ANZSCO code
141111 Cafe or Restaurant Manager
Source: ABS: ANZSCO 2022 structure (occupation codes), read 2026-10-06 (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Employer guide
Hire a Restaurant Manager in Australia
To hire a restaurant manager, define the scope from rostering to compliance, check the liquor and food safety requirements in your state and decide whether an award covers the role or a salary contract does. CrossNation recruits restaurant managers for employers across Australia. The fee is 12% of the annual salary, charged only on a successful placement.
By CrossNation Editorial Team. Sources checked 6 October 2026.
12% of annual salary
Charged only when a placement succeeds. No placement, no fee.
90-day placement guarantee
See our terms.
Official data
Key facts from official sources
Licensing
Liquor and food licences and approvals are state-based, listed on ABLIS
Source: Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Food safety
The Food Standards Code applies; many food businesses need a certified food safety supervisor
Source: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Modern award
Restaurant Industry Award [MA000119] or Hospitality Industry (General) Award [MA000009], where an award covers the role
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: List of awards (retrieved 6 October 2026)
What you need to know
How do you scope a restaurant manager role?
Managers do very different jobs in different venues. Say whether the role covers front of house only or the whole business, how many staff report to the manager, whether the manager handles rosters, payroll inputs, supplier ordering and cost control, and the trading days and hours. Describe the venue type, average covers and the systems used for bookings, POS and rosters. Candidates want to know if the role has an owner nearby or will run alone. A specific scope lets a recruiter separate shift supervisors from true venue managers.
Which licences and certificates does the role need?
Anyone serving alcohol needs responsible service of alcohol training, and each state and territory sets rules on who may manage a licensed venue and the conditions of the licence. Check the licence conditions for your venue and ask the manager to hold the certificates required where you trade. Food businesses must meet the Food Standards Code, and many need a certified food safety supervisor, which managers are often asked to be. Work health and safety duties, including incident records and training, also rest with the person running the floor.
How do awards and salaries interact for managers?
Managers may be covered by the Restaurant Industry Award [MA000119] or the Hospitality Industry (General) Award [MA000009], or may be above award coverage. If an award applies, an annual salary must leave the manager no worse off than the award would for the hours worked, so the contract should state the hours the salary covers, how extra hours are treated and what penalty rates are absorbed. Write the arrangement down. We do not publish pay figures here. Use the Fair Work Pay Calculator and your award text when you set the package.
Before you brief a recruiter: restaurant manager checklist
Checklist
- Write the scope: front of house or whole business, and the team size
- Confirm the liquor licence conditions and the certificates they require
- Decide whether the manager should be your food safety supervisor
- Decide whether an award covers the role or a salary contract does
- State the hours the salary covers and how extra hours are treated
- Describe the roster, trading days and support available
Tell us the role, location and start date
The fee is 12% of the candidate's annual salary, charged only when a placement succeeds.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does a manager need to hold the liquor licence?
Rules on licensees and approved managers differ by state. Check the regulator in your state and the conditions on the venue's licence.
Can I pay a restaurant manager a flat salary?
Often yes, but where an award applies the salary must leave the manager no worse off than the award. State the hours it covers.
What is the difference between a restaurant manager and a duty manager?
A duty manager runs a shift, while a restaurant manager is responsible for the venue over time, including the team, costs and compliance. The titles are used loosely, so write the scope.
How does CrossNation charge to recruit a restaurant manager?
The fee is 12% of the candidate's annual salary, charged only when a placement succeeds, and placements carry a 90-day placement guarantee. There is no charge to send a brief. CrossNation recruits restaurant managers for employers across Australia, and you can send the role, location and start date through the employer enquiry form.
Can I recruit an overseas restaurant manager through CrossNation?
CrossNation recruits sponsorship-ready overseas candidates for employers that want them. Managers are classified separately from cooks and chefs in skilled occupation lists, so take advice on how the role would be treated. The employer holds or obtains its own approval, and CrossNation cannot promise a visa, an approval or a job. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.
What should I verify before I offer a restaurant manager the job?
A restaurant manager does not need registration, but staff serving alcohol need responsible service of alcohol training and venues must meet their liquor licence conditions. For a restaurant manager, the award that commonly applies is the Restaurant Industry Award (MA000119), but coverage depends on your industry and the person's duties, so confirm it with the Fair Work Ombudsman before you set the offer. Keep a copy of any licence, registration or check you sight for your restaurant manager, and confirm their right to work in Australia before they start.