Restaurant Worker Demographics and Statistics In The US

Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for restaurant workers in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

  • There are over 8,892 restaurant workers currently employed in the United States.
  • 38.7% of all restaurant workers are women, while 61.3% are men.
  • The average age of an employed restaurant worker is 23 years old.
  • The most common ethnicity of restaurant workers is White (57.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.6%), Black or African American (9.6%) and Unknown (6.9%).
  • In 2021, women earned 101% of what men earned.
  • 8% of all restaurant workers are LGBT.
  • Restaurant workers are 69% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.

Restaurant Worker Statistics By Gender

38.7% of restaurant workers are women and 61.3% of restaurant workers are men.

  • Male, 61.3%
  • Female, 38.7%

Restaurant Workers By Gender

GenderPercentages
Male61.3%
Female38.7%

Gender Pay Gap For Restaurant Worker

Women Earn $1.01 For Every $1 Earned By Men

male-income
Male Income
$27,875
female-income
Female Income
$28,095

Restaurant Worker Gender Over Time

This data shows how men and women predominate in the restaurant worker position over time.

Male
Female
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021

Restaurant Worker Gender By Year

YearMaleFemale
201055.93%44.07%
201155.92%44.08%
201260.03%39.97%
201359.20%40.80%
201461.71%38.29%
201559.07%40.93%
201661.34%38.66%
201762.21%37.79%
201862.37%37.63%
201963.48%36.52%
202062.70%37.30%
202161.35%38.65%

Restaurant Worker Male to Female Ratio

We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, busboy/waiter and host/waiter have the biggest difference in gender.

Job TitleMaleFemale
Barmaid5%95%
Head Waitress5%95%
Bartender, Cook, And Waitress5%95%
Restaurant Worker61%39%
Bar Back & Bartender86%14%
Host/Waiter90%10%
Busboy/Waiter97%3%
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Busboy/Waiter
Host/Waiter
Bar Back & Bartender
Restaurant Worker
Bartender, Cook, And Waitress
Head Waitress
Barmaid
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%

Restaurant Worker Statistics By Race

The most common ethnicity among restaurant workers is White, which makes up 57.5% of all restaurant workers. Comparatively, there are 18.6% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 9.6% of the Black or African American ethnicity.

  • White, 57.5%
  • Hispanic or Latino, 18.6%
  • Black or African American, 9.6%
  • Unknown, 6.9%
  • Asian, 6.5%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%

Restaurant Worker Race

Restaurant Worker RacePercentages
White57.5%
Hispanic or Latino18.6%
Black or African American9.6%
Unknown6.9%
Asian6.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native0.9%

Restaurant Worker Race And Ethnicity Over Time

Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among restaurant workers.

  • White
  • Asian
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Black or African American

Restaurant Worker Race By Year

YearWhiteBlack or African AmericanAsianHispanic or Latino
201065.31%13.07%3.29%14.66%
201166.24%14.53%3.52%12.64%
201265.06%14.43%3.94%13.05%
201364.18%13.75%3.69%14.97%
201464.11%14.58%3.91%13.79%
201564.38%13.39%4.87%13.68%
201663.01%13.46%4.15%14.93%
201761.71%13.46%4.79%15.03%
201864.11%11.49%5.21%15.12%
201962.41%10.01%6.21%17.04%
202059.95%9.82%6.36%16.74%
202157.47%9.64%6.49%18.63%

Restaurant Worker Wage Gap By Race

Hispanic or latino restaurant workers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american restaurant workers have the lowest average salary at $27,454.
$29,000
$28,000
$27,000
Unknown
White
Black or African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
EthnicitySalary
Unknown$27,746
White$27,850
Black or African American$27,454
Asian$28,144
Hispanic or Latino$28,186

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Restaurant Worker JOBS

Average Age of a Restaurant Worker

We determined the average age of restaurant workers based on ethnicity and gender.

Male
Female

Restaurant Worker Age By Race

RaceMale AgeFemale Age
Black or African American22.521
Unknown2120.5
Asian2122
Hispanic or Latino2122
White2121
American Indian and Alaska Native21

Restaurant Worker Age Breakdown

This chart breaks down the ages of restaurant worker employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of restaurant workers is 20-30 years old, which represents 51% of the population.

40+ years

30-40 years

20-30 years


Restaurant Worker Age

Restaurant Worker YearsPercentages
40+ years3%
30-40 years12%
20-30 years51%

Types of Restaurant Worker Degree Levels

The most common degree for restaurant workers is high school diploma 37% of restaurant workers earn that degree. A close second is bachelor's degree with 31% and rounding it off is associate degree with 17%.

  • High School Diploma, 37%
  • Bachelors, 31%
  • Associate, 17%
  • Diploma, 8%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

Restaurant Workers By Education

Restaurant Worker DegreePercentages
High School Diploma37%
Bachelors31%
Associate17%
Diploma8%
Other Degrees7%

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Restaurant Worker Wage Gap By Education

Restaurant workers with a Bachelors degree earn more than those without, at $28,840 annually. With a Associate degree, restaurant workers earn a median annual income of $28,454 compared to $27,211 for restaurant workers with an High School Diploma degree.
$30,000
$29,000
$28,000
$27,000
High School Diploma or Less
Bachelor's Degree
Some College/ Associate Degree
EducationSalary
High School Diploma or Less$27,211
Bachelor's Degree$28,840
Some College/ Associate Degree$28,454

Restaurant Worker Employment Statistics

This section highlights information about where restaurant workers work. We found most restaurant workers work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most restaurant workers is the hospitality industry.

Company Size

We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire restaurant workers.

