How to hire a restaurant/bar manager

How to hire a restaurant/bar manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step restaurant/bar manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a restaurant/bar manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new restaurant/bar manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The restaurant/bar manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A restaurant/bar manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, restaurant/bar managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of restaurant/bar managers.

   Type of Restaurant/BAR Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Restaurant/BAR Manager	Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants and other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages. They direct staff to ensure that customers are satisfied with their dining experience, and they manage the business to ensure that it is profitable.	$17-33
   Food Manager	A food manager oversees the operations at various dining establishments, ensuring efficient food services and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities typically include managing the staff, setting schedules and guidelines, establishing objectives and budgets, liaising with vendors and suppliers, delegating tasks, and developing strategies to optimize overall operations... Show more	$11-27
   Manager	Managers are responsible for a specific department, function, or employee group. They oversee their assigned departments and all the employees under the department... Show more	$17-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Handling
   • Customer Service
   • Wine
   • Guest Satisfaction
   • Restaurant Operations
   • Guest Service
   • BARS
   • Food Service
   • Room Service
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Culinary
   • Payroll
   • Guest Relations
   • Cleanliness

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage staffing, scheduling, FOH monthly meetings and training.
   • Manage multiple bars and restaurants by performing managerial duties such as staffing, accounting, inventory, and entertainment.
   • Manage associates while bartending and serving in a family-own restaurant.
   • Monitor restaurant and banquet bars and ensure exceptional food quality and service standards are met.
   • Prepare sales and labor budgets on a daily basis and create schedules for all FOH employees.
   • Introduce POS system to create an efficient system for sales orders, tracking inventory and bookkeeping purposes.

   More restaurant/bar manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your restaurant/bar manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A restaurant/bar manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, restaurant/bar managers' average salary in tennessee is 40% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level restaurant/bar managers 47% less than senior-level restaurant/bar managers.
   • Certifications. A restaurant/bar manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a restaurant/bar manager's salary.

   Average restaurant/bar manager salary

   $51,720yearly

   $24.87 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level restaurant/bar manager salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

   Average restaurant/bar manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$65,721	$32
   2	California	$60,443	$29
   3	Massachusetts	$59,855	$29
   4	New York	$59,488	$29
   5	Delaware	$57,101	$27
   6	Nevada	$55,968	$27
   7	Virginia	$55,304	$27
   8	Pennsylvania	$55,287	$27
   9	Wisconsin	$53,557	$26
   10	Indiana	$52,411	$25
   11	Illinois	$51,337	$25
   12	Arizona	$50,621	$24
   13	Colorado	$49,241	$24
   14	New Mexico	$48,498	$23
   15	Michigan	$47,713	$23
   16	Ohio	$47,521	$23
   17	Texas	$47,176	$23
   18	Oklahoma	$46,469	$22
   19	Iowa	$46,137	$22
   20	Florida	$43,686	$21

   Average restaurant/bar manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Chili's Grill & Bar	$65,279	$31.38	135
   2	Ocean Casino Resort	$61,140	$29.39
   3	Everest Holdings LLC	$56,420	$27.13	1
   4	Gold Key Processing	$56,279	$27.06	6
   5	Aimbridge Hospitality	$56,061	$26.95	4
   6	InterContinental Hotels Group Resources, Inc.	$54,286	$26.10	20
   7	Hyatt Hotels	$53,848	$25.89	137
   8	Live Nation Entertainment	$53,801	$25.87	17
   9	Brinker International	$53,717	$25.83
   10	Radisson Hotels International Inc	$53,678	$25.81
   11	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$53,648	$25.79	47
   12	ResourceOne	$53,441	$25.69	1
   13	Wyndham Hotels & Resorts	$53,348	$25.65	5
   14	Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts	$53,339	$25.64	24
   15	Patrice and Associates Franchising	$53,297	$25.62	1
   16	IHG Owners Association	$53,233	$25.59	31
   17	Crescent Hotels & Resorts	$53,188	$25.57
   18	Goodwin Recruiting	$52,084	$25.04	1
   19	Radisson	$51,925	$24.96	1
   20	House of Blues	$51,010	$24.52	1

4. Writing a restaurant/bar manager job description

   A restaurant/bar manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a restaurant/bar manager job description:

   Restaurant/bar manager job description example

   1250 Route 22, North Plainfield, NJ 07060

   Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar – Restaurant Bar Manager Job Description

   Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar is seeking an experienced Restaurant Bar Manager to join the Front-of-House management team with a strong emphasis on providing outstanding service hospitality. Our extensive food and drink menu, including 44 beers on tap, along with Arooga’s great food – the tastiest wings with award winning proprietary sauces, fresh never frozen Kobe burgers, garden fresh salads and so much more, guarantee return guest visits. Add our sports and entertainment themed dining rooms with more games on more screens – this is not your ordinary sports bar & grille!

   Restaurant Bar Manager Position Summary: The primary responsibility is to oversee the quality of the bar, maintaining alcohol costs and labor while ensuring the restaurant standards are upheld.

   Responsibilities:

   Duties to include: beverage cost control, ordering, inventory, scheduling, sanitation, food quality, moral, and guest satisfaction.

   Ensuring our guests have a great experience.

   Planning, organizing, training, developing and supervising an effective team.

   Organizing resources of the restaurant, run pre-shift ensuring each shift is set up for success.

   Required Experience:

   Minimum of 3 years of full service restaurant bar management experience.

   High-volume restaurant experience.

   Stable work history and positive career progression.

   Strong bar supervisory experience.

   Great relationship building and communication skills are required. A knowledge of Aloha POS software, a detail-oriented work style, a strong sense of hospitality, and an ability to take initiative and work independently are required.

   Benefits offered:

   Paid time off.

   Employee discounts.

   Workplace perks such as food/beverage and flexible work schedules.

   Work authorization : United States (Required)

   Job Type : Full-time

   Within your, resume please provide a brief description of your qualifications, interest in the position/industry, and why you would be our top candidate.

   Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar – Restaurant Bar Manager – Apply Today

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right restaurant/bar manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your restaurant/bar manager job on Zippia to find and recruit restaurant/bar manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting restaurant/bar managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new restaurant/bar manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the restaurant/bar manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new restaurant/bar manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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