Highest Restaurant Manager Salaries: Top-Paying Venues in 2025

Restaurant Manager Salary: Key Findings

• Fine dining and steakhouses offer the highest Restaurant Manager salaries, thanks to premium pricing and high expectations.
• Top-paying restaurants reward managers with strong base pay, bonuses and tips tied to upscale clientele and complex operations.
• In high-cost cities, managers can boost earnings by targeting elite restaurants and maximizing benefits and performance incentives.

Restaurant management offers competitive salaries, especially in fine dining, where high expectations and premium experiences often translate to a higher Restaurant Manager salary. Below is a list of top-paying fine dining restaurants in the U.S., categorized by type and manager wages.

Establishments Where Restaurant Manager Salaries Are Most Competitive

Some restaurant types consistently offer higher pay for managers, thanks to higher revenue, upscale service models or demanding operational needs. Here's where manager compensation tends to be strongest. 

High-End Steakhouses 

Steakhouses are known for premium cuts of meat and exceptional service, requiring managers to ensure operational excellence These restaurants often attract affluent clients willing to spend more, which reflects in the compensation offered to their management teams. 

1. Ruth’s Chris Steak House 

[Source: Ruth's Chris Steak House LinkedIn]

Ruth’s Chris is a well-established fine dining steakhouse known for its sizzling USDA Prime steaks served on hot plates. With upscale locations across the country, the restaurant draws high-end clientele for an elegant dining experience. Restaurant Managers oversee daily operations, ensuring flawless service and maintaining top food standards. This leads to high salaries and bonuses. 

Location: Nationwide (including major cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles) 

2. Morton’s The Steakhouse 

[Source: Morton's The Steakhouse website]

Morton’s is one of the most iconic steakhouses in the U.S., offering high-quality steaks, seafood and an extensive wine list. Known for its elegant and refined atmosphere, Morton’s caters to upscale customers seeking a luxurious dining experience. Managers at Morton’s earn competitive wages due to premium pricing, high-ticket sales and a busy atmosphere. 

Location: Nationwide, with key locations in New York, Chicago and Las Vegas 

3. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse 

[Source: Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse website]

Del Frisco’s is a high-end steakhouse offering prime steaks, fresh seafood and an extensive wine list for an upscale experience. With luxurious locations in major cities, it attracts affluent clientele for fine dining events, business meetings and celebrations. Restaurant Managers are compensated well for managing large teams and ensuring smooth operations in a high-volume, high-revenue setting. 

Location: Nationwide, with locations in cities like New York, Las Vegas, and Dallas 

4. The Capital Grille 

[Source: The Capital Grille LinkedIn]

The Capital Grille offers an elegant setting with a focus on dry-aged steaks and a rich wine selection. The chain is renowned for its exceptional customer service and high-quality food. The Capital Grille’s upscale offerings and busy locations require managers to oversee both front- and back-of-house operations. They ensure a luxurious guest experience. 

Location: Nationwide, including major cities like Boston, Miami and San Francisco 

5. Smith & Wollensky 

[Source: Smith & Wollensky website]

Smith & Wollensky is a premium steakhouse known for top-tier USDA Prime steaks and exceptional dining. The high-end clientele and demand for premium steaks ensure managers are well-compensated for maintaining high standards. Base salaries, performance bonuses and tips boost overall earnings. 

Location: Nationwide, with flagship locations in New York City, Las Vegas and Chicago 

Michelin-Starred French and European Restaurants 

These restaurants reward Restaurant Managers with substantial compensation packages due to their high standards and elite clientele.

 1. Le Bernardin 

Chefs and staff at Le Bernardin, an iconic Michelin-starred French seafood restaurant in New York City, refine seafood dishes and provide exceptional service. The restaurant's reputation for culinary excellence attracts a sophisticated clientele willing to pay top dollar for a world-class dining experience. Le Bernardin rewards its Restaurant Managers generously for overseeing operations at such a prestigious establishment, offering high salaries, performance bonuses and benefits. 

Location: New York City, NY 

2. Jean-Georges 

Jean-Georges, a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York City, blends French techniques with global flavors to offer innovative cuisine in a chic, modern setting. The restaurant’s culinary creativity and attention to detail draw in an elite clientele. Restaurant Managers are highly compensated due to the complex nature of operations, high guest expectations and the overall prestige of the establishment, with substantial base salaries and performance bonuses. 

Location: New York City, NY 

3. Per Se 

Per Se is a renowned Michelin-starred French-inspired restaurant located in New York City. Offering a luxurious dining experience with meticulously prepared dishes, it attracts guests who expect nothing less than perfection. Managers at Per Se are responsible for overseeing a world-class operation, and due to the restaurant’s high revenue and Michelin status, they enjoy high salaries, performance-based bonuses and generous benefits. 

