santa Fe, NM$28,559
Orlando, FL$28,504
Clearwater, FL$28,495
Canton, OH$28,432
La Crosse, WI$28,432
Albuquerque, NM$28,414
Newport News, VA$28,410
High Point, NC$28,401
Ogden, UT$28,389
Corpus Christi, TX$28,365
Norfolk, VA$28,347
Laramie, WY$28,347
Rock Island, IL$28,329
Saginaw, MI$28,323
Jacksonville, FL$28,320
Salisbury, NC$28,314
Boise, ID$28,308
Moline, IL$28,293
Fort Myers, FL$28,284
Memphis, TN$28,278
Tulsa, OK$28,262
Waterloo, IA$28,244
Spartanburg, SC$28,214
Lincoln, NE$28,199
Fort Wayne, IN$28,193
Provo, UT$28,190
Cedar Falls, IA$28,154
San Antonio, TX$28,142
Greensboro, NC$28,129
South Bend, IN$28,126
Savannah, GA$28,093
Muskegon, MI$28,081
Birmingham, AL$28,078
Winston Salem, NC$28,063
Lake Charles, LA$27,990
Anderson, IN$27,984
Lexington, KY$27,975
Augusta, GA$27,966
Greenville, SC$27,966
Lima, OH$27,942
Wichita, KS$27,939
Tuscaloosa, AL$27,939
Columbia, SC$27,912
Springfield, OH$27,906
Asheville, NC$27,857
Bloomington, IN$27,836
Knoxville, TN$27,727
Shreveport, LA$27,724
Wilmington, NC$27,685
Roanoke, VA$27,685
Topeka, KS$27,631
Frankfort, KY$27,627
Oklahoma City, OK$27,607
Chillicothe, OH$27,595
Longview, TX$27,591
Melbourne, FL$27,588
Sioux Falls, SD$27,540
Mobile, AL$27,537
Terre Haute, IN$27,525
Altoona, PA$27,507
Amarillo, TX$27,486
Killeen, TX$27,477
Fayetteville, AR$27,452
Chattanooga, TN$27,443
Sioux City, IA$27,416
Idaho Falls, ID$27,410
Lynchburg, VA$27,386
Gainesville, FL$27,347
Portsmouth, OH$27,332
Little Rock, AR$27,326
Lafayette, LA$27,313
Youngstown, OH$27,313
Daytona Beach, FL$27,295
Clarksville, TN$27,292
Pensacola, FL$27,289
Temple, TX$27,287
Hopkinsville, KY$27,199
Erie, PA$27,193
Florence, SC$27,180
Charleston, WV$27,132
Great Falls, MT$27,117
Macon, GA$27,075
Tallahassee, FL$27,072
Fayetteville, NC$27,066
Waco, TX$27,060
Helena, MT$27,038
Pine Bluff, AR$27,027
Vincennes, IN$26,990
Lubbock, TX$26,978
Alamogordo, NM$26,960
Twin Falls, ID$26,933
Rapid City, SD$26,924
Jackson, MS$26,869
Huntington, WV$26,867
Greenville, MS$26,866
Parkersburg, WV$26,835
Montgomery, AL$26,830
Wichita Falls, TX$26,800
Springfield, MO$26,800
Biloxi, MS$26,785
Monroe, LA$26,754
Johnstown, PA$26,733
Sumter, SC$26,721
Columbus, GA$26,718
Pascagoula, MS$26,661
Abilene, TX$26,661
Kingsport, TN$26,582
Albany, GA$26,582
Gulfport, MS$26,573
Alexandria, LA$26,473
Fort Smith, AR$26,398
El Paso, TX$26,316
Las Cruces, NM$26,180
Harlingen, TX$26,103
Pocatello, ID$26,099
Florence, AL$26,059
Brownsville, TX$26,053
Mcallen, TX$25,990
Dothan, AL$25,947
Columbus, MS$25,768
Altus, OK$25,627
Lawton, OK$25,570
Pierre, SD$25,461
What Skills Can Increase a Restaurant Associate's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 18.88% 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.
Product Quality (Mentioned in 3.25% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
Hosting (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): An Internet hosting service is a service that runs Internet servers, allowing organizations and individuals to serve content to the Internet. There are various levels of service and various kinds of services offered. A common kind of hosting is web hosting. Most hosting providers offer a combination of services; e-mail hosting, for example. DNS hosting service is usually bundled with domain name registration. Generic kinds of Internet hosting provide a server where the clients can run anything they want (including web servers and other servers) and have Internet connections with good upstream bandwidth. Full-featured hosting services include: Complex Managed Hosting, Dedicated hosting service, Virtual private server,Colocation facilities, Cloud hosting etc.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
18.88%
Product Quality
3.25%
Hosting
1.3%
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 Associate's salary.
Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Goal Oriented: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Sense Of Urgency: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Interviewing
$35,056
16%
Goal Oriented
$34,754
15%
Sense Of Urgency
$33,847
12%
Sales Support
$33,545
11%
Integrity
$33,243
10%
Problem Solving
$32,941
9%
Get Latest Data
Restaurant Associate Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Restaurant Associate roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Hospitality & Leisure,
offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely,
Restaurant Associate positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Restaurant Associate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Restaurant Associate
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure
$33,243
$16.0
10%
How Education impacts a Restaurant Associate's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Restaurant Associates 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 Associate with a No Diploma is between
$23,305
and $24,701).
Restaurant Associate Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Restaurant Associate
No Diploma8.5%
High School54.9%
Associates13.4%
Bachelors18.3%
Masters4.9%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
8.5%
High School
54.9%
Associates
13.4%
Bachelors
18.3%
Masters
4.9%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
Restaurant Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Restaurant Associate'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.
Salaries for a Restaurant Associate can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $28,790 in 2023
to around $28,606 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Restaurant Associate salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Restaurant Associate Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$28,790
2024
$29,024
2025
$28,606
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$28,790
2024
$29,024
2025
$28,606
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Restaurant Associate
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Restaurant Associate
Here are companies hiring for Restaurant Associate and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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FAQ about Restaurant Associate
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Restaurant Associate?
The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Restaurant Associate roles,
with salaries approximately 10% 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.
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