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Golden Corral salary estimate

$13.30hourly

$27,656 yearly

Entry-level salary
$16,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Golden Corral Salary Insights

At Golden Corral, salaries can vary significantly depending on the role and location. For 2025, the average annual salary is approximately $27,656. The pay scale ranges from entry-level positions to management roles, providing various opportunities for growth. In particular, kitchen managers and restaurant general managers typically enjoy the highest salaries.

Additionally, pay varies by state, reflecting local market conditions. For example, employees in high-demand areas may see salaries that exceed the average. Knowing the specifics of your desired position can help you make informed career decisions. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting, understanding these dynamics will assist you in negotiating your salary effectively.

Highest paying jobs at Golden Corral

The highest paying jobs at Golden Corral are team leader, kitchen manager, chef, and assistant manager. Team leader jobs at Golden Corral earn an average yearly salary of $75,530, Golden Corral kitchen manager jobs average $49,047, and Golden Corral chef jobs average $45,463.

The lowest paying Golden Corral roles include food prep and hostess. Golden Corral food prep average salary is $23,775 per year. So while the average Golden Corral salary is $27,656 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.

Highest paying jobs at Golden Corral

RankJob titleAverage Golden Corral salaryHourly rate
1Team Leader$75,530$36.31
2Kitchen Manager$49,047$23.58
3Chef$45,463$21.86
4Assistant Manager$39,417$18.95
5Crew Leader$35,341$16.99
6Utility Worker$31,600$15.19
7Customer Service Representative$28,091$13.51
8Line Attendant$27,610$13.27
9Meat Cutter$26,942$12.95
10Cook$26,741$12.86
11Baker$25,449$12.24
12Dish Washer$25,438$12.23
13Server$25,413$12.22
14Line Up Worker$25,179$12.11
15Prep Person$24,811$11.93
16Dishwasher/Busser$24,662$11.86
17Crew Member$24,394$11.73
18Salad Bar Attendant$24,299$11.68
19Cashier$24,171$11.62
20Waitress$23,972$11.53

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Average Golden Corral salary by state

Golden Corral pays the highest salaries in Washington due to higher costs of living and competition in the state.

RankStateAverage Golden Corral salaryHourly rate
1Washington$33,555$16.13
2Massachusetts$32,736$15.74
3New York$32,136$15.45
4California$31,667$15.22
5Minnesota$29,956$14.40
6Colorado$29,638$14.25
7Alaska$29,483$14.17
8New Jersey$29,416$14.14
9New Hampshire$29,180$14.03
10Maryland$28,502$13.70
11Arizona$28,378$13.64
12Illinois$27,940$13.43
13Michigan$27,390$13.17
14Pennsylvania$26,843$12.91
15Virginia$26,259$12.62
16Missouri$26,073$12.54
17Idaho$26,038$12.52
18Wisconsin$25,910$12.46
19West Virginia$25,733$12.37
20Florida$25,610$12.31

How much does Golden Corral pay by location?

The average Golden Corral salary varies by location. Golden Corral salaries are the highest in Puyallup, WA, at $33,562 per year. Golden Corral pays the second highest average salary in Modesto, CA, at $31,796 per year. It's important to factor in the cost of living when negotiating a salary or choosing a place to work.

Highest paying Golden Corral locations

RankLocationAverage Golden Corral salaryHourly rate
1Puyallup, WA$33,562$16.14
2Modesto, CA$31,796$15.29
3Maple Grove, MN$29,938$14.39
4Baltimore, MD$28,529$13.72
5Glendale, AZ$28,373$13.64
6Rockford, IL$28,068$13.49
7Clinton, MI$27,452$13.20
8Erie, PA$27,145$13.05
9Green Bay, WI$26,304$12.65
10Virginia Beach, VA$26,147$12.57
11Saint Louis, MO$26,043$12.52
12Boise, ID$25,991$12.50
13Toledo, OH$25,778$12.39
14Spring Hill, FL$25,624$12.32
15Huntington, WV$25,578$12.30
16Las Vegas, NV$25,538$12.28
17Layton, UT$25,316$12.17
18Lafayette, IN$25,235$12.13
19Garden City, KS$25,084$12.06
20Austin, TX$25,048$12.04

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Golden Corral salaries by department

Salaries at Golden Corral vary depending on the department you work in. Golden Corral salaries in the construction department are the highest with an average salary of $35,326. Employees in the plant/manufacturing department at Golden Corral receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $29,583 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Golden Corral include the retail and the hospitality/service organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $26,327 and $26,693, respectively.

Average Golden Corral salary by department

RankDepartmentAverage Golden Corral salaryHourly rate
1Construction$35,326$16.98
2Plant/Manufacturing$29,583$14.22
3Hospitality/Service$26,694$12.83
4Retail$26,327$12.66

How much does Golden Corral pay by department?

