How Much Should You Be Paying Your Hospitality Staff in 2025? 💸🍽️

How Much Should You Be Paying Your Hospitality Staff in 2025? 💸🍽️

As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, so do the expectations around employee compensation. In 2025, the landscape of hospitality wages is shifting due to various factors, including inflation, skills shortages, and changing labor laws. Whether you’re managing a bustling restaurant or running a high-end hotel, understanding the right compensation for your team is essential for attracting and retaining top talent.

At Exccel Recruitment, we stay up-to-date with industry trends, ensuring we match businesses with skilled hospitality workers at competitive pay rates. In this post, we’ll break down the key aspects of hospitality industry salaries and provide insight into the current compensation trends for different roles in the UK.

1. Chef Salary in the UK: What to Expect in 2025 🍳

Chefs are a crucial part of any hospitality operation, and with the increasing demand for skilled culinary professionals, chef salary UK expectations are on the rise. In 2025, the salary for a chef can vary based on experience, location, and the type of establishment. On average, you can expect to pay:

• Junior/Commis Chefs: £20,000 - £25,000 per year

• Sous Chefs: £27,000 - £32,000 per year

• Head Chefs: £35,000 - £45,000 per year

• Michelin-Starred Chefs: £50,000+ per year

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While there are variations based on location (with London typically offering higher salaries), it's important to ensure your compensation is competitive to attract skilled professionals, especially with the current skills shortage in the culinary sector.

Tip: Offering incentives such as performance bonuses, overtime pay, or meal allowances can make your offer more attractive to top-tier chefs.

2. Front-of-House Staff: Waiters, Bartenders, and Hosts 🧑‍🍳🍸

For front-of-house positions, such as waiters, bartenders, and hosts, wages in the hospitality industry have remained relatively steady, but with inflation and the rise in living costs, you may need to increase salaries in 2025. On average, pay for front-of-house staff in the UK is as follows:

• Waiters/Waitresses: £20,000 - £24,000 per year (excluding tips)

• Bartenders: £20,000 - £25,000 per year (excluding tips)

• Hosts/Hostesses: £19,000 - £22,000 per year

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It’s important to remember that tips play a significant role in the compensation of these staff members. However, many businesses are also increasing base pay to ensure staff are adequately compensated even without heavy reliance on tips.

Tip: Offering tips transparency, regular shifts, and additional perks (such as flexible hours or staff meals) can make your business more appealing to prospective front-of-house employees.

3. Management and Supervisory Roles: General Managers, Supervisors, and Operations Managers 🏨👩‍💼

Management roles in the hospitality sector often come with higher pay due to the level of responsibility required. Salaries for these positions can vary significantly depending on the size of the operation and the region. Here’s a general breakdown for 2025:

• Restaurant Supervisors: £24,000 - £28,000 per year

• Hotel Supervisors/Assistant Managers: £26,000 - £32,000 per year

• General Managers: £40,000 - £60,000 per year

• Operations Managers: £45,000 - £65,000 per year

  
  

As these roles are integral to the smooth running of a hospitality business, offering competitive pay, career advancement opportunities, and performance bonuses can help attract experienced professionals to your team.

Tip: Offering performance-based incentives and training opportunities can improve retention and help grow talent from within your organization.

4. Other Roles in the Hospitality Sector 🍽️🏨

While chefs and front-of-house staff are central to any hospitality operation, there are several other roles that need competitive wages, including housekeeping staff, kitchen porters, and maintenance workers. Here are the typical salaries for these roles:

• Housekeeping Staff: £18,000 - £22,000 per year

• Kitchen Porters: £18,000 - £20,000 per year

• Maintenance Workers: £22,000 - £28,000 per year

  
  

Many of these roles provide vital support to your core operations and contribute to guest satisfaction. While they may not require the same level of experience as chefs or managers, it’s essential to offer fair wages to keep your staff motivated and engaged.

5. Key Factors Affecting Hospitality Industry Salaries in 2025 📊

Several factors are influencing wage trends in 2025, including:

• Inflation: With the rising cost of living, businesses must adjust wages to ensure their staff can meet basic living expenses.

• Skill Shortages: The ongoing shortage of skilled workers in the hospitality industry is driving up wages, especially for chefs and specialized roles.

• Location: Salaries in major cities like London or Edinburgh tend to be higher to reflect the cost of living.

• Type of Establishment: Higher-end establishments, such as fine dining restaurants or luxury hotels, often pay more to attract top-tier talent.

  
  

6. Attracting and Retaining Talent with Competitive Salaries 💼

Offering competitive wages is crucial to attracting and retaining skilled hospitality workers. However, salary isn’t the only factor. Benefits such as career development opportunities, work-life balance, and a positive work environment play a big role in employee satisfaction. At Exccel Recruitment, we work with both businesses and candidates to find the best salary package that fits the market and attracts the right talent.

Need help finding the right hospitality talent? Contact Exccel Recruitment at 01992 660266 to discuss your staffing needs for 2025. We’ll help you find the best candidates for your business at competitive rates.