Marissa Bidois said the Restaurant Association's latest remuneration survey has shown continued wage growth across the local industry.
The Restaurant Association has released the findings of the 2025 Remuneration Survey, showing continued wage growth across the hospitality sector. Based on data from nearly 14,000 employees across more than 100 roles, the report highlights steady increases in both hourly and salaried pay, as well as clear progression opportunities across kitchen and front-of-house roles, reinforcing hospitality as a sector where workers can build meaningful and rewarding careers.
At the same time, the data shows that rising wage levels are contributing to increasing cost pressures for employers. Wage costs now average 40 per cent of total revenue, a figure that demonstrates the financial challenge of maintaining fair pay while operating in a high-cost, low-margin environment.
“Our latest remuneration survey reflects a sector that is steadily moving forward,” said Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association.
“Despite continued cost pressures and tight operating margins, hospitality businesses are prioritising wage growth and creating structured pathways for career progression.”
The average hourly wage across the industry now sits at NZD 27.84, up 2.54 percent from the previous year. Salaried roles have also edged up to an average of NZD 83,415.
The report shows clear wage progression in both kitchen and front-of-house roles. Entry-level positions start close to the minimum wage, but move upward through well-established role tiers, with Head Chefs earning up to NZD 46.62/hour and General Managers averaging NZD 133,208 annually. Front-of-house roles follow a similar path, with senior management roles reaching NZD 45/hour or more.
“These figures show that hospitality is not just a job, it’s a sector where you can build a rewarding career,” continued Bidois.
“Whether you’re starting out or already in leadership, there are opportunities to grow and earn more.”
The 2025 report also identifies regional and business-type differences:
- Caterers and bar operators offer some of the highest hourly rates, at NZD 32.95 and NZD 30.90, respectively
- Queenstown and Hawke’s Bay continue to lead in key roles, with Hawke’s Bay Head Chefs earning NZD 41.51/hour and Gisborne Restaurant Managers at NZD 40/hour
- Auckland remains the largest employer, with the second highest average hourly wage at NZD 28.35 and strong demand across all role types
Tipping also continues to supplement income for some roles, with restaurant managers earning an average of NZD 103.94 in weekly tips and wait staff averaging NZD 118.
While the continued wage growth is a positive trend, Bidois said it must be viewed in the wider context of rising operating costs.
“When wage costs reach 40 percent of revenue, before factoring in rent, food, utilities, and other overheads, it leaves very little margin for error. Businesses are doing everything they can to stay competitive while looking after their people.”
The full 2025 Remuneration Report includes detailed insights by role, region, and business type, and is designed to support operators with benchmarking, planning, and staffing decisions.
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