By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Sweetgreen announced Tuesday a new compensation program that will pay store managers at its highest-traffic locations more than $200,000 per year through a combination of base salary, performance bonuses, and company shares.
CEO emphasizes opportunity
Chief Executive Jonathan Neman said the company is "betting big on our head coaches," framing the restaurant industry as a major engine of opportunity. The package surpasses the average U.S. lawyer's annual salary of $159,670, according to federal data.
Comparison with peers
The move places Sweetgreen among a handful of chains offering six-figure manager pay. In-N-Out Burger pays up to $200,000, Panda Express $107,000, Chipotle up to $93,100, and convenience store operator Buc-ee's up to $275,000. None of these roles require a college degree.
Broader context
Only 18 percent of American adults earn over $100,000 annually, per 2024 YouGov polling. Sweetgreen recently hired regional general managers in New York and Seattle, which improved sales and service times in those markets, Neman said during an August earnings call. However, overall sales dropped 6.2 percent from April to June, and restaurant profit margin fell nearly six percentage points year-over-year. Chief Financial Officer Jamie McConnell attributed part of the decline to a cyclospora outbreak that reduced traffic, though Sweetgreen does not serve the contaminated lettuce variety.
