108 Must-Know Stats About the Restaurant Industry for 2025

December 9, 2024

The interior of a restaurant dining room with patrons dining at every table.

Since the pandemic, the restaurant industry has gone through many ups and downs. By 2025, this growing industry is expected to bring even more changes. From growth trends and consumer preferences to restaurant labor and technology, these stats offer a snapshot of where the industry is heading.

Whether you’re a restaurant owner, a foodie, or just curious about the future of dining, here are 108 restaurant industry statistics that paint a picture of what’s to come.

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General Restaurant Industry Statistics

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The food and beverage (F&B) industry is set to contribute $3.5 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2024, accounting for 15.6% of the nation’s real GDP.¹
The food and beverage industry supports 22.9 million jobs, generating $1.1 trillion in total labor income.¹
The restaurant industry represents the second-largest private-sector employer, behind healthcare.²
Most F&B establishments are small and medium-sized businesses, with 35% categorized as small and 52% as medium-sized.³
Nearly 90% of restaurants have fewer than 50 employees, and 70% operate as single-unit locations.¹
41% of F&B establishments are owned by minorities, compared to 30% across the private sector overall.¹
78% of F&B establishments generate between $100,000 and $5 million in annual revenue.³
On average, each F&B establishment generates $3.1 million in annual revenue.³
60% of restaurant owners have over 15 years of experience.³
While the industry maintains cautious optimism, with 51% of F&B professionals surveyed expressing a positive outlook, 14% believe the sector faces significant challenges.³

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Restaurant Industry Growth Statistics

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The food service industry is on track to generate $1 trillion in sales by the end of 2024.⁴
The QSR sector alone is forecast to hit $316 billion in 2024, reflecting a 7.1% increase from 2023.⁵
The food service industry’s market size is projected to nearly double by 2030, reaching $1.8 trillion, with an annual growth rate of 10.03%.²
Real growth of 1.0% is anticipated in 2025, building on dollar growth driven by inflationary price increases.⁶
Consumer spending on prepared food and non-alcoholic beverages is forecast to rise from $895.1 billion in 2024 to $921.7 billion in 2025.⁶
Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are projected to see the highest spending, with $323.7 billion anticipated in 2025.⁶
Casual dining ranks second, with consumer spending expected to reach $153.8 billion, followed by fast-casual dining at $81.5 billion.⁶

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Data on Challenges in the Restaurant Industry

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Restaurant operator spending is projected to reach $323.6 billion in 2024.⁶
98% of restaurant operators cite higher labor costs and 97% identify higher food costs as critical issues.⁴
Over the past year, menu prices at restaurants have increased by 4%. In comparison, prices for food at home have risen just 0.9%.⁷
38% of restaurants reported being unprofitable in the previous year.⁴
Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) experienced a decline in traffic during the first half of 2024, with a 3.5% drop in Q1 and a 2.3% drop in Q2 compared to the previous year.⁵
Over a quarter of operators identify labor shortages as a key operational issue.³
Understaffing has forced many restaurant operators to make tough decisions:^2
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- 65% reduced service hours.
- 52% operated under capacity.
- 43% closed on days they would normally be open.
- 41% pared down their menus.
Despite challenges, most restaurant operators are maintaining consistency in their offerings:^8
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- 68% plan to keep their menus the same size as in 2023.
- 20% intend to reduce menu items, while only 12% plan to expand their offerings.

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Consumer Preference Statistics

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94% of diners say online reviews heavily influence their restaurant choices.⁹
Nearly 9 in 10 adults (90%) enjoy going to restaurants, and 66% are comfortable dining at sit-down establishments.⁴
Americans spend approximately $166 per person per month eating out¹⁰, with the average American spending over $2,500 annually on dining out.¹¹
67% of Americans feel guilty about dining out¹¹, even as 80% visit restaurants to experience flavors they can’t replicate at home.⁹
Nearly half of consumers are taking a "wait-and-see" approach to spending⁴, and 39% have reduced their dining-out budgets in response to financial stress.¹¹
A third of respondents eat out at least three times a week, spending an average of $51.70 weekly on dining out.¹¹
48% of consumers are most likely to eat out shortly after receiving their paycheck.¹¹
Diners are willing to spend $20.30 on a meal, but 53% prefer a cheaper option.¹¹
77% believe adults should be allowed to order from the kids’ menu.¹¹
41% use coupons, 34% take advantage of special offers, and 28% order meals with leftovers as cost-saving hacks.¹¹
42% of consumers look for promotions or discounts when choosing restaurants for takeout or delivery.¹²
Supporting local businesses is important to a third of consumers, who prioritize restaurants with only one location in their area.¹²
Gen Z and Millennials are 27% more likely to order from brands using biodegradable or recyclable packaging.¹²
Health-conscious dining is on the rise, with 88.5% of experiments reviewed showing consumers willing to pay a 30.7% average premium for healthier food options.¹³
A survey of 1,019 households revealed that 53.1% reported having at least one member with special dietary needs.¹⁸
Food quality is the top priority for 72% of diners, who base their restaurant choices on taste and flavor.⁹
62% of consumers prefer restaurants that use locally-sourced ingredients.⁹
69% of consumers expressed interest in on-site tasting events, making them the most popular unique dining offering.⁸
39% are open to trying non-alcoholic beer, wine, or cocktails, with higher interest among Millennials (50%) and Gen Zers (59%).⁸
TikTok is the top app for Gen Zers searching for new restaurants, while Instagram is the favorite for Millennials.¹²

