Food service managers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,960 | $22.09 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $69,390 | $33.36 |
| Mean (average) | $74,880 | $36.00 |
| 90th percentile | $107,640 | $51.75 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Food service managers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $63,010 | $45,770 | $97,450 | 4,330 | 1.33 |
| Alaska | $82,030 | $58,180 | $119,440 | 380 | 0.75 |
| Arizona | $70,180 | $52,060 | $105,520 | 3,400 | 0.68 |
| Arkansas | $55,120 | $37,690 | $79,300 | 2,720 | 1.36 |
| California | $78,260 | $47,690 | $127,340 | 33,180 | 1.19 |
| Colorado | $79,870 | $66,140 | $123,060 | 2,440 | 0.55 |
| Connecticut | $77,990 | $52,020 | $108,460 | 1,520 | 0.58 |
| Delaware | $74,430 | $57,820 | $107,200 | 770 | 1.03 |
| District of Columbia | $81,680 | $74,000 | $134,630 | 1,000 | 0.93 |
| Florida | $72,790 | $45,800 | $113,940 | 18,500 | 1.21 |
| Georgia | $65,280 | $39,990 | $97,860 | 9,230 | 1.23 |
| Guam | $44,770 | $33,990 | $78,810 | 100 | 0.95 |
| Hawaii | $87,800 | $47,390 | $127,740 | 1,230 | 1.27 |
| Idaho | $70,140 | $43,110 | $105,160 | 670 | 0.51 |
| Illinois | $63,930 | $36,390 | $101,960 | 11,270 | 1.2 |
| Indiana | $71,430 | $43,580 | $100,480 | 4,990 | 1.02 |
| Iowa | $66,700 | $45,610 | $100,170 | 1,760 | 0.73 |
| Kansas | $70,320 | $46,190 | $103,340 | 1,540 | 0.7 |
| Kentucky | $70,410 | $41,070 | $102,780 | 1,680 | 0.55 |
| Louisiana | $61,400 | $40,140 | $103,660 | 1,950 | 0.66 |
| Maine | $70,510 | $46,290 | $89,470 | 1,210 | 1.23 |
| Maryland | $72,850 | $52,240 | $113,560 | ||
| Massachusetts | $92,240 | $58,290 | $129,990 | 4,310 | 0.77 |
| Michigan | $60,790 | $41,600 | $93,180 | 9,240 | 1.37 |
| Minnesota | $79,820 | $58,000 | $105,340 | 730 | 0.16 |
| Mississippi | $59,540 | $36,400 | $89,700 | 1,920 | 1.08 |
| Missouri | $65,520 | $51,680 | $98,400 | 1,600 | 0.36 |
| Montana | $72,140 | $50,730 | $105,000 | 950 | 1.21 |
| Nebraska | $60,450 | $46,690 | $92,450 | 2,050 | 1.3 |
| Nevada | $65,320 | $47,750 | $127,320 | 4,310 | 1.81 |
| New Hampshire | $77,360 | $60,850 | $107,660 | 590 | 0.56 |
| New Jersey | $78,020 | $55,240 | $122,510 | 6,360 | 0.97 |
| New Mexico | $65,210 | $48,730 | $108,300 | 1,410 | 1.06 |
| New York | $84,200 | $62,420 | $143,180 | 8,000 | 0.54 |
| North Carolina | $74,080 | $51,780 | $104,060 | 9,420 | 1.24 |
| North Dakota | $72,210 | $37,050 | $101,660 | 950 | 1.45 |
| Ohio | $62,980 | $43,680 | $95,670 | 8,570 | 1.01 |
| Oklahoma | $63,840 | $43,680 | $112,720 | 2,020 | 0.77 |
| Oregon | $62,110 | $48,050 | $101,180 | 4,420 | 1.46 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,750 | $43,900 | $94,660 | 10,530 | 1.13 |
| Puerto Rico | $42,230 | $36,890 | $81,100 | 830 | 0.58 |
| Rhode Island | $82,850 | $61,690 | $118,150 | 760 | 0.99 |
| South Carolina | $66,190 | $47,130 | $103,680 | 5,080 | 1.44 |
| South Dakota | $60,640 | $50,880 | $79,010 | 1,270 | 1.82 |
| Tennessee | $64,410 | $43,080 | $101,150 | 4,550 | 0.91 |
| Texas | $60,770 | $43,310 | $98,570 | 25,990 | 1.2 |
| Utah | $69,480 | $46,800 | $99,860 | 2,400 | 0.9 |
| Vermont | $77,910 | $43,100 | $134,010 | 500 | 1.08 |
| Virgin Islands | $80,570 | $64,820 | $93,620 | 140 | 2.83 |
| Virginia | $71,230 | $50,970 | $103,470 | 3,820 | 0.61 |
| Washington | $95,190 | $68,240 | $138,210 | 1,180 | 0.22 |
| West Virginia | $54,800 | $36,770 | $75,090 | 1,230 | 1.14 |
| Wisconsin | $61,810 | $40,900 | $99,850 | 6,000 | 1.33 |
| Wyoming | $62,610 | $42,090 | $95,990 | 590 | 1.37 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for food service managers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 38,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 30.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for food service managers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager CIP 12.0504
- Culinary Science/Culinology CIP 12.0509
- Wine Steward/Sommelier CIP 12.0510
- Foodservice Systems Administration/Management CIP 19.0505
- Hospitality Administration/Management, General CIP 52.0901
- Hotel/Motel Administration/Management CIP 52.0904
- Restaurant/Food Services Management CIP 52.0905
- Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management CIP 52.0909
- Brewery/Brewpub Operations/Management CIP 52.0910
- Hospitality Administration/Management, Other CIP 52.0999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Count money and make bank deposits.
- Establish standards for personnel performance and customer service.
- Keep records required by government agencies regarding sanitation or food subsidies.
- Schedule staff hours and assign duties.
- Investigate and resolve complaints regarding food quality, service, or accommodations.
- Maintain food and equipment inventories, and keep inventory records.
- Perform some food preparation or service tasks, such as cooking, clearing tables, and serving food and drinks when necessary.
- Monitor budgets and payroll records, and review financial transactions to ensure that expenditures are authorized and budgeted.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Aestiva Employee Time Clock
- Apache Groovy
- Army Food Management Information System
- Aurora FoodPro
- ChefDesk Chef's Calculators
- ClubSoft Food & Beverage Point of Sale
- Culinary Software Services ChefTec
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Management of Personnel Resources, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Negotiation.
Common job titles: Banquet Manager, Catering Manager, CDM (Certified Dietary Manager), Dining Service Director, F and B Manager (Food and Beverage Manager), Food Service Director, Food Service Manager, Food Service Supervisor, Kitchen Manager, Restaurant Manager.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do food service managers make?
The national median annual wage for food service managers was $69,390 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $45,960 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $107,640. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do food service managers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is food service managers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of food service managers to change +5.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 38,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay food service managers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($95,190), Massachusetts ($92,240), Hawaii ($87,800). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.