Earn £37k+: Springboard releases front-of-house salaries to change industry perceptions

Ahead of National Waiters' Day, which takes place on 21 May, Springboard is highlighting the career opportunities and the pay scales available to service staff in the nation's pubs, restaurants and hotels with some restaurant general managers able to take home more than £37k per year, it says. 

“Careers in front-of-house are sometimes viewed as an unskilled job, paying a low salary and offering little rewards," said a spokesperson for Springboard's CareerScope team.

"National Waiters' Day aims to change such perceptions by raising the profile of the profession, showcasing the career routes on offer and inspire people about a career in the hospitality industry." 

Research shows that waiters can earn between £19k and £25k a year, baristas between £20k and £27k and food and beverage supervisors between £17k and £19k. Food and beverage managers average between £25k and £32k and restaurant and pub managers can earn in excess of £32k. 

The charity said it was important to highlight the fact that the hospitality industry, which currently employs 2.5 million people and is set to employ an extra 300,000 by 2020, offered the chance to improve skills and could 'lead to a rewarding career with good progression routes and amazing rewards'.

National Waiters' Day​

This year's National Waiters' Day campaign includes the London Waiters' Race in Hyde Park where front-of-house staff will run 300m in an attempt to be crowned the winner and face of next year's campaign, and a student's race giving the winner the chance to carry out work experience with Galvin at Windows general manager Fred Sirieix. 

Individual businesses are also lending their support with restaurant chain Prezzo planning to take its senior team 'back to the floor' for one shift. All tips made on the night will be donated to the National Waiters Day programme. 

National Waiters Day, set up by Sirieix in 2013, is designed to celebrate front-of-house staff across the industry and highlight the careers available.