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Online Food Delivery Statistics

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The global online food delivery market is forecasted to generate $1.22 trillion in revenue in 2024, with an annual growth rate of 10.06%, reaching $1.79 trillion by 2028.¹⁴
Digital ordering has grown 300% faster than dine-in traffic since 2014⁹, with online ordering accounting for 27% of all transactions in 2023.¹⁵
Restaurants with online ordering systems see 30% higher takeout profits than those without.¹⁶
Customer spending increases by 20% when ordering through technology, with quick-service restaurant check averages increasing 26% and fast-casual checks growing 13%.¹⁶
Customers who order pizza online spend 18% more compared to phone orders, and delivery orders generate 20% more revenue than pickup orders.¹⁶
The number of users in the online food delivery industry is projected to hit 2.65 billion by 2026.¹⁶
31% of Americans use third-party delivery services at least twice a week.¹⁶
4 in 10 consumers order via a third-party app at least five times per month, double the number who order via phone.¹²
Customers ordering directly from a restaurant spend 35% more per transaction than those using third-party apps, making direct promotions a worthwhile strategy.¹⁶
DoorDash leads the U.S. market with a 67% share, followed by Uber Eats at 23% as of March 2024.¹⁶

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Online Food Delivery Consumer Preference Statistics

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About 70% of U.S. consumers ordered delivery or takeout in the past month¹², with 66% saying they order food more frequently than before the pandemic.¹⁶
Around 60% of Americans choose delivery or takeout at least once a week, with 55% saying takeout or delivery is the way to live.¹⁶
59% of Millennial restaurant orders are for takeout or delivery, with 69% of Gen Z consumers favoring delivery more than any other generation.¹⁶
Friday and Saturday are the most popular days for food and alcohol delivery.¹²
Around 70% of customers prefer online ordering with delivery options.¹⁶
56% of consumers prefer ordering takeout or delivery from restaurants they frequent in person.¹²
Consumers who place online orders directly with restaurants visit those establishments 67% more frequently than non-online customers.¹⁶
51% rely on third-party platforms like DoorDash when deciding where to order delivery or takeout.¹²
French fries are the most popular food ordered online in the U.S.¹²
39% of consumers order delivery when hosting at home.¹²

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Restaurant Labor Statistics

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As of July 2024, the restaurant industry employed 12.35 million people, surpassing its pre-pandemic peak of 12.29 million in February 2020.²
Total industry employment, including both restaurant and non-restaurant jobs, is forecasted to reach 15.7 million by the end of 2024, with the workforce expected to grow by an additional 200,000 jobs.⁴
Snack and non-alcoholic beverage bars have seen the most significant growth, adding 124,500 jobs, a 30.5% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels.²
40% of employees report deriving satisfaction from engaging with customers and fulfilling their needs.³
63% of adults have worked in the restaurant industry, making it the nation's largest "training ground."¹
8 in 10 restaurant owners and 9 in 10 restaurant managers started their careers in entry-level positions.¹
60% of restaurant and food service employees are under the age of 35, primarily Millennials and Gen Z.⁵
The restaurant industry ranks number one in employing minority managers compared to all other sectors.¹
82% of businesses are actively hiring, with chefs and cooks making up 30% of open roles — the hardest positions to fill.³
In 2024, 45% of operators reported not having enough staff to meet customer demand⁴, and 57% were more than 10% understaffed.²
The average employee turnover rate in the industry is 110 days.²
Back-of-house positions have a 43% one-year turnover rate, slightly higher than front-of-house positions at 41%.²
Managers experience a significantly lower turnover rate of 28%.²
The leading cause of employee departures is low wages, cited by 34.6% of employees as their primary reason for leaving.²

