How much does a restaurant manager make?
Answer: A typical restaurant manager in the United States makes $69,390 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 238,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Restaurant manager pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $45,960 | $69,390 | $107,640 | about 238,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $95,190 | about 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $92,240 | about 4,000 |
| Hawaii | $87,800 | about 1,000 |
| New York | $84,200 | about 8,000 |
| Rhode Island | $82,850 | about 760 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, location, and employer: BLS data show different pay patterns in restaurants, hotels, and schools. Larger operations bring more complex responsibilities, and some places require food-safety certification; hours and shifts vary too.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a restaurant manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages. Excludes “Chefs and Head Cooks” (35-1011).
What's a typical day like?
They check food, supplies, and safety, then guide kitchen and dining-room teams, set shifts, and keep an eye on budgets. When a rush hits, they solve complaints and may jump in to cook or serve.
How to get this job
In the U.S., finish high school, work in food service (often as a cook or server), and gain experience before promotion; hospitality college can help. Some places require a food-safety exam and certificate, and managers get on-the-job training.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
When a restaurant gets busy, its manager may have to jump in and cook, clear tables, or serve drinks!
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Management jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/management/food-service-managers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/11-9051.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY