Commonly asked overtime pay law questions about restaurants:
- What Workers are Employed by Restaurants?
- What is the Salary Range for Restaurant Employees?
- How Many People Are Employed Nationally by Restaurants?
- Where Are Most Restaurant Workers Employed?
- Restaurant Overtime Pay Lawsuit News
- What are the Major Restaurants?
- What are the Laws for Restaurant Employee Overtime Pay?
- Is a Restaurant Employee Entitled to Overtime Pay?
- Does a Restaurant Have to Pay Overtime Wages to its Employees?
- Restaurant Overtime Pay Lawyer Review
What Workers are Employed by Restaurants?
The largest groups employed by restaurants include chefs, cooks, restaurant managers, food preparation workers, bartenders, waiters and waitresses, hosts and hostesses, and dishwashers.
What is the Salary Range for Restaurant Employees?
According to the United States Department of Labor, salary estimates for occupations commonly found in restaurants are as follows:
| Occupation | Median Hourly Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Median Annual Wage | Mean Annual Wage |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $20.76 | $22.79 | $43,180 | $47,390 |
| Cooks | $15.13 | $16.68 | $31,480 | $34,700 |
| Managers | $21.64 | $21.03 | $45,000 | $43,750 |
| Food preparation workers | $10.31 | $11.02 | $21,440 | $22,920 |
| Watiers/waitresses | $9.61 | $11.73 | $19,990 | $24,410 |
| Hosts/hostesses | $9.60 | $10.29 | $19,980 | $21,410 |
| Bartenders | $10.00 | $12.30 | $20,800 | $25,580 |
| Dishwashers | $10.00 | $10.22 | $20,800 | $21,260 |
How Many People Are Employed Nationally by Restaurants?
According to the United States Department of Labor, employment estimate and mean wage estimates for some common restaurant occupations are as follows:
| Occupation | Employment |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | 134,190 |
| Cooks | 1,217,370 |
| Managers | 908,550 |
| Food preparation workers | 850,670 |
| Watiers/waitresses | 2,564,610 |
| Hosts/hostesses | 404,360 |
| Bartenders | 603,320 |
| Dishwashers | 506,450 |
| Total employment | 117,038,000 |
Where Are Most Restaurant Workers Employed?
According to the United States Department of Labor, states with the highest employment level in this industry are as follows:
Restaurant Overtime Pay Lawsuit News
Oklahoma Restaurant Agrees to Settle Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit
OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma restaurant recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve claims that the company violated various provisions of federal labor and wage laws, including failure to pay overtime wages to dozens of workers. As part of the agreement, Oklahoma City-based Meers Store & Restaurant Inc. and […]
New Jersey Restaurant Pays Back Overtime to Workers to Settle Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit
A pair of companies operating 17-restaurants in New Jersey and New York recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve claims that the defendants violated several provisions of federal labor and wage laws, including failure to overtime pay.
North Carolina Restaurant Agrees to Pay Back Overtime to Workers and Settle Lawsuit
A North Carolina restaurant recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve claims that the company violated several provisions of federal labor and wage laws, including failure to pay overtime wages to several employees.
Hawaii Restaurant Owner Agrees to Settle Lawsuit and Pay Back Overtime to Dozens of Workers
A restaurant in Hawaii recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve claims that the company violated several provisions of federal labor and wage laws, including failure to pay overtime wages to dozens of its workers.
Iowa Restaurant Settles Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit
An Iowa restaurant recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve claims that the company engaged in systemic wage theft to defraud dozens of workers out of their overtime pay.
Read All Restaurant News on Overtime Pay Cases and Settlements
What are the Major Restaurants?
There are a number of major restaurants in the United States, which are some of the largest employers in the food industry. Some restaurants that have been involved in overtime pay lawsuits include:
- Chipotle
- McDonald’s
- Denny’s
- Wolfgang Puck’s
- TGI Friday’s
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Texas Roadhouse
What are the Laws for Restaurant Employee Overtime Pay?
Under the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA), most restaurant employees are non-exempt and therefore entitled to overtime pay.
If an employee is non-exempt under the FLSA, the law requires that they are paid overtime wages of one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for every hour past 40 in one week.
Non-exempt restaurant employees generally includes assistant managers, cooks, chefs, waiters, waitresses, cashiers, bus boys, hosts and hostesses, among others.
If a restaurant worker receives tips, they must be informed in advance if the employer elects to use a tip credit as part of the minimum wage calculation, and they must be able to show that the employees receive at least the minimum wage. Additionally, paying for uniforms or walk-outs may be a violation of the FLSA.
Is a Restaurant Employee Entitled to Overtime Pay?
Restaurant employees are often required to work double shifts and work additional time before and after their scheduled shift. As a result, many restaurant employees end up working more than 40 hours per week, and are therefore entitled to overtime pay.
Most restaurant workers are considered non-exempt under the FLSA. Exemption is determined by job description, job duties, rate of pay, and number of hours worked.
Employers often deny or unlawfully refuse to pay overtime by misclassifying the positions of the workers, claiming that they are exempt when, in reality, they are not. Restaurants may also require their employees to report to work early but not “punch the clock” until later or strike hours off of time cards, or they may refuse to pay employees for work done before the shift starts and after they punch out for the day. These are violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and can give rise to an overtime pay lawsuit.
An experienced overtime pay attorney will be able to analyze your case in the context of the FLSA and your state’s laws to determine if you are entitled to overtime wages and can file an overtime pay lawsuit.
Does a Restaurant Have to Pay Overtime Wages to its Employees?
Yes, in most cases a restaurant is required to pay overtime wages to employees that work more than 40 hours in one week.
A restaurant must provide overtime pay to all non-exempt employees, including assistant managers, cooks, chefs, waiters, waitresses, cashiers, bus boys, hosts and hostesses.
If you believe the restaurant you work for owes you overtime pay, it is best to consult an attorney who has experience with the FLSA and state overtime wage laws.
To determine whether you are eligible for filing a wage claim, contact our experienced Restaurant Overtime Pay Lawyers at (855) 754-2795 for a Free Consultation to discuss your case or complete the Free Unpaid Overtime Case Review Form on this page. We will discuss your situation and determine if you have a claim. If you are owed unpaid wages, we will represent you under our No Fee Promise, which means there are never any legal fees or costs unless you receive a settlement.
Restaurant Overtime Pay Lawyer Review
