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First Watch salaries
First Watch salary estimate
$14.30hourly
First Watch Salary Overview
At First Watch, the average salary is $29,735 per year, but there's notable variation depending on the position. For instance, general managers earn an average of $60,730, while chefs make about $47,377. In contrast, entry-level positions such as bussers receive an annual salary of around $23,647. This disparity highlights the impact of job roles on earnings.
Salary by Department
The business development department leads with the highest average salary of $62,747. This is followed by the retail department, which offers an average of $45,456. On the other hand, the hospitality/service department and facilities roles see lower averages, approximately $27,117 and $28,541, respectively.
Comparative Analysis
When compared to competitors like Dunkin Brands, where employees earn an average of $47,084, First Watch presents competitive salaries in the industry. Understanding these figures can aid potential employees in evaluating their options and aligning their career goals with their salary expectations.
Highest paying jobs at First Watch
The highest paying jobs at First Watch are general manager, chef, assistant manager, and kitchen supervisor. General manager jobs at First Watch earn an average yearly salary of $60,730, First Watch chef jobs average $47,377, and First Watch assistant manager jobs average $40,554.
The lowest paying First Watch roles include busser and crew member. First Watch busser average salary is $23,647 per year. So while the average First Watch salary is $29,735 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
Highest paying jobs at First Watch
| Rank | Job title | Average First Watch salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Manager | $60,730 | $29.20 |
| 2 | Chef | $47,377 | $22.78 |
| 3 | Assistant Manager | $40,554 | $19.50 |
| 4 | Kitchen Supervisor | $39,842 | $19.15 |
| 5 | Line Cook | $31,871 | $15.32 |
| 6 | Prep Cook | $28,458 | $13.68 |
| 7 | Security Guard | $26,992 | $12.98 |
| 8 | Security Officer | $26,512 | $12.75 |
| 9 | Volunteer | $26,503 | $12.74 |
| 10 | Server | $26,346 | $12.67 |
| 11 | Food Prep/Dishwasher | $25,858 | $12.43 |
| 12 | Dish Washer | $25,527 | $12.27 |
| 13 | Waitress | $24,908 | $11.98 |
| 14 | Hostess | $24,770 | $11.91 |
| 15 | Crew Member | $24,395 | $11.73 |
| 16 | Busser | $23,648 | $11.37 |
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How much does First Watch pay by location?
Highest paying First Watch locations
| Rank | Location | Average First Watch salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joplin, MO | $26,935 | $12.95 |
| 2 | Fayetteville, AR | $25,321 | $12.17 |
| 3 | Asheville, NC | $25,318 | $12.17 |
| 4 | Knoxville, TN | $25,043 | $12.04 |
| 5 | Okay, OK | $24,730 | $11.89 |
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First Watch salaries by department
Salaries at First Watch vary depending on the department you work in. First Watch salaries in the business development department are the highest with an average salary of $62,747. Employees in the retail department at First Watch receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $45,456 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at First Watch include the hospitality/service and the facilities organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $27,117 and $28,541, respectively.
Average First Watch salary by department
| Rank | Department | Average First Watch salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Development | $62,747 | $30.17 |
| 2 | Retail | $45,456 | $21.85 |
| 3 | Plant/Manufacturing | $34,968 | $16.81 |
| 4 | Facilities | $28,542 | $13.72 |
| 5 | Hospitality/Service | $27,118 | $13.04 |
How much does First Watch pay by department?
Best paying First Watch hospitality/service salaries
| Rank | Position | Average First Watch salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assistant General Manager | $51,583 | $24.80 |
| 2 | Kitchen Manager | $50,030 | $24.05 |
| 3 | Chef | $47,377 | $22.78 |
| 4 | Kitchen Supervisor | $39,842 | $19.15 |
| 5 | Cook | $30,328 | $14.58 |
| 6 | Server | $26,346 | $12.67 |
| 7 | Food Prep/Dishwasher | $25,858 | $12.43 |
| 8 | Dish Washer | $25,527 | $12.27 |
| 9 | Waitress | $24,908 | $11.98 |
| 10 | Hostess | $24,770 | $11.91 |
| 11 | Busser | $23,648 | $11.37 |
Best paying First Watch plant/manufacturing salaries
| Rank | Position | Average First Watch salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Manager | $60,730 | $29.20 |
| 2 | Line Cook | $31,871 | $15.32 |
| 3 | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | $27,133 | $13.04 |
| 4 | Food Prep/Dishwasher | $25,858 | $12.43 |
Best paying First Watch retail salaries
| Rank | Position | Average First Watch salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Leader | $61,920 | $29.77 |
| 2 | General Manager | $60,730 | $29.20 |
| 3 | Assistant Manager | $40,554 | $19.50 |
| 4 | Hostess Cashier | $24,712 | $11.88 |
| 5 | Cashier/Host | $24,311 | $11.69 |
First Watch competitors’ average salaries
Average salaries at First Watch competitors, like Dunkin Brands, El Jefe’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, and Bertucci's, vary. Dunkin Brands employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $47,084. The average salary at El Jefe’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina is $36,085 per year, and the average salary at Bertucci's is $36,037 per year.
Highest paying First Watch competitors
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dunkin Brands | 4.3 | $47,084 |
| 2 | El Jefe’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina | 3.6 | $36,085 |
| 3 | Bertucci's | 4.1 | $36,037 |
| 4 | Legal Sea Foods | 4.1 | $35,979 |
| 5 | Pita Jungle | 3.3 | $35,880 |
| 6 | Metro Diner | 3.5 | $35,194 |
| 7 | Fudpuckers | 3.2 | $34,120 |
| 8 | North Italia | 4.4 | $33,802 |
| 9 | Max & Erma's | 4.3 | $33,156 |
| 10 | Waterloo Restaurant Ventures Inc | 3.6 | $32,569 |
| 11 | Grand Lux Cafe | 4.4 | $32,315 |
| 12 | Texas Roadhouse | 4.4 | $31,839 |
| 13 | The Sagamore Resort | 2.7 | $31,613 |
| 14 | Hoss's Steak and Sea House | 3.9 | $31,409 |
| 15 | The Pasta House Co. | 4.1 | $30,384 |
| 16 | Village Inn | 4.0 | $30,082 |
| 17 | The Melting Pot | 4.4 | $29,479 |
| 18 | Shoney's | 3.7 | $27,729 |
| 19 | TGI Fridays | 3.9 | $27,440 |
| 20 | Hooters | 4.5 | $26,406 |
Recently added First Watch salaries
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Fayetteville, AR | 06/15/2025 | $45,000 |
| Manager | Springfield, MO | 06/04/2025 | $45,000 |
| Manager | Springfield, MO | 05/12/2025 | $45,000 |
| Manager | Fayetteville, AR | 05/12/2025 | $45,000 |
| Manager | Springfield, MO | 03/26/2025 | $45,000 |
Frequently asked questions about First Watch salaries
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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of First Watch, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about First Watch. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at First Watch. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by First Watch. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of First Watch and its employees or that of Zippia.
First Watch may also be known as or be related to First Watch and First Watch Restaurants Inc.