Restaurant Manager.
Philadelphia.
$61,000
median salary, 9% above the national average
$46,000 to $83,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
A Restaurant Manager in Philadelphia earns a median of $61,000 in 2026. That is 9% above the national average. The range runs from $46,000 to $83,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Restaurant category and revenue volume are the strongest pay factors.
Salary range
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How Philadelphia compares
Philadelphia, PA
$61,000
Cost of living: 9% above average
National Average
$56,000
Philadelphia is $5,000 above
What you should know
Here is what the Restaurant Manager market actually looks like in Philadelphia. Philadelphia combines a robust healthcare and life sciences sector with established finance and higher education institutions. The city's pharmaceutical corridor is among the strongest in the country. Tech growth has accelerated, particularly in health tech and enterprise software, offering salaries that stretch further than in nearby New York. Restaurant category and revenue volume are the strongest pay factors. Fine-dining and high-volume establishments pay substantially more than casual or fast-casual concepts. Multi-unit managers overseeing several locations earn premiums, and urban markets with higher costs of living offer elevated base salaries.
Assistant managers start at $36,000 to $42,000. General managers of single locations earn $50,000 to $65,000. Multi-unit or area managers overseeing three to five locations make $70,000 to $90,000. Regional directors of operations for large groups reach $95,000 to $130,000. In Philadelphia, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Bonus structures tied to revenue targets, food cost control, and guest satisfaction scores typically add 10 to 20% above base. Benefits often include meal allowances, health insurance, and for corporate chains, stock purchase plans. And on the tax side: pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% state income tax, but Philadelphia adds a 3.75% city wage tax for residents. This combined local burden is worth factoring into salary negotiations. When someone quotes you $61,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income. The range for Restaurant Managers in Philadelphia runs from $46,000 to $83,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Philadelphia
Negotiating in Philadelphia
Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income.