Best Paying Restaurant Jobs

Updated on February 26, 2024

The restaurant industry offers a variety of roles, each with its unique set of responsibilities and required skills. Here’s a look at some of the best-paying positions in this vibrant field.

Host/Hostess

  • Average Salary: $43,000
  • Job Description: Hosts or hostesses are the first point of contact for customers, responsible for welcoming guests, leading them to their tables, managing seating charts, and handling takeaway orders and payments.
  • Responsibilities: Greet and seat guests, manage reservations, oversee wait times.
  • Required Education: High school diploma.

Kitchen Manager

  • Average Salary: $58,000
  • Job Description: Kitchen managers oversee food preparation, storage, and kitchen operations, including menu creation, inventory management, and staff scheduling.
  • Responsibilities: Supervise kitchen staff, ensure food safety, manage inventory.
  • Required Education: High school diploma, culinary school certificate, or bachelor’s degree in restaurant management.

Restaurant Server

  • Average Salary: $45,000
  • Job Description: Servers take orders, serve food and drinks, and ensure a pleasant dining experience for guests.
  • Responsibilities: Take orders, deliver food, assist with table setup and cleanliness.
  • Required Education: No specific requirements, but a high school diploma may be preferred.

Sous Chef

  • Average Salary: $45,000
  • Job Description: Sous chefs assist the executive chef, manage kitchen staff, and ensure food quality.
  • Responsibilities: Food preparation, menu planning, inventory management.
  • Required Education: Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in culinary arts.

Pastry Chef

  • Average Salary: $47,900
  • Job Description: Pastry chefs specialize in baked goods, desserts, and pastries, often creating new recipes and presentation styles.
  • Responsibilities: Bake, decorate, invent new recipes.
  • Required Education: GED or high school diploma, with certifications for advanced roles.

Line Cook

  • Average Salary: $47,000
  • Job Description: Line cooks are responsible for food preparation at specific stations within the kitchen.
  • Responsibilities: Prepare ingredients, cook meals, ensure food safety.
  • Required Education: High school diploma and culinary school certificate.

Bartender

  • Average Salary: $48,000
  • Job Description: Bartenders mix and serve drinks, manage the bar area, and ensure a good customer experience.
  • Responsibilities: Mix drinks, manage inventory, customer service.
  • Required Education: No degree required, vocational school beneficial.

Restaurant Manager

  • Average Salary: $51,000
  • Job Description: Restaurant managers oversee the entire operation, including staff management, menu planning, and customer service.
  • Responsibilities: Hire staff, manage operations, handle customer complaints.
  • Required Education: GED or high school diploma, hospitality management degree beneficial.

Executive Chef

  • Average Salary: $64,000
  • Job Description: Executive chefs are responsible for the culinary direction of the restaurant, including menu creation and kitchen management.
  • Responsibilities: Design menus, manage kitchen staff, oversee food preparation.
  • Required Education: Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in culinary arts.

Sommelier

  • Average Salary: $73,000
  • Job Description: Sommeliers are wine experts who manage wine selection and pairing in restaurants.
  • Responsibilities: Select wines, manage inventory, conduct wine tastings.
  • Required Education: No strict requirements, but credentials from a professional association are advantageous.

Final Thoughts

The restaurant industry offers a wide range of lucrative career paths, from the creativity and precision of a pastry chef to the strategic oversight of a restaurant manager. Whether you’re passionate about food, service, or management, there’s a high-paying job for you in the restaurant world.

Other Jobs in Hospitality and Food Service

Sources

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