Overview
If you are researching the restaurant manager salary in Australia, you will not find a single official figure published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics or Fair Work. Unlike occupations such as chefs or waitstaff, restaurant managers are not captured as a distinct category in national earnings surveys. However, we can piece together a picture using broader data and award information.
National Full-Time Average
The most recent ABS Average Weekly Earnings report (May 2026) puts the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year when multiplied by 52. This is the benchmark we use on this site to place a salary on the line. For comparison, the full-time median (from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025) is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100.
How Restaurant Manager Pay Compares
The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) provides average weekly total cash earnings by occupation. The broad category 'Managers' (which includes all types of managers across industries) earned an average of $2,800.90 per week, or roughly $145,647 per year. This is well above the national full-time average. However, restaurant managers are likely to earn less than this average because the 'Managers' category includes high-earning senior executives and general managers in large corporations. A more realistic range for a restaurant manager might be between $60,000 and $80,000 for entry-level roles, and $80,000 to $110,000 for experienced managers in busy venues, but these are estimates based on job advertisements rather than official statistics.
Award Minimums
The Restaurant Industry Award (MA000119) sets minimum pay rates for employees in restaurants. The pay guide effective from 1 July 2025 shows rates for classifications up to Level 3, with hourly rates from $24.28 (Introductory) to $26.70 (Level 3). A restaurant manager is typically a higher-level role not listed in this summary. The award may have a separate classification for 'Restaurant Manager' (often Level 4 or 5), but the published summary does not include it. Managers are often paid above award rates through individual agreements. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, so any restaurant manager should be earning at least that, and likely more.
State Comparisons
Full-time average weekly earnings vary by state and territory. Using the ABS May 2026 data, the state full-time averages (annualised) are:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
Restaurant manager salaries may follow similar patterns, with higher pay in the ACT and Western Australia, and lower in Tasmania. However, local market conditions and the type of restaurant (fine dining vs casual) have a bigger impact.
Gender and Earnings
The ABS data shows a persistent gender pay gap. For full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, men average $2,181.50 per week ($113,412 per year) and women average $1,934.50 per week ($100,594 per year). The restaurant industry employs many women, but management roles may be male-dominated in some segments. The median weekly earnings for all female employees is $1,250, compared to $1,674 for men.
Tax Considerations
For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200; 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. A 2% Medicare levy applies to most taxpayers. A restaurant manager earning $80,000 would fall into the 30% bracket (plus Medicare), resulting in a marginal tax rate of 32%.
Where to Find More Information
For detailed occupation data, you can explore job medians on this site, which draws from ABS surveys. The ABS releases Average Weekly Earnings twice a year (May and November), and Employee Earnings and Hours annually. Fair Work provides award pay guides and a Pay and Conditions Tool. The ATO publishes tax tables and individual tax return instructions.
Conclusion
While there is no official 'restaurant manager salary' figure, the available data suggests that restaurant managers typically earn above the national full-time average, but below the average for all managers. Award minimums provide a floor, but most managers are paid through individual agreements. Use the line tool to see how any salary compares to the national average.