Sweetgreen managers could earn more than $200,000 a year under a new pay plan, as the salad chain bets higher pay will lift sales

A fast-casual chain favored by the office lunch set is sweetening compensation packages for managers at its restaurants. Starting next year, Sweetgreen managers will be eligible to earn more than $200,000 a year if they meet certain milestones set by the company. The new offering, which will be paid through a mix of base salary and equity, is intended to empower managers who contribute to the business’s success, and “[share] those wins with those that are driving it,” co-founder and CEO Jonathan Neman said. Under the new incentive plan, Sweetgreen managers (known as “head coaches”) will see their base pay increase by up to 45% if they work at restaurants with higher sales volume. The company declined to specify how high sales need to be to meet this threshold. When restaurants outperform their sales goals, managers will get a revenue share bonus from the upside, with the percentage increasing based on their tenure in the business. Managers can also continue to receive equity in the company based on their performance. Base salary increases will go into effect in Q1 of 2027, while head coaches will start to receive bonuses based on store performance on a quarterly basis from Jan. 1, 2027, according to Sweetgreen. Higher labor and related costs cut into Sweetgreen’s earnings for the quarter ending in June, accounting for 29% of revenue, up from 28% the year prior. Chipotle announced in 2021 that workers in its highest general manager position could earn $100,000, on average, as it sought to hang onto workers in a tight labor market.