Sweetgreen plans to revamp store-manager pay and incentives in 2027, with annual compensation for top performers potentially exceeding $200,000. The package will tie pay more closely to store results and add sales-sharing bonuses and performance-based stock awards, as the salad chain steps up efforts to retain and develop managers.
Three-year tenure required for top pay tier
Managers will need at least three years in the role to qualify for the highest compensation tier, Sweetgreen said. Eligible managers will receive base pay and may earn a share of sales when their store exceeds its targets. The company may also grant Sweetgreen stock based on individual performance.
Chief Operating Officer Jason Cochran said the plan is intended to place Sweetgreen’s total compensation among the higher-paying packages for restaurant general managers. He said the company wants to attract and retain employees while giving team members a path to become store leaders.
Pay plan targets retention as Sweetgreen nears 300 locations
Sweetgreen store managers have been with the company for periods ranging from three months to 10 years, Cochran said. Each store employs about 25 to 50 people. He also described a shift lead who has worked at Sweetgreen for six years and was encouraged about career prospects after learning about the new plan.
The compensation changes form part of a broader effort to retain and train staff. Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Neman said strong managers build strong teams, and team performance is tied to the business’s development. With Sweetgreen nearing 300 locations, the company aims to invest more in store leaders, strengthen teams and create additional opportunities for employees.
Sweetgreen has not disclosed how widely the plan will apply, the specific pay tiers or how bonuses will be calculated. The announced terms include a three-year tenure requirement, bonuses linked to sales above target and potential stock awards tied to performance. The compensation ceiling is intended for top-performing store managers.