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Restaurant associate salary
Average restaurant associate salary
$14.04
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Let Zippia find your next restaurant associate job
Average restaurant associate salary by state
Highest paying states for restaurant associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $33,966 | $16.33 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $28,218 | $13.57 |
| 3 | Washington | $33,642 | $16.17 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $34,263 | $16.47 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $33,397 | $16.06 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $33,962 | $16.33 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $28,707 | $13.80 |
| 8 | Delaware | $30,019 | $14.43 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $29,670 | $14.26 |
| 10 | Arizona | $27,027 | $12.99 |
| 11 | New York | $31,427 | $15.11 |
| 12 | Colorado | $28,138 | $13.53 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $28,861 | $13.88 |
| 14 | Maine | $29,652 | $14.26 |
| 15 | Virginia | $29,845 | $14.35 |
| 16 | Indiana | $26,376 | $12.68 |
| 17 | Oregon | $31,366 | $15.08 |
| 18 | California | $32,207 | $15.48 |
| 19 | Ohio | $25,122 | $12.08 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $26,014 | $12.51 |
| 21 | Vermont | $30,666 | $14.74 |
| 22 | Maryland | $28,843 | $13.87 |
| 23 | Nevada | $26,645 | $12.81 |
| 24 | Iowa | $26,648 | $12.81 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $27,888 | $13.41 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $32,421 | $15.59 |
| 27 | Florida | $25,996 | $12.50 |
| 28 | Alaska | $29,136 | $14.01 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $25,433 | $12.23 |
| 30 | Montana | $25,571 | $12.29 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $24,680 | $11.87 |
| 32 | Michigan | $25,292 | $12.16 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $23,969 | $11.52 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $26,601 | $12.79 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $30,350 | $14.59 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $25,457 | $12.24 |
| 37 | Georgia | $24,346 | $11.70 |
| 38 | Utah | $25,268 | $12.15 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $22,935 | $11.03 |
| 40 | Idaho | $24,747 | $11.90 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $21,999 | $10.58 |
| 42 | Missouri | $23,413 | $11.26 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $22,511 | $10.82 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $23,280 | $11.19 |
| 45 | Texas | $23,230 | $11.17 |
| 46 | Illinois | $22,932 | $11.03 |
| 47 | Kansas | $22,804 | $10.96 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $23,514 | $11.30 |
| 49 | Alabama | $22,152 | $10.65 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $21,745 | $10.45 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $21,774 | $10.47 |
Restaurant associate salary details
A restaurant associate's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $37,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a restaurant associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| Average | $29,195 | $2,433 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
Highest paying restaurant associate jobs
The highest paying types of restaurant associates are associate, associate food scientist, and restaurant supervisor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Service/Cashier | $28,481 | $2,373 | $13.69 | 247,779 |
| Server And Hostess | $28,020 | $2,335 | $13.47 | 97,109 |
| Kitchen Staff | $29,816 | $2,485 | $14.33 | 154,513 |
| Food Server | $25,209 | $2,101 | $12.12 | 125,455 |
| Food Runner | $25,536 | $2,128 | $12.28 | 240,853 |
| Line Server | $28,300 | $2,358 | $13.61 | 246,165 |
Top companies hiring restaurant associates now:
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Restaurant associate salary trends
The average restaurant associate salary has risen by $4,240 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average restaurant associate earned $24,955 annually, but today, they earn $29,195 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for restaurant associates over the last decade.
Compare restaurant associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average restaurant associate salary over time
Compare restaurant associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Restaurant associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $29,200 | $14.04 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $28,200 | $13.56 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $27,400 | $13.18 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $27,000 | $12.98 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $26,600 | $12.78 | +3.6% |
Recently added restaurant associate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staffmark Group | Restaurant Associate | Shreveport, LA | 06/21/2025 | $14,609 |
| Staffmark Group | Restaurant Associate | Shreveport, LA | 05/15/2025 | $14,609 |
| Panera Bread | Restaurant Associate-Cashier | Roseville, MN | 05/15/2025 | $23,228 |
| Portland Embassy Suites | Restaurant Associate | Portland, OR | 05/13/2025 | $33,392 |
| Atrium Hospitality | Restaurant Associate | Portland, OR | 05/10/2025 | $34,436 |
| Panera Bread | Restaurant Associate-Cashier | Roseville, MN | 04/28/2025 | $23,228 |
| Atrium Hospitality | Restaurant Associate | Bowling Green, KY | 04/12/2025 | $20,870 |
| Portland Embassy Suites | Restaurant Associate | Portland, OR | 04/08/2025 | $34,436 |
| Atrium Hospitality | Restaurant Associate | Portland, OR | 04/05/2025 | $34,436 |
| Atrium Hospitality | Restaurant Associate | San Marcos, TX | 04/04/2025 | $22,957 |
Restaurant associate salary FAQs
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