Best cities for a restaurant general manager
The best cities for restaurant general managers are Hempstead, NY, Winston-Salem, NC, and Fort Wayne, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for restaurant general managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for restaurant general managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a restaurant general manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for restaurant general managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for restaurant general managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a restaurant general manager. While the absolute best city for restaurant general managers is Hempstead, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for restaurant general managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a restaurant general manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for restaurant general managers in 2025
1. Hempstead, NY
Restaurant general manager jobs in HempsteadTotal restaurant general manager jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $78,354 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 1.69 2. Winston-Salem, NC
Restaurant general manager jobs in Winston-SalemTotal restaurant general manager jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $59,850 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 0.52 3. Fort Wayne, IN
Restaurant general manager jobs in Fort WayneTotal restaurant general manager jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $54,958 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 0.48 4. New Orleans, LA
Restaurant general manager jobs in New OrleansTotal restaurant general manager jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $53,452 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 1.07 5. Buffalo, NY
Restaurant general manager jobs in BuffaloTotal restaurant general manager jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $76,870 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 0.44 6. Anchorage, AK
Restaurant general manager jobs in AnchorageTotal restaurant general manager jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $59,223 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location quotient: 1.16 7. Virginia Beach, VA
Restaurant general manager jobs in Virginia BeachTotal restaurant general manager jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $61,536 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 0.88 8. Cleveland, OH
Restaurant general manager jobs in ClevelandTotal restaurant general manager jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $53,859 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 0.49 9. North Las Vegas, NV
Restaurant general manager jobs in North Las VegasTotal restaurant general manager jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $52,302 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location quotient: 1.54 10. Lubbock, TX
Restaurant general manager jobs in LubbockTotal restaurant general manager jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $52,535 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location quotient: 1.03
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Best cities for restaurant general managers
- Hempstead, NY
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Fort Wayne, IN
- New Orleans, LA
- Buffalo, NY
- Anchorage, AK
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Cleveland, OH
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Lubbock, TX
- (2 restaurant general manager jobs)
- (9 restaurant general manager jobs)
- (10 restaurant general manager jobs)
- (35 restaurant general manager jobs)
- (16 restaurant general manager jobs)
- (21 restaurant general manager jobs)
- (21 restaurant general manager jobs)
- (28 restaurant general manager jobs)
- (6 restaurant general manager jobs)
- (11 restaurant general manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a restaurant general manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hempstead, NY | $78,354 | $53,000 | 759,757 | 2 |
| 2 | Winston-Salem, NC | $59,850 | $41,000 | 242,203 | 9 |
| 3 | Fort Wayne, IN | $54,958 | $38,000 | 264,488 | 10 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $53,452 | $38,000 | 391,495 | 35 |
| 5 | Buffalo, NY | $76,870 | $52,000 | 256,902 | 16 |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $59,223 | $49,000 | 298,192 | 21 |
| 7 | Virginia Beach, VA | $61,536 | $42,000 | 452,602 | 21 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $53,859 | $37,000 | 385,809 | 28 |
| 9 | North Las Vegas, NV | $52,302 | $38,000 | 238,702 | 6 |
| 10 | Lubbock, TX | $52,535 | $38,000 | 252,506 | 11 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $57,878 | $40,000 | 595,047 | 31 |
| 12 | Greensboro, NC | $60,299 | $41,000 | 287,027 | 11 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $60,694 | $45,000 | 693,060 | 126 |
| 14 | Chesapeake, VA | $61,333 | $41,000 | 237,940 | 7 |
| 15 | Toledo, OH | $53,064 | $36,000 | 278,508 | 7 |
| 16 | Garland, TX | $51,254 | $37,000 | 234,943 | 16 |
| 17 | Aurora, CO | $60,677 | $45,000 | 361,710 | 19 |
| 18 | Arlington, TX | $51,464 | $37,000 | 392,772 | 16 |
| 19 | Cincinnati, OH | $50,454 | $35,000 | 298,800 | 41 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $80,333 | $54,000 | 681,170 | 69 |
| 21 | Charlotte, NC | $58,514 | $41,000 | 842,051 | 80 |
| 22 | Pittsburgh, PA | $56,427 | $38,000 | 303,625 | 29 |
| 23 | Raleigh, NC | $61,117 | $42,000 | 458,880 | 25 |
| 24 | Indianapolis, IN | $52,934 | $36,000 | 855,164 | 55 |
| 25 | Columbus, OH | $52,383 | $36,000 | 860,090 | 62 |
| 26 | Reno, NV | $53,744 | $39,000 | 245,255 | 11 |
| 27 | Detroit, MI | $55,564 | $38,000 | 672,795 | 19 |
| 28 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,370 | $38,000 | 632,912 | 33 |
| 29 | Glendale, AZ | $51,353 | $38,000 | 245,895 | 9 |
| 30 | Gilbert, AZ | $51,217 | $38,000 | 237,133 | 8 |
| 31 | Madison, WI | $56,931 | $39,000 | 252,551 | 17 |
| 32 | Boston, MA | $66,743 | $45,000 | 673,184 | 47 |
| 33 | Durham, NC | $61,071 | $42,000 | 263,016 | 14 |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $51,204 | $38,000 | 484,587 | 13 |
| 35 | Laredo, TX | $53,335 | $39,000 | 257,156 | 2 |
| 36 | Nashville, TN | $48,707 | $34,000 | 660,388 | 36 |
| 37 | Seattle, WA | $62,943 | $46,000 | 704,352 | 84 |
| 38 | Tucson, AZ | $51,021 | $38,000 | 530,706 | 23 |
| 39 | Fresno, CA | $62,027 | $45,000 | 522,053 | 8 |
| 40 | Bakersfield, CA | $61,707 | $45,000 | 376,380 | 7 |
| 41 | Colorado Springs, CO | $60,890 | $45,000 | 465,101 | 15 |
| 42 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,915 | $39,000 | 1,567,872 | 27 |
| 43 | Memphis, TN | $47,768 | $34,000 | 652,717 | 25 |
| 44 | Newark, NJ | $77,047 | $52,000 | 281,764 | 5 |
| 45 | Portland, OR | $53,993 | $39,000 | 639,863 | 61 |
| 46 | Saint Paul, MN | $53,387 | $37,000 | 302,398 | 22 |
| 47 | New York, NY | $78,275 | $53,000 | 8,537,673 | 84 |
| 48 | Chicago, IL | $57,764 | $40,000 | 2,704,958 | 88 |
| 49 | Fort Worth, TX | $51,515 | $37,000 | 854,113 | 18 |
| 50 | Stockton, CA | $62,486 | $45,000 | 307,072 | 4 |
Highest paying cities for restaurant general managers
| Rank | City | Avg. restaurant general manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $80,333 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $78,275 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $66,743 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $62,943 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $62,812 |
| 6 | Greenville, NC | $62,068 |
| 7 | Columbia, MD | $61,840 |
| 8 | Virginia Beach, VA | $61,536 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $60,694 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,915 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $57,878 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $57,764 |
| 13 | Grand Rapids, MI | $54,609 |
| 14 | Portland, ME | $54,180 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $53,993 |
| 16 | Richmond, IN | $53,982 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $53,859 |
| 18 | Baton Rouge, LA | $53,500 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $53,330 |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,370 |
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Updated January 8, 2025