SOC 1222 Other managers and proprietors

Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors Salary

Median salary £30,513 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £31,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors, £31,692 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -19% versus the national average. Experienced restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors (top 25%) earn over £36,068.

About this role

Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors manage hospitality, leisure or catering operations. They oversee service delivery, staffing, food safety, customer experience and commercial performance within hotels, restaurants, leisure venues or catering companies.

Key responsibilities

Managing day-to-day hospitality or leisure operations
Ensuring high standards of customer service and experience
Overseeing food safety, hygiene and health and safety compliance
Managing budgets, pricing and revenue targets
Recruiting, training and leading service teams

Qualifications and entry routes

Significant hospitality or leisure industry experience is essential. A degree in hospitality management or business is common. Professional qualifications in food safety (Level 4) and licensing are typical.

Career outlook

Sector faces ongoing staffing challenges. Experienced managers with strong commercial skills are in demand, particularly in premium and boutique segments.

Key skills

Customer service excellence Revenue management Food safety and hygiene Team leadership Operations management

Common industries

Hotels
Restaurants
Events and conferences
Leisure and recreation
Contract catering

Data coverage

SOC code 1222

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 46,000

Median Salary

£30,513

Mean Salary

£30,918

Jobs (000s)

46k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £24,095Median: £30,513P75: £36,068

P10: £16kP25: £24kMedian: £31kP75: £36kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£16,092

0-2 years

Mid Level

£24,095

3-7 years

Senior

£36,068

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +124% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +38.8%Real growth: +0.6%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 9.2%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£30,513

Full-time Only

£31,692

Full-time premium: +£1,179

Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors salary: common questions

How much do restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors earn in the UK?

Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors earn a median of £31,692 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £24,095 and £36,068.

Is £31,692 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors?

Entry-level restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £24,095, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £16,092.

Have restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors pay has risen from £23,215 to £31,692 — +37% in cash terms, or -1.0% after CPIH inflation. That is roughly in line with inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors?

Male restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors earn a median £31,932 and female restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors £29,005 — a gap of +9.0% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).