Food Service Managers Salary

SOC Code: 11-9051 • Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024

Median Salary
$65,310
Mean Salary
$72,370
Employment
244,230
Entry Level (10th %ile)
$42,380
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$105,420

Pay Range Distribution

10th percentile
$42,380 25th percentile
$53,090 Median (50th)
$65,310 75th percentile
$82,300 90th percentile
$105,420

Food Service Managers Salary by State

StateMedianMeanEmploymentEntry (10th)Top (90th)
Washington$92,290$95,4701,870$64,340$131,340
Massachusetts$85,940$88,7703,920$57,390$123,510
Hawaii$82,380$89,3701,240$54,000$130,470
Alaska$82,300$84,790430$46,230$109,430
Rhode Island$82,300$80,710860$51,250$113,590
Colorado$82,270$87,5801,850$63,280$117,040
New York$80,170$89,31012,260$56,260$145,210
District of Columbia$80,040$91,2801,260$66,190$132,930
New Jersey$79,370$89,8105,100$59,480$127,640
Connecticut$76,860$78,9001,620$49,990$112,900
Minnesota$76,780$81,070670$56,630$108,990
Delaware$76,210$81,590580$57,420$110,280
New Hampshire$75,190$79,210740$58,020$105,660
California$75,140$77,74038,960$44,920$117,640
Vermont$72,740$76,750650$49,990$121,790
Virginia$67,910$74,3704,380$46,290$105,630
Maryland$67,290$74,740N/A$51,430$102,370
North Carolina$65,770$71,6907,970$47,300$102,310
Iowa$65,600$72,6501,430$46,870$101,400
Illinois$65,130$72,69012,320$38,840$110,390
North Dakota$64,940$68,160850$35,630$96,670
Maine$64,410$68,7501,150$50,590$90,410
Georgia$63,980$70,5207,240$39,610$105,490
Oklahoma$63,930$74,2602,310$48,300$110,230
Florida$63,650$71,24021,960$37,020$106,660
Oregon$63,600$68,0904,310$46,780$92,360
Montana$63,370$65,210910$45,310$83,320
Arizona$63,310$68,0005,010$46,620$101,290
South Carolina$63,080$71,2804,360$44,820$114,460
New Mexico$62,860$77,7401,620$46,780$144,060
Texas$62,610$68,99020,080$37,940$100,810
Kansas$62,490$67,6001,620$44,170$92,110
Idaho$62,480$68,120330$49,990$89,760
Pennsylvania$62,250$66,2207,910$37,450$93,400
Louisiana$62,170$66,9401,740$40,410$99,490
Indiana$61,930$67,2005,270$41,230$97,740
Michigan$61,400$63,6009,490$39,200$90,310
Missouri$61,220$67,1501,830$46,750$94,140
Tennessee$61,000$64,5905,400$37,600$95,190
Nevada$60,740$73,1804,000$45,450$107,000
Ohio$60,650$64,01011,420$35,060$96,420
Nebraska$60,600$67,0201,770$44,940$92,920
South Dakota$60,600$62,0901,200$49,280$76,510
Wyoming$60,570$65,010600$35,350$92,590
Kentucky$60,340$60,8601,550$27,650$91,730
Alabama$59,920$63,6505,090$40,120$86,720
Utah$57,450$61,0202,020$42,620$85,720
Wisconsin$56,510$59,3105,880$36,120$91,800
Arkansas$53,880$55,9002,040$33,890$77,250
Mississippi$51,430$60,5802,370$34,320$93,660
West Virginia$50,920$54,2001,250$37,190$69,380

Highest Paying Metro Areas

Metro AreaMedianMeanEmployment
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$95,540$97,3801,140
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$93,090$97,94060
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$93,070$98,870210
Barnstable Town, MA$92,670$90,320150
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$89,220$96,34060
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$86,840$90,7903,000
Kennewick-Richland, WA$85,430$86,61060
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$84,180$89,3701,060
Napa, CA$84,150$92,760230
Anchorage, AK$83,180$84,580300
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$82,570$85,3305,480
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$82,400$95,39012,110
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$82,030$80,9601,120
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA$82,000$87,790180
Fairbanks-College, AK$81,430$83,51040
Springfield, MA$81,150$82,470170
Yakima, WA$81,000$82,52060
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$80,700$81,480390
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA$80,450$81,64080
Ithaca, NY$80,260$80,85040

About Food Service Managers Salary Data

This data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The median salary represents the midpoint — half of food service managerss earn more and half earn less. The 10th percentile represents entry-level pay, while the 90th percentile represents the highest earners in this occupation. Employment counts represent estimated total jobs in May 2024.

Understanding Salary Percentiles

Salary percentiles show how wages are distributed across workers in this occupation. The 10th percentile represents entry-level pay — only 10% earn less. The median (50th percentile) is the true midpoint of all wages. The 90th percentile reflects top earners, typically in senior roles or high-cost metro areas. A wide gap between the 10th and 90th percentiles indicates that experience, location, and specialization significantly affect pay.

Factors That Affect Pay

Several factors influence salary for this occupation. Location is one of the biggest — the same job can pay 50% more in a high-cost metro area like San Francisco or New York compared to a rural area. Experience matters significantly; workers at the 90th percentile typically have 10-20+ years in the field. Industry also plays a role — the same occupation often pays differently in finance, technology, healthcare, or government. Education and certifications can boost pay, especially in fields that require advanced degrees or specialized licenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between median and mean salary?

The median is the midpoint — half earn more, half earn less. The mean (average) is the total of all salaries divided by the number of workers. The median is generally more useful because it is not skewed by a small number of extremely high earners.

Do these figures include bonuses and benefits?

No. BLS OEWS data measures base wages and salaries only. It does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime, stock options, health insurance, retirement contributions, or other benefits. Total compensation may be 20-40% higher than base salary.

How reliable is this data?

The BLS OEWS survey covers approximately 1.1 million business establishments across the U.S. and uses rigorous statistical sampling methods. It is considered one of the most reliable sources of occupational wage data available. Self-employed workers and certain agricultural positions are not included.

How often is this data updated?

The BLS publishes new OEWS data annually, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period. This page shows May 2024 data, the most recent release.