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Restaurant Industry Wage Statistics

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Chefs and head cooks have the highest earnings among major industry roles, with median annual pay of $58,920 and top earnings of $93,900.²
Waitstaff at full-service restaurants earn a median hourly wage of $27, with the top 25% making $41.50 per hour or more and the bottom 25% earning $19 per hour or less.¹
Employees at fine dining establishments earn 47.5% more in tips per hour than those at other venues.²
In 19 states, tipped workers earn a minimum cash wage of $2.13 per hour, unchanged since 1991.²
Only 7 states require employers to pay tipped employees the full state minimum wage, regardless of tips.²
The average annual cost of living exceeds the average annual foodservice wage in every state.²

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Restaurant Industry Technology Statistics

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Over 3 in 4 operators believe technology provides a competitive edge.¹⁷
69% of restaurant owners predict that technology will augment rather than replace human labor.⁸
52% of operators plan to integrate technology into back-office functions like payroll, finance, tax, and food safety compliance.¹⁷
52% plan to enhance inventory control and management systems in 2024.¹⁷
47% of restaurant owners believe technology and automation will help address labor shortages.⁸
Purchases of loyalty program software have surged by 45% over the past year, highlighting a strategic shift toward customer retention.³
61% of limited-service operators and 52% of full-service operators are likely to invest in loyalty/reward systems.¹⁷
43% of full-service operators and 31% of limited-service operators intend to improve their cybersecurity systems this year.¹⁷
63% of operators plan to allocate resources toward digital or location-based marketing in 2024.¹⁷
One-third of operators plan to invest in smartphone app development to enhance customer engagement.¹⁷

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Restaurant Industry Technology Consumer Preference Statistics

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While 64% of diners prefer a traditional dining experience, 53% of Millennials and half of Gen Zers favor tech-enabled experiences.⁸
70% of consumers (including 88% of Gen Zers and 84% of Millennials) would use tech that lets them order at the time of reservation for faster service.⁸
61% of diners (including 71% of Gen Zers and 67% of Millennials) support variable pricing, where menu prices fluctuate by day or time.⁸
79% of consumers prefer contactless or mobile payments, with 73% opting for digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and Venmo.¹⁷
70% of limited-service consumers would use smartphone apps for ordering, while 65% would use them to pay.¹⁷
In full-service restaurants, 60% of diners would use tablets to place orders and 65% would use them to pay.¹⁷
63% of consumers are comfortable using smartphones to place orders or pay bills.¹⁷
Among Baby Boomers, fewer than 50% are willing to use smartphone apps or digital payment options, compared to higher adoption rates among younger generations.¹⁷
59% of diners are open to using QR codes for menus, but fewer would use them to pay (46%) or place orders (48%).⁸
60% of Americans report tipping more due to the ease of digital payment systems.⁸
64% of consumers tip at least 10% more when using digital payment methods compared to cash.⁸
On average, Americans’ tips are 15% higher when tipping digitally.⁸
Consumer priorities for full-service restaurant tech integration:^8
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- 30% want tech to make paying faster and easier.
- 28% want tech to simplify ordering.
- 21% want tech to provide detailed food information (e.g., nutrition, allergens, sourcing).
- 21% want accurate estimates for food delivery times to their table.

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Restaurant Industry Statistics for 2025 Wrapped

Keep your restaurant thriving in a fast-moving industry by keeping up with these trends and staying connected to what customers want. The restaurant industry is constantly changing, and these 108 stats paint a clear picture of where it’s headed in 2025. From changing customer habits to exciting tech trends, there’s plenty of opportunity for growth and innovation.

Ready to take your restaurant to the next level in 2025? With Push, you can automate scheduling, payroll, hiring, and more – all in one platform built specifically for the restaurant industry. Book a demo with us today and see how Push can help save you time, reduce costs, and focus on what matters most: growing your business.

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Sources:
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1. National Restaurant Association: National Statistics

2. Escoffier School of Culinary Arts: U.S. Restaurant and Foodservice Industry Statistics and Trends for 2024

3. Expert Market: Food & Beverage Industry Report 2024

4. National Restaurant Association: 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry

5. Bank of America: State of the Restaurant Industry 2024

6. Datassential: 2025 Foodservice Economic Forecast

7. Restaurant Business: Restaurant Menu Prices Keep Growing, Even as Grocery Inflation Has Stopped

8. Escoffier School of Culinary Arts: 2024 Restaurant Technology and Innovation Statistics

9. Fortunly: Gourmet Restaurant Industry Statistics for 2024

10. Food & Wine: These U.S. Cities Spend the Most on Dining Out, According to a New Report