National Statistics

Restaurant Industry Facts at a Glance

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• $899 billion: Restaurant industry's projected sales in 2020 
• 1 million+: Restaurant locations in the United States
• 15.6 million: Restaurant industry employees
• 1.6 million: New restaurant jobs created by 2030
• 9 in 10 restaurant managers started in entry-level positions
• 8 in 10 restaurant owners started their industry careers in entry-level positions
• 9 in 10 restaurants have fewer than 50 employees
• 7 in 10 restaurants are single-unit operations
• Restaurants employ more minority managers than any other industry
• 63% of consumers would rather spend on an experience than purchase an item
• The number of middle-class jobs ($45K-$75K) in the restaurant industry grew 84% between 2010 and 2018, more than 3 times faster than in the overall economy.

Download the full 2020 State of the Restaurant Industry Report