Restaurant manager : Salary and conditions

• The salary of a restaurant manager may depend greatly on the employer and type of establishment. Salaries in boutique restaurants, for example, tend to be slightly higher than those in themed/branded restaurants. Many restaurant managers also receive bonus payments if they reach the targets set by their head office.
• The UK Skills Council (UKSP)  categorises the average salaries for restaurant managers according to the type of establishment in which they work: fast food restaurant manager (£18,000 - £30,000); casual dining restaurant manager (£16,000 - £30,000); and fine dining restaurant manager (£22,000 - £40,000). Salaries in London and in the South West tend to be higher than elsewhere in the country.
• Many restaurant managers work evenings that run into the night. Weekend and public holiday work is common. Shift work, including split shifts, is also common. Overtime may be essential in some positions and it is important to be willing to work until the job is completed, whatever time that may be.
• The work is generally indoors in a warm, but sometimes cramped, environment. Many restaurant managers divide their time between the front-of-house area, the office and the kitchen.
• There are opportunities throughout the UK.
• The range of responsibilities depends on the type of restaurant for which you work. Levels of responsibility vary between restaurant chains.
• Dress codes vary and range from very formal wear to a company uniform.
• Responding to customer complaints, overseeing many activities at once, and the fast pace of work make this a varied and possibly stressful role.
• The shift patterns that managers are required to work may disrupt their personal lives.
• Managers may be requested to cover at other restaurants. This demands mobility, flexibility and a willingness to travel.

Salary data from the UK Skills Council (UKSP). Figures are intended as a guide only.