Money · 1 of 5

What restaurant managers make

Median

$69,390

Bottom tenth

$45,960

Top tenth

$107,640

The national median is $69,390 a year, and the bottom tenth start near $45,960. The survey files this under Food Service Managers, which also counts cafeteria, school kitchen and hospital catering managers, so the line is a little wider than restaurants alone. Big cities and fine dining sit at the top; small town diners sit at the bottom.