A general manager is one of the most important positions in any restaurant. From managing staff to tracking sales, GMs help keep everything running smoothly, and their pay should reflect that.
Before you customize that restaurant general manager job description template, you should know what GMs earn, how location and experience affect their pay, and additional factors to consider.
What is the average restaurant general manager salary in the US?
The average salary for a restaurant general manager in the U.S. is around $61,467 per year. However, depending on the location, restaurant type, and experience, that number can stretch from a minimum salary of $50,000 to a maximum salary of over $140,000 annually.
If you’re an employer looking to hire a restaurant general manager, knowing the national salary range helps you stay competitive, especially in busy cities like Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles. If you’re under-offering, you’re likely losing top talent to higher-paying companies.
On the other hand, if you’re applying for a GM job, use these numbers as a guide when discussing pay. Look at your years of experience, education, and restaurant type (fast casual vs. fine dining) to find your place in the salary range.
GM salaries by region
Different regions offer different pay ranges because of varying living costs and the local restaurant market. Restaurant general managers in metropolitan areas like San Francisco or New York typically earn higher salaries to accommodate the higher living expenses.
High-paying areas
General manager salaries are highest in cities like New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle. These cities are packed with fine dining restaurants, upscale food scenes, and intense competition for talent.
In San Francisco, California, the average base salary for a general manager is $75,000, while it’s $74,800 in New York City and $68,722 in Seattle. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, where the mix of tourists and locals supports a high volume of food service, salaries typically range from $56,000 to $97,000, with luxury concepts pushing even higher.
These cities also have a higher cost of living, which directly impacts wages. Employers must offer competitive manager pay to keep up with housing, transportation, and living costs.
If you’re hiring in one of these areas, you’ll need to budget on the higher end of the salary range. This is particularly true if you’re looking to hire someone with the best restaurant management skills, like multi-unit management experience or education in hospitality.
For job seekers? This is where the opportunities are, especially if you’ve worked in fine dining or high-volume restaurants.
Mid-tier markets
Cities like Chicago, Denver, Austin, and Miami fall into what we call mid-tier restaurant markets. Here, the average restaurant general manager salary starts at $60,000 per year.
These cities offer a solid mix of dining styles, steady restaurant growth, and a cost of living that’s more manageable than New York or San Francisco. This makes them attractive to both employers and job seekers.
Restaurant owners in these cities need to budget at least $60,000 for experienced managers. This rate lets you attract candidates with strong leadership skills and a track record of reducing turnover or boosting sales.
For aspiring general managers, mid-tier cities offer a great balance of salary, career growth, and quality of life. If you have formal education in hospitality or years of front-of-house and back-of-house experience, you’ll stand out in interviews and have room to grow.
Lower-cost areas
In regions like the Midwest, South, and some Plains states, restaurant general manager salaries tend to fall on the lower end of the national scale. The typical salary range in these areas is $55,000 to $58,000 per year.
For restaurant owners, that means it’s possible to hire solid talent without breaking the budget. And for job seekers, these markets offer steady work with room to grow, especially in casual dining and fast food concepts.
Omaha, Nebraska reports an average base salary ($55,834) that’s 7% lower than the national average. Of course, there’s room to grow based on experience or if managing larger staff or multiple locations.
Most restaurants in these areas are smaller operations or franchise units. They often focus on high-volume service, simple menus, and keeping costs down, including manager pay. However, many companies still offer benefits like PTO, health insurance, and bonuses tied to performance.
For general managers working in these areas, the trade-off is clear: lower housing costs and a slower pace of life versus slightly smaller paychecks. If you’re just starting your management career or looking for new opportunities, these markets are a good place to gain job stability and valuable restaurant experience.
Factors that affect a general manager’s salary
Experience and education play a big role in a general manager’s salary expectations. Aside from their knowledge and skills, the type and size of restaurant you run also impact how much you can budget for compensation.
Experience and track record
If you’re just starting out with one to three years of experience, expect a salary range of around $52,500 for entry-level GM jobs. This often includes base salary, with some employers offering bonuses based on performance.
Once a general manager hits 8 or more years of experience, that number can jump fast. Senior restaurant general managers earn as much as $117,000 to $218,000.
If you’ve stayed with the same restaurant or company and helped grow sales, improve retention, or lead staff through major changes, you’re worth more. That track record gives you real leverage during salary talks.
Education and certifications
A degree in hospitality management or culinary arts can give candidates a strong head start. Many GMs with a college background earn higher starting salaries, especially at fine dining or multi-unit locations. Some hiring managers use education as a way to screen for candidates with long-term leadership potential.
ServSafe certification is another big plus. This credential proves a manager understands food safety and can train their staff to follow health codes. Many states, including Illinois, now require this certification for GMs.
On top of that, tech skills matter more than ever. Knowing how to run POS systems and other restaurant tools can make you more valuable. Modern restaurant managers need tech skills to track inventory, manage scheduling, and analyze sales data.
Restaurant type
The kind of restaurant you work in (or run) plays a big role in general manager salary estimates. For instance, fine dining restaurants pay the most because expectations are higher.
General managers here oversee everything from managing restaurant staff to curating wine lists for guests. The job comes with pressure but also higher pay.
On the other hand, casual dining restaurants offer a solid manager salary, but lower than fine dining. Fast food or quick service restaurants offer salaries on the lower end, but it’s a great place to learn and grow early in your management career.
Size of restaurant or company
The size of a restaurant can make a big difference in a general manager’s salary. After all, the number of people the business can accommodate is directly tied to how much it earns.
If you manage a small, single-location restaurant, expect a lower base salary, usually between $45,000 and $60,000. You’ll likely wear many hats, from helping with ordering, training, hiring, and even filling in on the floor.
In bigger restaurants or brands with multiple stores, the general manager’s salary may start higher, around $65,000 and $85,000, depending on the city and staff size. These jobs are more strategic and focus on hitting targets, managing large teams, and keeping service consistent across locations.
Performance and profitability
It’s not just about showing up. It’s about showing results. Restaurant general managers who hit sales goals and help reduce operational costs are more likely to get salary bumps and quarterly bonuses.
Depending on the incentive agreement, a GM could very well earn a significant amount on top of their salary. These bonuses are now common in full-service and chain restaurants.
Some restaurant managers even receive a share of the business profits. In this model, the better the restaurant performs, the more the general manager earns. It rewards long-term thinking and strong leadership.
Finding the right managers
Knowing the right pay range sets clear expectations for job seekers and gives them the confidence to ask for what they deserve based on their experience and skills. For restaurant owners, it allows them to prepare competitive offers to get the best talent out there.
However, it’s not just about finding the right manager. It’s about making sure they’re set up for success.
Equip them with restaurant payroll software that helps track labor costs, assign shifts automatically, and distribute pay accurately. This way, they can focus on delivering exceptional dining experiences and driving restaurant growth.
Also read:
Rebecca Hebert, Sales Development Representative
Rebecca Hebert
Sales Development Representative
Rebecca Hebert is a former restaurant industry professional with nearly 20 years of hands-on experience leading teams in fast-paced hospitality environments. Rebecca brings that firsthand knowledge to the tech side of the industry, helping restaurants streamline their operations with purpose-built workforce management solutions. As an active contributor to expansion efforts, she’s passionate about empowering restaurateurs with tools that genuinely support their day-to-day operations.
