Restaurant associate demographics and statistics in the US
Restaurant associate demographics research summary. Zippia estimates restaurant associate demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our restaurant associate estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about restaurant associates after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 21,361 restaurant associates currently employed in the United States.
- 50.8% of all restaurant associates are women, while 49.2% are men.
- The average restaurant associate age is 36 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of restaurant associates is White (54.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (21.5%), Black or African American (11.1%) and Asian (6.6%).
- In 2022, women earned 95% of what men earned.
- 10% of all restaurant associates are LGBT.
- Restaurant associates are 70% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Restaurant associate demographics by:
Restaurant associate gender statistics
50.8% of restaurant associates are women and 49.2% of restaurant associates are men.
- Female, 50.8%
- Male, 49.2%
Restaurant associate gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 50.8% |
| Male | 49.2% |
Restaurant associate gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$31,090
Female income
$29,686
Restaurant associate gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in restaurant associate positions over time. Currently, 50.8% of restaurant associates are female.
Restaurant associate gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 48.65% | 51.35% |
| 2011 | 48.94% | 51.06% |
| 2012 | 48.65% | 51.35% |
| 2013 | 52.41% | 47.59% |
| 2014 | 49.61% | 50.39% |
| 2015 | 50.45% | 49.55% |
| 2016 | 52.14% | 47.86% |
| 2017 | 51.72% | 48.28% |
| 2018 | 51.70% | 48.30% |
| 2019 | 50.92% | 49.08% |
| 2020 | 51.80% | 48.20% |
| 2021 | 49.20% | 50.80% |
Restaurant associate related jobs gender ratio
We compared restaurant associates with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, corporate executive chef and chef de cuisine have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Lunchroom Monitor | 5% | 95% |
| Waiter/Waitress, Captain | 13% | 87% |
| Lunchroom Supervisor | 13% | 87% |
| Restaurant Associate | 49% | 51% |
| Executive Chef | 88% | 12% |
| Chef De Cuisine | 90% | 10% |
| Corporate Executive Chef | 91% | 9% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Restaurant associate demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among restaurant associates is White, which makes up 54.8% of all restaurant associates. Comparatively, 21.5% of restaurant associates are Hispanic or Latino and 11.1% of restaurant associates are Black or African American.
- White, 54.8%
- Hispanic or Latino, 21.5%
- Black or African American, 11.1%
- Asian, 6.6%
- Unknown, 5.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Restaurant associate race
| Restaurant associate race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 54.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21.5% |
| Black or African American | 11.1% |
| Asian | 6.6% |
| Unknown | 5.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Restaurant associate race and ethnicity over time
See how restaurant associate racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Restaurant associate race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 61.34% | 11.34% | 6.56% | 17.98% |
| 2011 | 59.78% | 12.22% | 6.29% | 18.78% |
| 2012 | 60.03% | 11.13% | 6.52% | 19.09% |
| 2013 | 59.42% | 11.31% | 6.69% | 19.24% |
| 2014 | 58.26% | 12.13% | 6.34% | 19.91% |
| 2015 | 59.79% | 10.09% | 6.82% | 20.28% |
| 2016 | 59.16% | 11.11% | 6.71% | 19.30% |
| 2017 | 57.40% | 11.24% | 6.62% | 21.10% |
| 2018 | 58.41% | 9.95% | 6.79% | 20.65% |
| 2019 | 59.43% | 9.86% | 6.60% | 20.53% |
| 2020 | 55.37% | 10.24% | 6.94% | 21.34% |
| 2021 | 54.78% | 11.10% | 6.58% | 21.51% |
Restaurant associate wage gap by race
According to our data, asian restaurant associates have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american restaurant associates have the lowest average salary at $30,345.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $31,164 |
| White | $30,708 |
| Black or African American | $30,345 |
| Asian | $31,709 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $31,548 |
Average restaurant associate age
See how the average age of restaurant associates varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Restaurant associate age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 34 | 40 |
| Unknown | 28 | 36 |
| Asian | 35 | 43 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 31 | 33 |
| White | 31 | 36 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 33 |
Restaurant associate age breakdown
The average age of restaurant associates is 40+ years years old, representing 39% of the restaurant associate population.
