Restaurant Worker demographics and statistics in the US
Restaurant worker demographics research summary. Zippia estimates restaurant worker demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our restaurant worker estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about restaurant workers after extensive research and analysis:
- 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 restaurant worker age 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 2022, 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.
On This Page
Restaurant Worker demographics by:
Restaurant Worker gender statistics
38.7% of restaurant workers are women and 61.3% of restaurant workers are men.
- Male, 61.3%
- Female, 38.7%
Restaurant Worker gender ratio
Gender  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 61.3% |
| Female | 38.7% |
Restaurant Worker gender pay gap
Women earn $1.01 for every $1 earned by men
Male Income
$27,875
Female Income
$28,095
Restaurant Worker gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in restaurant worker positions over time. Currently, 38.7% of restaurant workers are female.
Restaurant Worker gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 55.93% | 44.07% |
| 2011 | 55.92% | 44.08% |
| 2012 | 60.03% | 39.97% |
| 2013 | 59.20% | 40.80% |
| 2014 | 61.71% | 38.29% |
| 2015 | 59.07% | 40.93% |
| 2016 | 61.34% | 38.66% |
| 2017 | 62.21% | 37.79% |
| 2018 | 62.37% | 37.63% |
| 2019 | 63.48% | 36.52% |
| 2020 | 62.70% | 37.30% |
| 2021 | 61.35% | 38.65% |
Restaurant Worker related jobs gender ratio
We compared restaurant workers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, busboy/waiter and host/waiter have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Barmaid | 5% | 95% |
| Head Waitress | 5% | 95% |
| Bartender, Cook, And Waitress | 5% | 95% |
| Restaurant Worker | 61% | 39% |
| Bar Back & Bartender | 86% | 14% |
| Host/Waiter | 90% | 10% |
| Busboy/Waiter | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Restaurant Worker demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among restaurant workers is White, which makes up 57.5% of all restaurant workers. Comparatively, 18.6% of restaurant workers are Hispanic or Latino and 9.6% of restaurant workers are Black or African American.
- 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 Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 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 and ethnicity over time
See how restaurant worker racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Restaurant Worker race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 65.31% | 13.07% | 3.29% | 14.66% |
| 2011 | 66.24% | 14.53% | 3.52% | 12.64% |
| 2012 | 65.06% | 14.43% | 3.94% | 13.05% |
| 2013 | 64.18% | 13.75% | 3.69% | 14.97% |
| 2014 | 64.11% | 14.58% | 3.91% | 13.79% |
| 2015 | 64.38% | 13.39% | 4.87% | 13.68% |
| 2016 | 63.01% | 13.46% | 4.15% | 14.93% |
| 2017 | 61.71% | 13.46% | 4.79% | 15.03% |
| 2018 | 64.11% | 11.49% | 5.21% | 15.12% |
| 2019 | 62.41% | 10.01% | 6.21% | 17.04% |
| 2020 | 59.95% | 9.82% | 6.36% | 16.74% |
| 2021 | 57.47% | 9.64% | 6.49% | 18.63% |
Restaurant Worker wage gap by race
According to our data, 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.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $27,746 |
| White | $27,850 |
| Black or African American | $27,454 |
| Asian | $28,144 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $28,186 |
Restaurant Worker JOBS
Average restaurant worker age
See how the average age of restaurant workers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Restaurant Worker age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 22.5 | 21 |
| Unknown | 21 | 20.5 |
| Asian | 21 | 22 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21 | 22 |
| White | 21 | 21 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 21 |
Restaurant Worker age breakdown
The average age of restaurant workers is 20-30 years years old, representing 51% of the restaurant worker population.
Restaurant Worker age breakdown
| Restaurant Worker Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 3% |
| 30-40 years | 12% |
| 20-30 years | 51% |
Restaurant Worker educational attainment
The most common degree for restaurant workers is high school diploma, with 37% of restaurant workers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 31% and bachelor's degree degree at 17%.
- High School Diploma, 37%
- Bachelor's, 31%
- Associate, 17%
- Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Restaurant Workers by degree level
| Restaurant Worker Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 37% |
| Bachelor's | 31% |
| Associate | 17% |
| Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Restaurant Worker Jobs You Might Like
Restaurant Worker wage gap by degree level
According to the data, restaurant workers with a Bachelor's 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.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $27,211 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $28,840 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $28,454 |
Restaurant Worker employment statistics
Most restaurant workers work for a private in the hospitality industry.
Company size where restaurant workers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where restaurant workers work.
Restaurant Worker jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 7% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 17% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 27% |
| > 10,000 employees | 31% |
Restaurant Worker jobs by company type
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.
Restaurant Worker jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 25% |
| Private | 69% |
| Government | 1% |
Restaurant Worker jobs by industry
The most common industries for restaurant workers are hospitality, retail and education.
Restaurant Worker industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Hospitality | 58% |
| Retail | 7% |
| Education | 5% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Professional | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
Restaurant Worker turnover and employment statistics
Restaurant Worker unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for restaurant workers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Restaurant Worker unemployment rate by year
| Year | Restaurant Worker Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 14.75% |
| 2011 | 16.23% |
| 2012 | 13.34% |
| 2013 | 12.58% |
| 2014 | 10.04% |
| 2015 | 8.71% |
| 2016 | 10.19% |
| 2017 | 9.58% |
| 2018 | 9.31% |
| 2019 | 8.07% |
| 2020 | 9.90% |
| 2021 | 9.86% |
Average restaurant worker tenure
The average restaurant worker stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,154 restaurant workers resumes in Zippia's database.
Restaurant Worker tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 36% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 9% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Restaurant Worker LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of restaurant workers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Host/Waiter | 6.48% | 73,399 |
| Food Porter | 6.98% | 57,175 |
| Mixologist | 7.82% | 53,872 |
| Restaurant Worker | 7.82% | - |
Similar restaurant worker jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Host/Waiter | 6.48% | 73,399 |
| Food Porter | 6.98% | 57,175 |
| Mixologist | 7.82% | 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 Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 52.9% |
| French | 5.9% |
| Arabic | 5.9% |
| Thai | 5.9% |
| Swedish | 2.9% |
| Other | 26.5% |
