A person working in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering in Bulgaria typically earns around 2,200 BGN per month. Salaries range from 840 BGN (lowest average) to 6,140 BGN (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Job Title | Average Salary |
All Rounder | 1,330 BGN |
Assistant Executive Housekeeper | 980 BGN |
Assistant Food and Beverage Director | 4,480 BGN |
Assistant Hospitality Manager | 4,730 BGN |
Assistant Storekeeper | 870 BGN |
Assistant Tour Manager | 2,150 BGN |
Baker and Pastrycook | 1,100 BGN |
Bakery Manager | 2,400 BGN |
Bakery Superintendent | 1,630 BGN |
Banquet Manager | 1,790 BGN |
Banquet Server | 1,130 BGN |
Bar Attendant | 1,050 BGN |
Bar Manager | 2,310 BGN |
Bar Supervisor | 1,490 BGN |
Barista | 1,310 BGN |
Bartender | 1,290 BGN |
Bellman | 1,080 BGN |
Beverage Manager | 2,710 BGN |
Bistro Attendant | 1,170 BGN |
Buffet Chef | 1,910 BGN |
Buffet Host | 1,030 BGN |
Buffet Manager | 2,370 BGN |
Butcher and Slaughterer | 920 BGN |
Cafeteria Manager | 1,960 BGN |
Cake Decorator | 1,200 BGN |
Casino Shift Manager | 3,700 BGN |
Chain Store Customer Support | 1,690 BGN |
Chef | 2,120 BGN |
Club Manager | 3,760 BGN |
Cluster Director | 4,940 BGN |
Cluster Revenue Manager | 3,990 BGN |
Cocktail Server | 1,070 BGN |
Coffee Shop Manager | 3,570 BGN |
Concierge | 1,070 BGN |
Confectionery Baker | 1,270 BGN |
Conference Services Manager | 2,350 BGN |
Cook | 1,770 BGN |
Corporate Sous Chef | 3,080 BGN |
Corporate Travel Consultant | 3,100 BGN |
Croupier | 1,390 BGN |
Culinary Assistant | 920 BGN |
Culinary Associate | 950 BGN |
Dietary Aide | 2,030 BGN |
Dining Room Supervisor | 1,870 BGN |
Dishwasher | 860 BGN |
Duty Manager | 2,390 BGN |
Events Coordinator | 1,560 BGN |
Executive Chef | 2,370 BGN |
Executive Pastry Chef | 1,900 BGN |
Fast Food Cook | 1,730 BGN |
Fast Food Shift Supervisor | 1,860 BGN |
Fine Dining Cook | 2,850 BGN |
Fine Dining Restaurant Chef | 3,060 BGN |
Fleet Manager | 5,110 BGN |
Food and Beverage Manager | 3,910 BGN |
Food Consultant | 3,330 BGN |
Food Safety Coordinator | 2,300 BGN |
Food Server | 1,030 BGN |
Food Service Director | 4,010 BGN |
Food Service Manager | 4,420 BGN |
Food Service Sales | 2,670 BGN |
Food Service Worker | 1,010 BGN |
Front Desk Agent | 1,300 BGN |
Front Office Manager | 2,320 BGN |
Guest Service Executive | 3,390 BGN |
Guest Service Representative | 1,370 BGN |
Head Concierge | 1,550 BGN |
Hospitality Director | 6,430 BGN |
Hostess / Host | 1,200 BGN |
Hotel Desk Clerk | 1,280 BGN |
Hotel Maid | 920 BGN |
Hotel Manager | 6,090 BGN |
Hotel Sales Manager | 4,620 BGN |
Hotel Service Supervisor | 3,540 BGN |
Hotel Staff | 1,090 BGN |
Inventory Coordinator | 1,400 BGN |
Kitchen Manager | 2,010 BGN |
Kitchen Staff | 1,140 BGN |
Kitchen Supervisor | 1,780 BGN |
Line Cook | 1,920 BGN |
Luggage Porter | 850 BGN |
Motel Manager | 3,530 BGN |
Pastrycooking and Baking Assistant | 1,130 BGN |
Production Operator | 1,730 BGN |
Quality, Health and Safety Coordinator | 1,980 BGN |
Receptionist | 1,200 BGN |
Regional Restaurant Manager | 4,810 BGN |
Restaurant Manager | 4,240 BGN |
Room Reservations Manager | 3,920 BGN |
Room Service Manager | 3,850 BGN |
Sous Chef | 2,340 BGN |
Supervisor of Food Services | 2,930 BGN |
Tour Consultant | 3,070 BGN |
Travel Agent | 2,050 BGN |
Travel Consultant | 3,050 BGN |
Waiter / Waitress | 1,060 BGN |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering salaries in Bulgaria range from 840 BGN per month (minimum average salary) to 6,140 BGN per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 2,250 BGN per month, which means that half (50%) of people working in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering are earning less than 2,250 BGN while the other half are earning more than 2,250 BGN. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of people working in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering are earning less than 1,390 BGN while 75% of them are earning more than 1,390 BGN. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering are earning less than 4,280 BGN while 25% are earning more than 4,280 BGN.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Bulgaria costs anywhere from 16,500 Bulgarian Lev(s) to 49,500 Bulgarian Lev(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Bulgaria who work in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering earn 6% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 2,260 BGN | |
Female | -6% | 2,130 BGN |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering professionals in Bulgaria are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 7% every 19 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 7% granted to employees every 20 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Banking | 6% | |
Energy | 3% | |
Information Technology | 9% | |
Healthcare | 6% | |
Travel | 3% | |
Construction | 9% | |
Education | 6% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Bulgaria for the year 2021. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering is considered to be a low bonus-based field due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
74% of surveyed staff in Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 26% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 0% to 4% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 26% | |
No Bonus | 74% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
The average salary for Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering is 33% less than that of All Jobs.
City | Average Salary |
Burgas | 2,300 BGN |
Plovdiv | 2,480 BGN |
Rousse | 2,250 BGN |
Sofia | 2,570 BGN |
Stara Zagora | 2,160 BGN |
Varna | 2,390 BGN |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Bulgaria earn 9% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 3,130 BGN | |
Public Sector | +9% | 3,420 BGN |