Restaurant associate age breakdown
| Restaurant Associate Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 39% |
| 30-40 years | 24% |
| 20-30 years | 34% |
Restaurant associate educational attainment
The most common degree for restaurant associates is high school diploma, with 37% of restaurant associates earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 31% and bachelor's degree degree at 18%.
- High School Diploma, 37%
- Bachelor's, 31%
- Associate, 18%
- Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Restaurant associates by degree level
| Restaurant associate degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 37% |
| Bachelor's | 31% |
| Associate | 18% |
| Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Restaurant associate jobs you might like
Restaurant associate wage gap by degree level
According to the data, restaurant associates with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $32,119 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, restaurant associates earn a median annual income of $31,997 compared to $29,781 for restaurant associates with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $29,781 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $31,997 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $32,119 |
Restaurant associate employment statistics
Most restaurant associates work for a private in the hospitality industry.
Company size where restaurant associates work
Below, you can see the size of companies where restaurant associates work.
Restaurant associate jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 18% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 26% |
| > 10,000 employees | 30% |
Restaurant associate jobs by company type
Employees with the restaurant associate job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most restaurant associates prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Restaurant associate jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 26% |
| Private | 70% |
| Government | 2% |
Restaurant associate jobs by industry
The most common industries for restaurant associates are hospitality, retail and health care.
Restaurant associate industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Hospitality | 46% |
| Retail | 11% |
| Fortune 500 | 7% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Media | 4% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Finance | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Education | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
Restaurant associate turnover and employment statistics
Restaurant associate unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for restaurant associates between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Restaurant associate unemployment rate by year
| Year | Restaurant associate unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 8.32% |
| 2011 | 8.45% |
| 2012 | 7.13% |
| 2013 | 7.04% |
| 2014 | 5.72% |
| 2015 | 4.46% |
| 2016 | 4.74% |
| 2017 | 4.34% |
| 2018 | 4.18% |
| 2019 | 3.78% |
| 2020 | 7.32% |
| 2021 | 7.89% |
Average restaurant associate tenure
The average restaurant associate stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,370 restaurant associates resumes in Zippia's database.
Restaurant associate tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 38% |
| 1-2 years | 34% |
| 3-4 years | 10% |
| 5-7 years | 11% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 3% |
Restaurant associate LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of restaurant associates that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Food Service Worker | 6.78% | 169,323 |
| Bartender, Cook, And Waitress | 7.02% | 162,319 |
| Party Host | 7.29% | 10,198 |
| Production Crew | 7.36% | 114,852 |
| Bartender/Certified Trainer | 7.68% | 80,818 |
| Chef Manager | 7.85% | 22,346 |
| Restaurant Associate | 10.00% | - |
Similar restaurant associate jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Food Service Worker | 6.78% | 169,323 |
| Bartender, Cook, And Waitress | 7.02% | 162,319 |
| Party Host | 7.29% | 10,198 |
| Production Crew | 7.36% | 114,852 |
| Bartender/Certified Trainer | 7.68% | 80,818 |
| Chef Manager | 7.85% | 22,346 |
Foreign languages spoken by restaurant associates
The most common foreign language among restaurant associates is Spanish at 62.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.0% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 8.0%.
- Spanish, 62.0%
- French, 10.0%
- Chinese, 8.0%
- Amharic, 4.0%
- Portuguese, 2.0%
- Other, 14.0%
Restaurant associate languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 62.0% |
| French | 10.0% |
| Chinese | 8.0% |
| Amharic | 4.0% |
| Portuguese | 2.0% |
| Other | 14.0% |
