Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
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.
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.
| Rank | Job title | Average Golden Corral salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Leader | $75,530 | $36.31 |
| 2 | Kitchen Manager | $49,047 | $23.58 |
| 3 | Chef | $45,463 | $21.86 |
| 4 | Assistant Manager | $39,417 | $18.95 |
| 5 | Crew Leader | $35,341 | $16.99 |
| 6 | Utility Worker | $31,600 | $15.19 |
| 7 | Customer Service Representative | $28,091 | $13.51 |
| 8 | Line Attendant | $27,610 | $13.27 |
| 9 | Meat Cutter | $26,942 | $12.95 |
| 10 | Cook | $26,741 | $12.86 |
| 11 | Baker | $25,449 | $12.24 |
| 12 | Dish Washer | $25,438 | $12.23 |
| 13 | Server | $25,413 | $12.22 |
| 14 | Line Up Worker | $25,179 | $12.11 |
| 15 | Prep Person | $24,811 | $11.93 |
| 16 | Dishwasher/Busser | $24,662 | $11.86 |
| 17 | Crew Member | $24,394 | $11.73 |
| 18 | Salad Bar Attendant | $24,299 | $11.68 |
| 19 | Cashier | $24,171 | $11.62 |
| 20 | Waitress | $23,972 | $11.53 |
Rate the fairness of Golden Corral's compensation policies.
Golden Corral pays the highest salaries in Washington due to higher costs of living and competition in the state.
| Rank | State | Average Golden Corral salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $33,555 | $16.13 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $32,736 | $15.74 |
| 3 | New York | $32,136 | $15.45 |
| 4 | California | $31,667 | $15.22 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $29,956 | $14.40 |
| 6 | Colorado | $29,638 | $14.25 |
| 7 | Alaska | $29,483 | $14.17 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $29,416 | $14.14 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $29,180 | $14.03 |
| 10 | Maryland | $28,502 | $13.70 |
| 11 | Arizona | $28,378 | $13.64 |
| 12 | Illinois | $27,940 | $13.43 |
| 13 | Michigan | $27,390 | $13.17 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $26,843 | $12.91 |
| 15 | Virginia | $26,259 | $12.62 |
| 16 | Missouri | $26,073 | $12.54 |
| 17 | Idaho | $26,038 | $12.52 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $25,910 | $12.46 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $25,733 | $12.37 |
| 20 | Florida | $25,610 | $12.31 |
| Rank | Location | Average Golden Corral salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puyallup, WA | $33,562 | $16.14 |
| 2 | Modesto, CA | $31,796 | $15.29 |
| 3 | Maple Grove, MN | $29,938 | $14.39 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $28,529 | $13.72 |
| 5 | Glendale, AZ | $28,373 | $13.64 |
| 6 | Rockford, IL | $28,068 | $13.49 |
| 7 | Clinton, MI | $27,452 | $13.20 |
| 8 | Erie, PA | $27,145 | $13.05 |
| 9 | Green Bay, WI | $26,304 | $12.65 |
| 10 | Virginia Beach, VA | $26,147 | $12.57 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $26,043 | $12.52 |
| 12 | Boise, ID | $25,991 | $12.50 |
| 13 | Toledo, OH | $25,778 | $12.39 |
| 14 | Spring Hill, FL | $25,624 | $12.32 |
| 15 | Huntington, WV | $25,578 | $12.30 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $25,538 | $12.28 |
| 17 | Layton, UT | $25,316 | $12.17 |
| 18 | Lafayette, IN | $25,235 | $12.13 |
| 19 | Garden City, KS | $25,084 | $12.06 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $25,048 | $12.04 |
Do you work at Golden Corral?
Were you satisfied with Golden Corral's salary and benefits?
