FORT MYERS, Fla. – Fort Myers-based national hospitality-recruitment company, Gecko Hospitality, has released its 2017 Restaurant Management Salary Survey Report. The report reveals that across nearly all hospitality categories and levels, the gender pay gap is still prevalent, with bonuses and starting pay for men considerably higher than women. Spanning numerous segments and job titles in the industry, the survey results shed light on the compensation inconsistencies hospitality workers are facing nationwide.

Gecko Hospitality's annual report is widely considered to be the industry benchmark for job titles, salaries, gender comparisons, location, turnover, and pay increases. This year's report includes trends and conclusions based on survey data from 2,089 restaurant management professionals, collected by Gecko Hospitality between January and December 2017.

Average Starting Salaries 2017— Photo by Gecko HospitalityAverage Starting Salaries 2017— Photo by Gecko Hospitality
Average Starting Salaries 2017— Photo by Gecko Hospitality

"We strive to provide mutually beneficial and the most up-to-date information from our annual survey to our candidates and clientele," Said Gecko Hospitality President, Robert Krzak. "This year's data clearly shows that the pay discrepancy between men and women is still a prevalent issue within the industry. By using our survey results, employers can develop acquisition and retention strategies that attract top talent, while maintaining employee satisfaction."

Covering quick service restaurants (QSR), fast casual, family dining, casual, upscale casual, and upscale establishments, this year's report includes some interesting data and trends:

  • Average starting salaries for men are higher than those for women in all measured categories except one: District/Multi-unit Manager.
  • Across all positions, men made an average of $4,728 per year more than women.
  • In hourly positions, women make an average of $0.76 less per hour than men.
  • The positions of executive chef, sous chef, kitchen manager and general manager are dominated by men, while women make up the majority of catering, sales and event manager positions.
  • Of managers who accepted a management position with a new company, 37% of women received a salary increase vs. 31% of men, emphasizing the rush to hire female talent.

The data and statistics from the Restaurant Management Salary Survey Report are used by both restaurant organizations and restaurant-management professionals to learn where they stand with compensation, relative to the U.S. marketplace average. This helps with the planning and positioning of their recruitment efforts and growth strategies.

To learn more about the Gecko Hospitality Salary Survey Report 2017, call (239) 690-7006, or visit GeckoHospitality.com to contact a recruiter. The full report is available here.

About Gecko Hospitality

Based in Fort Myers, FL., Gecko Hospitality is the largest hospitality recruiter in the United States. The firm partners with top restaurants, hotels and casinos to help them identify the best salaried management personnel for their properties. Gecko has 37 regional offices, an international office and a team of more than 80 hospitality recruiters covering all 50 states and Canada. For more information, please visit GeckoHospitality.com or call (239) 690-7006.