For context minimum wage is $16.50 where I live- but $18/hr for a full time position at a MICHELIN STAR restaurant?? I know those benefits are good (especially for the industry) but the pay is just baffling to me. Is this a typical salary or am I just a spoiled millennial?
by bbbybrggs
33 Comments
You could make more at fucking Starbucks
Seems pretty on brand for the industry. With massive deregulation looming, I wouldn’t expect this to get any better.
This is actually on the high end for my area. Usually it’s $18-20 and no benefits.
To be fair, if the advertised range is $18-21, and you’re negotiating for anything under the $21, then you need to reevaluate what you think you’re worth. If you’re willing to accept the minimum offer, then that’s what you’re worth. Advocate for yourself, because nobody else will.
The number of times I’ve been told that with the amount of overtime I’d be getting it would work out to way more than it first seemed is huge. And over the years I’ve been in the industry-my first job was in 1990-the value of my wages has gone down, and the actual dollar amount has been mostly stagnant. Of course, if you work enough to take home a living wage you won’t have the time or energy to have a life anyway. There were a few articles a year or so back about how the top rated restaurants like Noma and Per Se depended on unpaid intern labor to function.
https://www.timeandahalfnewsletter.com/january-2023/
Steven Starr is an absolute cunt, don’t work for him.
Dang I was making my $18/hr back in 2016….
Our industry must do better.
What are commuter benefits? Can I still get them if I live close?
STARR is a large restaurant group with lots of different opportunities. Would explain why the benefits are pretty good for this industry
what’s the turnover rate? If it’s high then there’s no need to apply. If they have strong retention odds are that’s just a starting package and if you fit into the team more appropriate compensation will be offered later.
The key to your post is that the restaurant has stars. A lot of the high-end places with notoriety pay like shit because you get to put their name on your resume.
Sounds about right.
that’s insane. starting pay is $20 at my local gas station lmao.
You’re a spoiled millennial. This is very solid pay package for a line cook.
It’s not really normal now. I live in Canada and my commis make 20/hr
You know, it’s funny. I’m a talented cook, not to toot my own horn, but I spent 20 years in the restaurant industry as a cook and I’ve worked with some really skilled folks, and some incredibly shit cooks, and everyone in between, and I can very honestly say I’m miles above average. I stopped working restaurants about 3 years ago, and when I left I was making $18/hr. Now, I cook in a nursing home, it’s super easy, way less stressful, and I’m cooking what a Michelin star restaurant would consider straight up garbage. I make $24.07, with full benefits (fucking dental), plus, I’m union so I get a guaranteed raise every year. The restaurant industry is clown shoes.
They’ll still get anyone they want because of the experience and having worked at a Michelin star restaurant on the resume.
this is something i would imagine they would ask for le coucou in nyc. About what they pay and benifits.
Its been like this the last 5 years at least. Only option do a year in a michellin,, and then jump to sou in another place, thats the fastest way to make a decent living wage in a big city.
might as well be an uber driver
The minimum wage where I live is $20.76/hr lol
Benefits come out of your pay too. So really you’d be making closer to $17 depending on what the benefits are.
Sounds like you live in California, where the minimum wage for a fast food worker is $20/hour.
I’ve been out of the biz now for two years but was in it for the prior 18 years. That’s a pretty good salary, and I’ve never seen a kitchen offer those kinds of benefits.
At least there’s benefits bro
Nah that is shit money, I make more then the low end at a dennys-like chain
Better the restaurant, the shittier the pay. Because you get to work for “chef x” and that is more than a living wage
I’m in FL at a corporate restaurant. I make $22/hr and also have full benefits, 4 weeks PTO per year, and get free food for my shift. I often feel stuck here because moving to any other type of job wouldn’t provide half of what I currently have.
Adjusted for inflation I made more than that 11 years ago at a backwoods Washington State diner
While I have never worked at a Michelin restaurant I have worked with multiple Michelin chefs and their teams. DONT DO IT ! Their sous are all 100% cocky assholes that think their shit don’t stink even though I personally worked with people that would cook circles around them, and in fact have (it didn’t humble them just made them worse)
The rest of the team is under paid and over worked. Though generally nice.
It’ll be shitty insurance too, gonna take a lot out of your check
Which restaurant?
I feel like you can find way better. I make 20.60 just being a shift supervisor in food and bev at an Ohio amusement park.
So, 37.5k per year to bust your ass. No, thank you.