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.
| Rank | Department | Average Golden Corral salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $35,326 | $16.98 |
| 2 | Plant/Manufacturing | $29,583 | $14.22 |
| 3 | Hospitality/Service | $26,694 | $12.83 |
| 4 | Retail | $26,327 | $12.66 |
| Rank | Position | Average Golden Corral salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality Manager | $49,079 | $23.60 |
| 2 | Kitchen Manager | $49,047 | $23.58 |
| 3 | Chef | $45,463 | $21.86 |
| 4 | Customer Service And Serving | $32,724 | $15.73 |
| 5 | Meat Cutter | $26,942 | $12.95 |
| 6 | Kitchen Staff | $26,758 | $12.86 |
| 7 | Cook | $26,741 | $12.86 |
| 8 | Bakery Clerk | $26,465 | $12.72 |
| 9 | Bakery Associate | $26,364 | $12.68 |
| 10 | Dish Washer | $25,438 | $12.23 |
| 11 | Server | $25,413 | $12.22 |
| 12 | Baker/Cashier | $25,159 | $12.10 |
| 13 | Prep Person | $24,811 | $11.93 |
| 14 | Food Service Worker | $24,703 | $11.88 |
| 15 | Dishwasher/Busser | $24,662 | $11.86 |
| 16 | Waitress | $23,972 | $11.53 |
| 17 | Cashier/Host | $23,817 | $11.45 |
| 18 | Hostess | $23,815 | $11.45 |
| 19 | Food Prep | $23,776 | $11.43 |
| Rank | Position | Average Golden Corral salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crew Trainer | $50,544 | $24.30 |
| 2 | Hourly Manager | $39,157 | $18.83 |
| 3 | Utility Operator | $38,730 | $18.62 |
| 4 | Shift Manager | $33,231 | $15.98 |
| 5 | Line Cook | $28,506 | $13.70 |
| 6 | Line Attendant | $27,610 | $13.27 |
| 7 | Maintenance Team Member | $26,958 | $12.96 |
| 8 | Manufacturing Team Member | $26,939 | $12.95 |
| 9 | Food Prep/Dishwasher | $26,476 | $12.73 |
| 10 | Fry Cook | $24,382 | $11.72 |
| 11 | Kitchen Helper | $23,769 | $11.43 |
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.
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Cheesecake Factory | 4.2 | $36,769 |
| 2 | Bob Evans Restaurants | 4.3 | $33,625 |
| 3 | Logan's Roadhouse | 4.1 | $33,589 |
| 4 | Joe's Crab Shack | 3.4 | $33,197 |
| 5 | Texas Roadhouse | 4.4 | $31,839 |
| 6 | Carrabba's | 4.2 | $31,682 |
| 7 | Outback Steakhouse | 4.3 | $30,508 |
| 8 | Chili's Grill & Bar | 4.0 | $30,072 |
| 9 | Cracker Barrel | 4.1 | $29,336 |
| 10 | Perkins Restaurant & Bakery | 4.0 | $28,542 |
| 11 | Buffalo Wild Wings | 4.3 | $27,704 |
| 12 | Steak 'n Shake | 4.4 | $27,651 |
| 13 | Red Robin | 4.0 | $27,506 |
| 14 | Ruby Tuesday | 3.7 | $27,459 |
| 15 | TGI Fridays | 3.9 | $27,440 |
| 16 | Applebee's Canada | 4.2 | $27,331 |
| 17 | Denny's | 4.3 | $27,081 |
| 18 | IHOP | 4.0 | $26,555 |
| 19 | Hooters | 4.5 | $26,406 |
| 20 | Red Lobster | 4.1 | $24,916 |
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen Manager Restaurant | Green Bay, WI | 06/21/2025 | $55,000 |
| Baker | Goodyear, AZ | 06/18/2025 | $33,392 |
| Dishwasher | Glendale, AZ | 06/16/2025 | $27,131 |
| Food Prep Person | Goodyear, AZ | 05/26/2025 | $27,131 |
| Cashier/Host/Attendant | Caguas, PR | 05/18/2025 | $24,001 |
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.
I love my job. It hurts when guests do not tip, especially when it's slow too. But that's my only con.
Free meal, all cash tips and we keep all our tips, no tipping out or splitting (unless sharing a party).
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.
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.
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.
I think it's pretty good when it's busy season.
Everything's good in that department.
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.
There are a lot of motivated employees willing to help out.
Management can be very rude, they pull a lot of surprise schedule changes last minute.
I came in with my resumé and talked about my employment history.
Properly training management, ensuing employees are aware of if they are/aren't reaching goals
Helping customers when they're unsure of anything, leading them in the correct directions.
Teamwork,care for you and they try to understand your situation
I do like working there the environment is really good
Reduce meal flexible schedule and understanding
Our customers are well taking care of. We work as a team to provide great customer service al the times.
N/A
Tips and healthcare coverage
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.