< 50 employees

50 - 100 employees

100 - 500 employees

500 - 1,000 employees

1,000 - 10,000 employees

> 10,000

Restaurant Worker Jobs By Employer Size

Company SizePercentages
< 50 employees9%
50 - 100 employees7%
100 - 500 employees17%
500 - 1,000 employees9%
1,000 - 10,000 employees27%
> 10,000 employees31%

The Types Of Companies Restaurant Worker Work In

Employees with the restaurant worker job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most restaurant workers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.

Education

Public

Private

Government

Restaurant Worker Jobs By Sector

Company TypePercentages
Education5%
Public25%
Private69%
Government1%

Top Industries Hiring Restaurant Workers

Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ restaurant workers. Those industries include hospitality, retail and education.

Hospitality

Retail

Education

Fortune 500

Professional

Show More

Restaurant Worker Turnover And Employment Statistics

Restaurant Worker Unemployment Rate Over Time

The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of restaurant workers changed.

  • Unemployment rate

Restaurant Worker Unemployment Rate By Year

YearRestaurant Worker Unemployment Rate
201014.75%
201116.23%
201213.34%
201312.58%
201410.04%
20158.71%
201610.19%
20179.58%
20189.31%
20198.07%
20209.90%
20219.86%

The Average Number of Years That Restaurant Worker Stay in a Job

By looking over 1,154 restaurant workers resumes, we figured out that the average restaurant worker enjoys staying at their job for Less than 1 year for a percentage of 36%.

Less than one year

1-2 years

3-4 years

5-7 years

8-10 years

11+ years

Restaurant Worker Tenure

Number or YearsPercentages
Less than 1 year36%
1-2 years32%
3-4 years13%
5-7 years9%
8-10 years4%
11+ years6%

Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Restaurant Workers with Other Job Titles

After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to restaurant workers.

Job TitleLGBTJob Openings
Host/Waiter6.48%73,399
Food Porter6.98%57,175
Mixologist7.82%53,872
Restaurant Worker7.82%-

Restaurant Worker LGBT Demographics

ProfessionPercentages of LGBT Job Openings
Host/Waiter6.48%73,399
Food Porter6.98%57,175
Mixologist7.82%53,872

Foreign Languages Spoken By Restaurant Workers

The most common foreign language among restaurant workers is Spanish at 52.9%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 5.9% and Arabic is the third-most popular at 5.9%.

  • Spanish, 52.9%
  • French, 5.9%
  • Arabic, 5.9%
  • Thai, 5.9%
  • Swedish, 2.9%
  • Other, 26.5%

Restaurant Worker Languages Spoken

Foreign LanguagePercentages
Spanish52.9%
French5.9%
Arabic5.9%
Thai5.9%
Swedish2.9%
Other26.5%

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Restaurant Worker Heatmaps

Which State Has The Most Restaurant Workers?

By looking through more than 1,154 resumes, we found that the most popular places for restaurant workers are New York, NY and Orlando, FL.

Number of Restaurant Workers

Number Of Restaurant Worker Jobs By State

RankStateNumber of JobsAverage Salary
1California6,738$31,355
2Texas5,610$23,656
3Florida4,125$22,903
4North Carolina2,768$22,514
5Virginia2,683$25,275
6Georgia2,679$22,407
7Pennsylvania2,056$24,562
8Ohio2,009$25,416
9Washington1,803$32,852
10Colorado1,617$26,483
11Tennessee1,564$24,361
12New York1,558$32,163
13Illinois1,504$29,161
14Missouri1,442$26,360
15South Carolina1,143$22,994
16Alabama1,064$23,167
17Minnesota998$28,345
18Oregon989$31,073
19Arizona987$26,966
20New Jersey971$31,962
21Michigan963$31,003
22Maryland956$27,968
23Utah955$26,237
24Wisconsin870$25,497
25Connecticut771$30,044
26Oklahoma725$22,165
27Indiana720$22,483
28Louisiana707$21,115
29Massachusetts676$33,610
30Nebraska638$22,692
31Iowa570$23,613
32New Mexico431$25,343
33West Virginia419$29,211
34Kentucky405$24,884
35New Hampshire376$34,978
36Idaho341$27,323
37Kansas328$22,994
38Delaware287$29,248
39Arkansas257$23,918
40South Dakota254$24,245
41Mississippi226$22,623
42Nevada182$25,651
43District of Columbia164$29,767
44Montana133$25,341
45Rhode Island124$29,703
46North Dakota112$26,321
47Wyoming104$24,842
48Maine100$32,347
49Hawaii86$24,764
50Alaska52$27,149
51Vermont39$28,612

Restaurant Worker Demographics FAQs

How Many Restaurant Worker Are There In The Us?

There are over 8,892 Restaurant Workers in the United States.

What Percentage Of Restaurant Workers Are Black?

9.6% of Restaurant Workers are Black or African American

What Race Are Most Restaurant Workers?

Most a are White, with 57.5% of Restaurant Workers belonging to this ethnicity. 18.6% of Restaurant Workers are Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% of Restaurant Workers are Black or African American, 6.9% of Restaurant Workers are Unknown, 6.5% of Restaurant Workers are Asian, and 0.9% of Restaurant Workers are American Indian and Alaska Native

Are Restaurant Worker Jobs Male - Dominated?

Yes, Restaurant Worker jobs are male - dominated. 61% of Restaurant Workers are male, and 38% are female, so there are more male Restaurant Workers than female Restaurant Workers in the United States.

How Old Is The Average Restaurant Worker?

The average Restaurant Worker is 23 years old. 3% of Restaurant Workers are 40+ years old or older, 12% are between the ages of 30-40 years, and 51% are between 20-30 years old
Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.

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Updated September 9, 2022