Gathering reliable data on the state of restaurant training can often feel like searching for a hidden ingredient. While learning & development (L&D) and operations teams recognize the critical importance of effective onboarding and continuous skill development, concrete benchmarks have historically been elusive. 

Recognizing this challenge, the Hospitality Training 360 Report from Opus, in partnership with CHART, delves into various aspects of the training sector, including those hard-to-pin-down training metrics. 

From declining new hire training hours to the average cost to train an employee, we’ve presented the key statistics gleaned from this year’s report, offering a data-driven snapshot of the current state of training practices in the restaurant industry. 

The Hospitality Training 360 Report Survey Data, Explained

These insights are drawn from the responses to specific survey questions that fueled the final report. The survey specifically asked about key training metrics, allowing participants to share details about their current practices. For instance, questions focused on the typical number of hours allocated for new hire training across different roles and operational models, and the ongoing investment in employee development. 

It's worth noting that these statistics are based on the responses from over 100 L&D leaders representing more than 40,000 locations who answered the relevant training questions. Each table represents the number of businesses that responded to each survey question.

Key Restaurant Training Statistics & Benchmarks

New Hire Training: Average Training Hours by Role

Average training hours per employee for New Hire Training (External)
Roles Avg. # Training Hours
FOH hourly employees 28
BOH hourly employees 36
Unit-level managers 219
General Managers 261
Multi-unit Managers 311
# of Businesses: 46

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New Hire Training: QSR vs. Full-Service Restaurants

Average training hours per employee for New Hire Training (External)
Roles Avg. # Training Hours
QSR / FSR Casual / Full Service < 100 locations
FOH hourly employees 24 31 29
BOH hourly employees 25 37 37
Unit-level managers 158 296 239
General Managers 205 344 278
Multi-unit Managers 213 443 320
# of Businesses: 17 17 28

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Ongoing Training: Average Continued Training Hours

Average training hours per employee for Ongoing Training
in the last fiscal year.
Answer Choices Avg. # Training Hours # of Responses
FOH hourly employees 15 35
BOH hourly employees 15 32
Unit-level managers 28 33
General Managers 29 33
Multi-unit Managers 33 28
# of Businesses: 35

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Ongoing Training: QSR vs. Full-Service Restaurant

Average training hours per employee for Ongoing Training
Roles Avg. # Training Hours
QSR / FSR Casual / Full Service < 100 locations
FOH hourly employees 14 15 14
BOH hourly employees 15 14 14
Unit-level managers 40 24 33
General Managers 29 25 26
Multi-unit Managers 33 33 27
# of Businesses: 13 13 20

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Training Costs: Average Cost Per Employee

Average training cost per employee
Answer Choices Avg. $ Training Cost
FOH hourly employees $868
BOH hourly employees $1,062
Unit-level managers $6,591
General Managers $8,067
Multi-unit Managers $10,240
# of Businesses: 27

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Training Costs: QSR vs. Full-Service Restaurant

Average training cost per employee
Roles Avg. $ Training Cost
QSR / FSR Casual / Full Service < 100 locations
FOH hourly employees $655 $1,192 $1,050
BOH hourly employees $706 $1,292 $1,050
Unit-level managers $4,871 $8,265 $5,477
General Managers $6,038 $10,445 $7,498
Multi-unit Managers $4,857 $15,500 $8,832
# of Businesses: 10 10 16

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Interpreting Your Training Metrics

It's natural to wonder how your organization's training investments stack up against industry averages. If the survey data reveals that your spending or training hours are significantly higher or lower than the benchmark, resist the urge to immediately sound the alarm. 

Deviations from the average aren't inherently negative; they simply reflect the unique circumstances of your business. Factors like your specific service model, the complexity of your menu or operations, your commitment to customer service, and even your geographic location can all influence training needs and costs. The key is to understand why your metrics differ and whether those differences are aligned with your strategic goals.

In some cases, lower-than-average training hours can actually be a sign of strength. The hospitality industry is constantly evolving, and training methodologies are becoming increasingly efficient. If your team has embraced innovative approaches, such as microlearning, gamification, or blended learning strategies, you may be able to achieve the same or even better training outcomes in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods.

Empower Your Training with Data-Driven Insights from Opus

The Hospitality Training 360 Report offers a unique view for navigating the ever-evolving restaurant training landscape. Learning today’s key metrics, like average training duration and costs, empowers L&D and operations teams to contextualize their own efforts and identify areas to grow and innovate their programs. 

Ultimately, understanding these industry averages isn't about blindly adhering to them, it’s about leveraging them to inform and optimize your own unique training strategies. For organizations seeking to not only deliver impactful training but also to gain a clear and measurable understanding of their efficiency, Opus Training offers powerful reporting capabilities to take your team to the next level.

By tracking metrics like time-to-completion and actual time spent on e-learning, L&D teams can fine-tune their programs, maximize resource allocation, and ultimately drive better business outcomes. Ready to unlock the power of data-driven training? Book a demo with Opus today.

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