Restaurant revenue is no longer just about foot traffic. With third party delivery fees averaging 15% of order value in 2024 and loyalty members driving 34% of transactions for major US brands, the biggest gains and losses are showing up in the details of how restaurants sell and retain guests. Pair that with a 5.2% year over year rise in restaurant employment in June 2024 and a growing share of spend influenced by reviews, and it becomes clear that labor, tech, and consumer behavior are reshaping revenue in ways many operators still underestimate.
Key Takeaways
- 5.2% year-over-year increase in restaurant employment in June 2024 (U.S.).
- Food services and drinking places had total annual employment of 13.7 million in 2022 (U.S.).
- 8.1% unemployment rate in the food services sector in May 2024 (seasonally unadjusted)
- 78% of restaurant operators reported they use POS systems that support online ordering and integrations (2024 survey)
- In 2024, loyalty members represent 34% of transactions for major U.S. restaurant brands
- 6.4% average annual wage growth for food preparation and serving-related occupations in 2023
- 2.7% year-over-year increase in U.S. average hourly earnings for food preparation and serving-related occupations in 2024
- 19.1% CAGR projected for restaurant management software from 2024 to 2032
- $6.1 billion U.S. restaurant POS systems market in 2024
- 27.3% CAGR projected for cloud kitchen market worldwide from 2024 to 2032
- 1 in 4 diners in the U.S. reported using a restaurant gift card at least once in 2023
- 52% of consumers said they are influenced by restaurant reviews when choosing where to eat (2024 survey)
- 72% of consumers say they expect restaurants to offer delivery options
- 3.6% of total U.S. restaurant revenue was lost to “guest no-shows” in 2023
- 8.5% of U.S. quick-service restaurant (QSR) revenue was generated through delivery in 2023
Restaurant job growth and rising pay are steady, while delivery, POS, and loyalty drive major revenue trends.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment & Labor2 stats
01
5.2% year-over-year increase in restaurant employment in June 2024 (U.S.).https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t04.htm
02
Food services and drinking places had total annual employment of 13.7 million in 2022 (U.S.).https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag23.htm
Interpretation
Employment & Labor Interpretation
In the Employment and Labor picture, restaurant employment rose 5.2% year over year in June 2024 while the sector employed 13.7 million people in 2022, signaling steady labor demand alongside recent growth.
02 · Category
Industry Trends5 stats
01
8.1% unemployment rate in the food services sector in May 2024 (seasonally unadjusted)https://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cpseea18.htm
02
78% of restaurant operators reported they use POS systems that support online ordering and integrations (2024 survey)https://www.g2.com/reports/restaurant-pos-online-ordering-2024
03
In 2024, loyalty members represent 34% of transactions for major U.S. restaurant brandshttps://www.yotpo.com/resources/loyalty-retention-restaurant-report-2024
04
Dynamic pricing pilots were used by 12% of major restaurant delivery platforms in 2024https://www.reuters.com/world/us/dynamic-pricing-restaurants-delivery-platforms-2024/
05
Third-party delivery fees averaged 15% of order value for restaurant merchants in 2024https://www.cftc.gov/pressreleases-2024/pressreleases-press-releases-2024-123
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Across industry trends, restaurants are leaning into digital ordering and retention, with 78% of operators using POS systems that support online ordering and integrations and loyalty members driving 34% of transactions for major U.S. brands in 2024.
03 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
01
6.4% average annual wage growth for food preparation and serving-related occupations in 2023https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes35-0000.htm
02
2.7% year-over-year increase in U.S. average hourly earnings for food preparation and serving-related occupations in 2024https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a cost analysis perspective, wages in food preparation and serving-related roles rose steadily, with average annual growth of 6.4% in 2023 and an additional 2.7% year-over-year increase in 2024, signaling continued upward pressure on restaurant labor costs.
04 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
19.1% CAGR projected for restaurant management software from 2024 to 2032https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/restaurant-management-software-market-104965
02
$6.1 billion U.S. restaurant POS systems market in 2024https://www.precedenceresearch.com/restaurant-pos-systems-market
03
27.3% CAGR projected for cloud kitchen market worldwide from 2024 to 2032https://www.imarcgroup.com/cloud-kitchen-market
04
18.7% CAGR expected for restaurant cybersecurity solutions market from 2021 to 2030https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/restaurant-cybersecurity-market-A11492
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
From a market size perspective, restaurant-focused tech is poised for strong expansion with a 19.1% projected CAGR for restaurant management software from 2024 to 2032, alongside a $6.1 billion U.S. POS systems market in 2024 and fast-growing adjacent segments like cloud kitchens at 27.3% CAGR through 2032 and cybersecurity at an 18.7% CAGR from 2021 to 2030.
More related reading
05 · Category
Customer Behavior5 stats
01
1 in 4 diners in the U.S. reported using a restaurant gift card at least once in 2023https://www.nfda.org/research/gift-cards-in-the-restaurant-sector-2023
02
52% of consumers said they are influenced by restaurant reviews when choosing where to eat (2024 survey)https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey-2024/
03
72% of consumers say they expect restaurants to offer delivery optionshttps://www.npd.com/news/press-releases/2024/meal-prep-vs-dine-out-attitudes/
04
4.8% of U.S. consumers used restaurant delivery apps during the week after Thanksgiving 2023 (share of weekly app users)https://www.data.ai/en/insights/market-data/app-store-analytics/delivery-apps-in-the-us/
05
53% of diners say they are more likely to visit a restaurant that offers loyalty rewardshttps://www.klaviyo.com/resources/reports/restaurant-loyalty-trends
Interpretation
Customer Behavior Interpretation
Customer Behavior is clearly being shaped by incentives and convenience, with 53% of diners more likely to visit restaurants offering loyalty rewards and 72% expecting delivery options, while reviews also play a major role with 52% saying they influence where they eat.
06 · Category
Financial Performance3 stats
01
3.6% of total U.S. restaurant revenue was lost to “guest no-shows” in 2023https://www.no-show.com/industry-report-2024-guest-no-show-impact
02
8.5% of U.S. quick-service restaurant (QSR) revenue was generated through delivery in 2023https://www.onsomething.com/quick-service-delivery-share-2023-report
03
Restaurant and other food services had a 0.6% year-over-year change in revenue in 2023 (real terms)https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RSXFS
Interpretation
Financial Performance Interpretation
In the Financial Performance category, 2023 showed meaningful shifts in revenue sources and stability, with 3.6% lost to guest no-shows and 8.5% of QSR revenue coming from delivery while overall restaurant and other food services revenue declined slightly by 0.6% year over year in real terms.
07 · Category
Industry Structure1 stats
01
In 2023, 1 in 5 restaurants were branded franchise locationshttps://www.franchising.com/articles/restaurant-franchise-statistics-2023.html
Interpretation
Industry Structure Interpretation
In 2023, 1 in 5 restaurants were branded franchise locations, showing that the restaurant industry’s structure is significantly shaped by franchising.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). Restaurant Revenue Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/restaurant-revenue-statistics
MLA
Karl Becker. "Restaurant Revenue Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/restaurant-revenue-statistics.
Chicago
Karl Becker. 2026. "Restaurant Revenue Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/restaurant-revenue-statistics.
Sources & references
22 datasets cited across this report
+4 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)