Hospitality salaries soar amid new openings and low unemployment

The hospitality sector in Northern Ireland is witnessing a significant rise in salaries, with general manager roles now reaching as much as £95,000, according to a new report.

This salary increase comes as several new hotels open in anticipation of The Open’s return to Royal Portrush in July, combined with the region’s historically low unemployment rate of 1.5%.

Several high-profile hotels, including the luxury Dunluce Lodge, the relaunch of Roe Park Resort under Galgorm Collection, and The Marcus by Andras Hotels, are contributing to the surge in demand for skilled hospitality professionals. These new and revamped establishments are expected to intensify competition for talent.

The 2025 Hotel & Catering Sector Salary Guide, published by Excel Recruitment, reveals that salaries for executive chefs in Northern Ireland have risen to £90,500, up slightly from £90,000 the previous year. For general managers, “good” salaries have increased by nearly 27%, from £75,000 to £95,000. Salaries for head chefs have grown from £65,000 to £65,700, and sous-chefs have seen pay rise from £30,000 to £35,500.

Damien Davis, hospitality recruitment consultant at Excel, said, “Salaries within 2025 are being driven by record low unemployment in Northern Ireland of 1.5%, which is putting the candidates in prime position to carefully choose their preferred employer when moving on within not just hospitality but all major work sectors in the country, creating a smaller pool of available candidates who are open to a move.”

He added, “The increase this year in new and refurbished sites like Dunluce Lodge, The Marcus, the redevelopment of Roe Park as well as many other sites, which is continuing into 2026 with another 800 bedrooms coming into the market, will further increase this pressure on the market for staff, from team member employees to senior management throughout the country.”

However, Davis pointed out that the sector is facing more than just staffing challenges. “If the government is serious and want the NI hospitality sector to grow to its full potential, then they must help those businesses doing all they can to expand or come into the country but are being held back by countless challenges and obstacles being placed on them.”

He concluded, “Labour shortages and wage increases are limiting the potential for growth of the hospitality sector. Action from the Government bodies is critical if we want to see sustainable growth moving forward.”