Best paying Golden Corral hospitality/service salaries

RankPositionAverage Golden Corral salaryHourly rate
1Hospitality Manager$49,079$23.60
2Kitchen Manager$49,047$23.58
3Chef$45,463$21.86
4Customer Service And Serving$32,724$15.73
5Meat Cutter$26,942$12.95
6Kitchen Staff$26,758$12.86
7Cook$26,741$12.86
8Bakery Clerk$26,465$12.72
9Bakery Associate$26,364$12.68
10Dish Washer$25,438$12.23
11Server$25,413$12.22
12Baker/Cashier$25,159$12.10
13Prep Person$24,811$11.93
14Food Service Worker$24,703$11.88
15Dishwasher/Busser$24,662$11.86
16Waitress$23,972$11.53
17Cashier/Host$23,817$11.45
18Hostess$23,815$11.45
19Food Prep$23,776$11.43

Best paying Golden Corral retail salaries

RankPositionAverage Golden Corral salaryHourly rate
1Assistant Manager$39,417$18.95
2Shift Supervisor$34,946$16.80
3Front Line Supervisor$27,920$13.42
4Baker$25,449$12.24
5Salad Bar Attendant$24,299$11.68
6Cashier$24,171$11.62
7Buffet Attendant$23,719$11.40

Best paying Golden Corral plant/manufacturing salaries

RankPositionAverage Golden Corral salaryHourly rate
1Crew Trainer$50,544$24.30
2Hourly Manager$39,157$18.83
3Utility Operator$38,730$18.62
4Shift Manager$33,231$15.98
5Line Cook$28,506$13.70
6Line Attendant$27,610$13.27
7Maintenance Team Member$26,958$12.96
8Manufacturing Team Member$26,939$12.95
9Food Prep/Dishwasher$26,476$12.73
10Fry Cook$24,382$11.72
11Kitchen Helper$23,769$11.43

Golden Corral competitors’ average salaries

Average salaries at Golden Corral competitors, like The Cheesecake Factory, Bob Evans Restaurants, and Logan's Roadhouse, vary. The Cheesecake Factory employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $36,769. The average salary at Bob Evans Restaurants is $33,625 per year, and the average salary at Logan's Roadhouse is $33,589 per year.

Highest paying Golden Corral competitors

RankCompany nameZippia scoreAverage salary
1The Cheesecake Factory4.2$36,769
2Bob Evans Restaurants4.3$33,625
3Logan's Roadhouse4.1$33,589
4Joe's Crab Shack3.4$33,197
5Texas Roadhouse4.4$31,839
6Carrabba's4.2$31,682
7Outback Steakhouse4.3$30,508
8Chili's Grill & Bar4.0$30,072
9Cracker Barrel4.1$29,336
10Perkins Restaurant & Bakery4.0$28,542
11Buffalo Wild Wings4.3$27,704
12Steak 'n Shake4.4$27,651
13Red Robin4.0$27,506
14Ruby Tuesday3.7$27,459
15TGI Fridays3.9$27,440
16Applebee's Canada4.2$27,331
17Denny's4.3$27,081
18IHOP4.0$26,555
19Hooters4.5$26,406
20Red Lobster4.1$24,916

Recently added Golden Corral salaries

JobLocationDate addedSalary
Kitchen Manager RestaurantGreen Bay, WI06/21/2025$55,000
BakerGoodyear, AZ06/18/2025$33,392
DishwasherGlendale, AZ06/16/2025$27,131
Food Prep PersonGoodyear, AZ05/26/2025$27,131
Cashier/Host/AttendantCaguas, PR05/18/2025$24,001

What employees say about salary at Golden Corral

Employee reviews
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4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2024
Pros of working at Golden Corral

I Love the hours/Shifts & guests are usually nice and fun to serve. Tips are good when it's busy season, of course. It's sooo hard when it's slow. Money & shifts are scarce. So because of that I'm looking for another job as well.

Cons of working at Golden Corral

I love my job. It hurts when guests do not tip, especially when it's slow too. But that's my only con.

Golden Corral benefits

Free meal, all cash tips and we keep all our tips, no tipping out or splitting (unless sharing a party).

What do you like best about Golden Corral's CEO and the leadership team?

They are all great bosses.. they are fair and they run a good business and they always pay us on time and treat us with respect.

How would you improve Golden Corral's culture?

Sometimes everyone can get a little flustered.But that's everywhere at every job occasionally, here's a few of us that can bring everyone back to where we need to be. There's really no need to improve because no one's perfect...but we are about as good as it gets, as for working as a team. I.m.o.

How did you prepare for the Golden Corral interview?

I put on my dress pants and blouse and put my hair up in a nice bun.Did my makeup really nice, like I do everyday, and I prayed before I went in, I went in smiling. Asked if they're hiring, I got an interview on the spot & I was hired on the spot.

How does your compensation at Golden Corral compare to the industry average?

I think it's pretty good when it's busy season.

What's the diversity at Golden Corral like?

Everything's good in that department.

What brings you the most joy at Golden Corral?

Just seeing people enjoy dinner with their family and loved ones and i'm able to be a part of that and make a living as well...nothing better.

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2.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024
Pros of working at Golden Corral

There are a lot of motivated employees willing to help out.

Cons of working at Golden Corral

Management can be very rude, they pull a lot of surprise schedule changes last minute.

How did you prepare for the Golden Corral interview?

I came in with my resumé and talked about my employment history.

How would you improve Golden Corral's culture?

Properly training management, ensuing employees are aware of if they are/aren't reaching goals

What brings you the most joy at Golden Corral?

Helping customers when they're unsure of anything, leading them in the correct directions.

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5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2023
Pros of working at Golden Corral

Teamwork,care for you and they try to understand your situation

Cons of working at Golden Corral

I do like working there the environment is really good

Golden Corral benefits

Reduce meal flexible schedule and understanding

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5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2020
Pros of working at Golden Corral

Our customers are well taking care of. We work as a team to provide great customer service al the times.

Cons of working at Golden Corral

N/A

Golden Corral benefits

Tips and healthcare coverage

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Frequently asked questions about Golden Corral salaries

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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Golden Corral, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Golden Corral. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Golden Corral. 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 Golden Corral. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Golden Corral and its employees or that of Zippia.

Golden Corral may also be known as or be related to Golden Corral, Platinum Corral, Platinum Corral L.L.C., Platinum Corral LLC and Platinum Corral, LLC.