Location: New York City, NY 

4. The French Laundry 

The French Laundry in Yountville, California, is a three-Michelin-star restaurant celebrated for its exquisite farm-to-table dining experience. The restaurant’s innovative tasting menus, along with its emphasis on sustainability, have earned it worldwide recognition. As one of the top fine dining restaurants in the world, Restaurant Managers are highly compensated to ensure the flawless execution of service and operations, with substantial salaries and performance bonuses. 

Location: Yountville, CA 

5. Alinea 

Alinea is one of the most innovative Michelin-starred restaurants in the country, known for its avant-garde approach to modernist cuisine. Alinea offers a multi-sensory dining experience that combines creativity and precision. The restaurant's high profile and exclusive clientele lead to high revenue, and Managers are compensated with competitive salaries, bonuses and other performance incentives. 

Location: Chicago, IL 

Modern and Innovative Fine Dining 

These restaurants combine modern techniques with high-quality ingredients to offer unique and contemporary dining experiences. Their innovative approaches to fine dining ensure that Restaurant Managers oversee dynamic and profitable operations. 

1. Nobu 

Nobu is a globally recognized Japanese fusion restaurant known for its innovative menu combining Japanese flavors with South American influences. With locations in major cities worldwide, Nobu attracts celebrities and affluent clients, offering a high-volume environment with premium pricing. Restaurant Managers here are well-compensated for managing operations at these high-demand restaurants, with strong salaries, performance bonuses and benefits reflecting the restaurant’s success. 

Location: Nationwide, including New York, Los Angeles and Miami 

2. Hakkasan 

Hakkasan is a Michelin-starred restaurant that combines modern Chinese cuisine with a luxurious dining experience. The restaurant’s sleek design and high-end offerings make it a favorite for those looking for an upscale dining experience in a trendy atmosphere. Managers at Hakkasan are compensated well due to the premium pricing and high volume of business, with competitive base salaries, bonuses and tips. 

Location: Nationwide, with key locations in Las Vegas, New York City and Miami 

3. Blue Hill at Stone Barns 

Blue Hill at Stone Barns is a farm-to-table restaurant in New York that focuses on sustainability and locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant’s innovative approach to dining and commitment to environmental sustainability has earned it a reputation as one of the best in the world. Here, Restaurant Managers are highly compensated for overseeing operations in such an exclusive and prestigious restaurant, with top salaries, bonuses and benefits reflecting the restaurant’s success. 

Location: New York, NY (Tarrytown) 

Which Restaurants Offer the Highest Restaurant Manager Salary?

Restaurant Managers in fine dining can earn top wages, especially when managing high-end steakhouses, Michelin-starred restaurants and innovative fine dining establishments. 

These restaurants offer competitive salaries, bonuses and tips due to their premium offerings, sophisticated clientele and successful business models. 

If you're looking for what restaurants pay managers the most, focusing on these prestigious restaurants provides an excellent opportunity to maximize your earnings in the restaurant management field. 

How To Get Hired at Restaurants With Top Manager Salaries

To get hired as a Manager at top-paying restaurants, focus on gaining experience in fine dining, building a strong track record in team leadership and operations and networking within the industry. Highlight your customer service skills, work ethic and ability to thrive under pressure to stand out in competitive, high-end settings. 

Managing Restaurant Manager Salaries in High-Cost Cities 

Restaurant Managers in the U.S. earn an average of $69,580 per year (about $33.45/hour), but living costs vary widely. 

States like Hawaii have a cost of living index of 193.3, nearly double that of states like Kansas (86.5). 

In 2023, average household expenses reached $6,440/month. In high-cost cities like New York or Miami, Restaurant Managers can stretch their salary by leveraging employer benefits, budgeting carefully, choosing affordable housing and using public transportation. 

Tips and bonuses at upscale restaurants can also supplement base pay, helping managers maintain financial stability.

Criteria for Identifying Restaurants With the Highest Restaurant Manager Salaries

When determining what restaurants pay Managers the most, several factors come into play. 

• Reputation and brand: Well-known restaurants with strong reputations often pay more to maintain high standards.
• Clientele: Establishments that serve affluent or high-profile guests typically offer higher compensation.
• Location: Restaurants in major cities or high-cost areas often offer higher salaries to match living expenses.
• Restaurant type: Fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants tend to pay more due to elevated service expectations.
• Size and revenue: Larger, high-volume restaurants often provide higher base pay and performance-based bonuses.
• Operational complexity: Managers who can oversee busy, complex operations are often compensated more for their skill and oversight.

Written by Rea Gierran

Content Specialist

With a background in Communication Arts, Rea's expertise lies in content marketing and copywriting. Her published works can be seen on online news websites such as Rappler and Adobo magazine. Outside of her work, Rea takes on the role of a “momager” for Shiro, a TikTok dogfluencer.