Average hospitality salaries fall as employee satisfaction dips

Almost half of the hospitality workforce is earning under £30k with employee satisfaction falling as a result of having to work longer hours, a salary survey has found.

The figure has risen since 2023 when 30% of both full and part-time employees reported earning up to £30k. It was 37% in 2024 and now stands at 46% this year.

Some 82% of the 500 respondents to the survey work full time in the sector, with 67% of saying they were in the under £30k wage bracket.

Though hospitality typically employs a high proportion of young people and those on part-time contracts, the survey points to an increase in those with five to seven years experience earning £30k as well as more in the 45-plus age bracket.

The salary survey, created by Hospitality Jobs UK and KAM Insights in partnership with the Access Group found contract catering was the only sector in which salaries had not dropped.

However, respondents reported having to work longer hours, with 22% claiming they worked 16 hours or more over their contracted hours, compared with 16% in 2024. Though more are being paid for this overtime, with 41% reporting they were compensated for those additional hours compared with 38% last year.

Unsurprisingly as a result of the pressures on employees, satisfaction is slightly down, with 56% saying they had good work life balance, compared to 59% last year.

Anthony Tattersall, general manager of hospitality at Access, said that the salary survey painted a concerning picture for the hospitality sector.

He added: “It highlights that employees are facing increased challenges, with many key results moving in a negative direction compared to previous years. While this is disappointing, it’s not entirely unexpected. The sector is under immense pressure, especially with impending changes to National Insurance Contributions and the Minimum Wage.”

Even under such pressure few are planning to move jobs, with those reporting they plan to be working for the same company in 12 months’ time relatively stable at 60%, compared with 62% in 2024.

Tattersall said: “In this environment, it’s understandable that employee satisfaction may not be top priority as operators wrestle with how to manage costs, but a happy and well-trained workforce is undeniably more productive and are also more likely to stay, reducing costly staff turnover.

"The survey also demonstrates that hospitality has people and camaraderie at its core which keeps employees engaged and enjoying their work while a positive attitude to the role technology, and particularly AI, is playing demonstrates a progressive industry that’s moving with the times.”