Olive Garden Pay Per Hour (2026) & Hiring Age

Olive Garden Hourly Pay by Position

Average hourly pay in the United States, as published by each source on the date shown.

Server figures include tips as reported by employees. Olive Garden is owned by Darden and runs no franchised U.S. restaurants. California's $20 fast-food minimum does not apply to table-service restaurants.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at Olive Garden?

Olive Garden hires hosts, bussers and kitchen staff from age 16. Servers who carry alcohol must usually be 18 or older, depending on state law.

Federal law limits workers aged 14 and 15 to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week, with no work after 7 PM during the school year, and some states add a work-permit requirement. That is why many restaurants only hire from 16 even where younger workers are allowed.

Olive Garden Employee Benefits

• Tips on top of hourly pay for servers and bartenders
• Discounted meals
• Health insurance and 401(k) for eligible team members
• Darden employee assistance fund

Benefits differ between company-owned and franchised restaurants; confirm with the hiring manager.

How to Apply at Olive Garden

Apply on the official careers site, www.darden.com/careers, or ask for the manager in person at the restaurant you want to work at — many franchise locations still hire walk-ins on the spot. Applications take about 10 to 20 minutes, and most restaurants interview within a week.