Hiring negotiations in this industry run on rumour: what the place across the road supposedly pays, what a candidate claims they were offered. These bands put a floor under the conversation, indicative monthly ranges for the ten most-hired roles across city tiers, drawn from commonly posted ranges, so both sides start from the same page instead of two different bluffs.
Indicative monthly bands in metros: commis ₹16-25k, chef de partie ₹28-45k, sous chef ₹45-75k, steward ₹14-22k, captain ₹20-32k, bartender ₹22-40k, restaurant manager ₹45-90k. Tier-2 cities run roughly 20-25% lower, tier-3 around 35-40% lower. Hotels often add accommodation and meals worth another 20-40%.
| Chef de Partie — all tiers | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Metro | ₹28,000 | ₹45,000 |
| Tier 2 | ₹22,000 | ₹35,000 |
| Tier 3 & smaller cities | ₹18,000 | ₹28,000 |
Indicative bands from commonly posted ranges, monthly gross, excluding service charge share, tips and accommodation (which can add 20-40% in hotels). Fine dining and international brands pay above these bands; the top of the range assumes 3+ years in the role. For live openings and real asking salaries, see Hospiwork, our hospitality careers platform.
Format is the multiplier: the same CDP title pays very differently at a fine-dining kitchen, a hotel chain, and a highway dhaba, and cuisine skills (continental, pan-Asian, patisserie) carry premiums where supply is thin. The bands here centre on mainstream restaurant and mid-range hotel hiring.
The consistent answers from exit patterns: fair and transparent tip/service-charge distribution (publish the math, our Tip Pooling calculator helps), a real weekly off that survives busy weeks, food and accommodation quality where provided, and visible promotion paths. Money gets them in the door; dignity of scheduling keeps them.
Live job postings are the honest market: Hospiwork, our hospitality careers platform, carries current openings with stated ranges across kitchen, service and management roles, which is also where these bands get their reality check.