Accommodation and Food Services Employment and Wages in 2023

In 2023, the Accommodation and Food Services industry employed over 13.9 million people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 5.5% from 2022. The annual mean wage in 2023 was $36,220, and the median wage was $32,540. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were lower by 44.7%.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among the industry sub-groups, Restaurants and Other Eating Places held the largest number of jobs within the Accommodation and Food Services industry, employing over 10.9 million people in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $34,760, with a median wage of $31,420. There was an increase in wage variance to the national average compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -47.8% to -46.9%, indicating industry wages outpaced national wage trends.

Traveler Accommodation accounted for a substantial employment share, with 1.9 million people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $42,420, and the median wage was $35,700. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was an increase compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -35.8% to -35.2%.

The sub-group of Special Food Services also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 721 thousand people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $40,630 and the median wage was $35,910. The wage variance to the national average experienced a decrease compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -37.5% to -37.9%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we examine the top occupations in terms of employment within the Accommodation and Food Services industry, we find that First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers had the highest annual mean wage in 2023, at $42,500, and a median wage of $37,880. The industry variance to the national average was -1.9%. Bartenders had an annual mean wage of $37,910 and a median wage of $32,240. The industry variance to the national average was 2.2%. Waiters and Waitresses had an annual mean wage of $36,630 and a median wage of $31,940. The industry variance to the national average was 0.3%.

Conversely, notable occupations with lower wages within the Accommodation and Food Services industry included Fast Food and Counter Workers, with an annual mean wage of $29,730 and a median wage of $29,340. The industry variance to the national average was -1.3%. Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop had an annual mean wage of $30,570 and a median wage of $29,100. The industry variance to the national average was -0.6%. Dishwashers had an annual mean wage of $31,600 and a median wage of $31,000. The industry variance to the national average was -0.2%.

Summary

In 2023, the Accommodation and Food Services industry employed over 13.9 million people in the U.S., a 5.5% increase from 2022. Despite this growth, the industry’s wages remain significantly below the national average, with an annual mean wage of $36,220 and a median wage of $32,540—44.7% lower than national figures. Restaurants and Other Eating Places, the largest sub-group, employed 10.9 million people and slightly improved its wage variance to -46.9% compared to the national average. Higher-paying roles, like First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation, saw wages close to national norms, while lower-paying roles, such as Fast Food Workers and Dishwashers, showed minimal improvement. Overall, the industry continues to face challenges in closing wage gaps despite its growing workforce.

For more detailed industry insights, consider purchasing Aimiax’s 2023 Accommodation and Food Services Industry Report.