Editorial illustration: Restaurant and bar pay: cash wages, tips and shifts

Original AI-generated editorial illustration. Fictional people.

Mainland private sector · Monthly TZS · Effective 1 January 2026

These are statutory minimums for the listed categories, not average salaries or take-home pay. They are not a Zanzibar or public-service pay table. Higher contractual wages can apply.

Monthly minimums in TZS, effective 1 January 2026
CategoryTZS / monthPDF
One and two star hotels, guest houses, bars and restaurants195,0006

Choose the right category

Restaurants and bars appear in the same schedule row as guest houses and one- or two-star hotels. Do not use a higher-star hotel row merely because a restaurant advert describes itself as premium.

Questions to settle before accepting

Discuss closing-time transport, split shifts, meal provision, till shortages and how tips are shared. Ask whether trial shifts are paid and obtain the terms before attending.

Make a fair comparison

List guaranteed wage, service-charge rules and discretionary tips separately. A busy Saturday cannot stand in for evidence of reliable earnings throughout a month.

Sources and checks

Reviewed 23 September 2026. Follow the original source for amendments.

General guidance. Confirm the employer’s current requirements and your own pay arrangements before making an application or accepting an offer. Report a correction