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Highest Paying Jobs At Darden Restaurants: Top Darden Restaurants Salaries [2026]

By Chris Kolmar
Nov. 11, 2022
Last Modified and Fact Checked on:





Highest Paying Jobs At Darden Restaurants: Top Darden Restaurants Salaries [2026]

Research Summary. Leveraging a combination of publicly available data and insights from numerous job postings, our Zippia data experts have pinpointed a range of lucrative positions within Darden Restaurants, along with their corresponding average annual salaries. This data informs our salary estimates for various roles at Darden Restaurants.

Here’s a concise overview of the highest-paying jobs at Darden Restaurants:

  • Manager is the top-paying position at Darden Restaurants, offering an average salary of $98,780 and an hourly rate of $47.49.

  • The second highest-paying role is corporate trainer, with an average salary of $70,001.

  • The average annual salary for a Darden Restaurants employee is $31,062, translating to an hourly pay of $14.93.

Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs

Background

Many individuals identify their desired employer even before pinpointing a specific job role. If you aspire to work for Darden Restaurants, understanding the highest-paying positions available can guide your application process.

What salary can you expect at Darden Restaurants? Like any large company, employee compensation varies based on role, experience level, and location. Nevertheless, a few standout positions consistently offer higher-than-average pay. Here’s a look at some of the top salaries at Darden Restaurants:

  1. Manager$98,780

  2. Corporate Trainer$70,001

  3. Certified Trainer$66,990

  4. Culinary Assistant$33,077

  5. Service Assistant$33,043

Below is a comprehensive table detailing the highest-paying jobs at Darden Restaurants, followed by a more in-depth explanation of our methodology.

Highest Paying Jobs At Darden Restaurants

Rank Job Title Average Salary
1 Manager $98,780
2 Corporate Trainer $70,001
3 Certified Trainer $66,990
4 Culinary Assistant $33,077
5 Service Assistant $33,043
6 Line Cook $32,931
7 Prep Cook $31,905
8 Server $30,249
9 Dish Washer $28,364
10 Cashier $28,071
11 Hostess $27,417
12 Bartender $26,704
13 Waitress $24,704
14 Dish Machine Operator $24,374
15 Busser $24,368

Methodology

Zippia employs publicly accessible information from authoritative government sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to generate salary estimates.

Our data science team also reviews job postings and official company sources to supplement these estimates with the most current salary data.

After compiling the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title. For further details on our salary estimation process, please refer to our detailed methodology.

Highest Paying Jobs At Darden Restaurants FAQs

  1. What is the highest-paid job at Darden Restaurants?

    The highest-paid job at Darden Restaurants is a manager. These professionals earn an average salary of $98,780, which equates to approximately $47.49 per hour.

    The top 10 highest-paid jobs at Darden Restaurants include:

    1. Manager$98,780

    2. Corporate Trainer$70,001

    3. Certified Trainer$66,990

    4. Culinary Assistant$33,077

    5. Service Assistant$33,043

    6. Line Cook$32,931

    7. Prep Cook$31,905

    8. Server$30,249

    9. Dish Washer$28,364

    10. Cashier$28,071

  2. What is a good salary at Darden Restaurants?

    A good salary at Darden Restaurants is any amount above $31,062 per year. This figure represents the average salary at Darden Restaurants. If your earnings exceed this amount, you are generally in a favorable position.

    However, this average may not suffice for certain roles, so it’s essential to benchmark your salary against industry standards for your position and experience. If you find your salary is below average, consider discussing potential raises or exploring pathways for advancement.

    Additionally, your salary may vary by location, as Darden Restaurants, like many employers, adjusts its pay scales to reflect the cost of living in different areas. For instance, Darden employees in Florida typically earn more than those in the Midwest.

    Review average salaries within your region to see how your compensation compares.

  3. Do jobs at Darden Restaurants pay well?

    Generally, jobs at Darden Restaurants do not offer competitive wages. The average starting salary at Darden is approximately $17,000 annually or $8.17 per hour. The overall average salary sits at $31,062 per year ($14.93 per hour), which is significantly lower than the national average salary of around $44,225 per year.

    In comparison, Yum! Brands, a key competitor of Darden Restaurants, compensates its workforce at about $48,128 annually or $23.14 per hour, which is approximately $17,066 more than the average salary at Darden.


Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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