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Food service manager: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$69,390median pay per year, or $33.36 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $45,960lowest 10% earn less
  2. $56,87025th percentile
  3. $69,390median
  4. $86,80075th percentile
  5. $107,640top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Food service managers earned a median of $69,390 a year, above the median for all US occupations[1][2]. The way in usually runs through food service jobs, and BLS projects jobs to grow 5.8% by 2035[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.8%[3]
Openings per year
38,800[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do food service managers make?

The median pay was $69,390 a year, or $33.36 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of the workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The median for all US occupations was $50,980[2]. The mean (average) was $74,880 a year, or $36.00 an hour[8].

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th[5][9] $45,960 $22.09
25th[5][9] $56,870 $27.34
50th (median)[1] $69,390 $33.36
75th[5][9] $86,800 $41.73
90th[5][9] $107,640 $51.75

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,960 a year, and the top 10% earned more than $107,640[5]. A percentile is a boundary line. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

About 238,430 people held these wage and salary jobs[11]. The figures leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or what employers pay for benefits such as health insurance[12]. Self-employment is common in this field: 30.6% of food service managers were self-employed in 2025[13].

Pay by state and city

BLS published medians for 50 states and the District of Columbia[14]. Washington was listed first at $95,190, followed by Massachusetts ($92,240), Hawaii ($87,800), New York ($84,200) and Rhode Island ($82,850)[14]. At the bottom of the list were Arkansas ($55,120) and West Virginia ($54,800)[14].

The most jobs were in California (33,180), Texas (25,990), Florida (18,500), Illinois (11,270) and Pennsylvania (10,530)[15].

Among metro areas with at least 100 of these jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median, $98,800[16]. Kahului-Wailuku, HI ($93,550) and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ($92,650) came next[16]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the most jobs, 11,330, ahead of New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ with 10,000 and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN with 8,530[17].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[14]$95,1901,180
Massachusetts$92,2404,310
Hawaii$87,8001,230
New York$84,2008,000
Rhode Island$82,850760
Alaska$82,030380
District of Columbia$81,6801,000
Colorado$79,8702,440
Minnesota$79,820730
California$78,26033,180
New Jersey$78,0206,360
Connecticut$77,9901,520
Vermont$77,910500
New Hampshire$77,360590
Delaware$74,430770
North Carolina$74,0809,420
Maryland$72,850n/a
Florida$72,79018,500
North Dakota$72,210950
Montana$72,140950
Indiana$71,4304,990
Virginia$71,2303,820
Maine$70,5101,210
Kentucky$70,4101,680
Kansas$70,3201,540
Arizona$70,1803,400
Idaho$70,140670
Utah$69,4802,400
Iowa$66,7001,760
South Carolina$66,1905,080
Missouri$65,5201,600
Nevada$65,3204,310
Georgia$65,2809,230
New Mexico$65,2101,410
Pennsylvania$64,75010,530
Tennessee$64,4104,550
Illinois$63,93011,270
Oklahoma$63,8402,020
Alabama$63,0104,330
Ohio$62,9808,570
Wyoming$62,610590
Oregon$62,1104,420
Wisconsin$61,8106,000
Louisiana$61,4001,950
Michigan$60,7909,240
Texas$60,77025,990
South Dakota$60,6401,270
Nebraska$60,4502,050
Mississippi$59,5401,920
Arkansas$55,1202,720
West Virginia$54,8001,230

How to become a food service manager

BLS lists the typical path like this[7]:

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook adds detail. Managers usually start as cooks, servers or supervisors of food preparation and serving workers, and they often spend years in the industry before being promoted[4][18]. Education requirements for individual positions vary from no formal credential to a college degree[19].

Some employers prefer candidates with education beyond high school, especially at upscale restaurants and hotels[20]. Some food service companies, hotels and restaurant chains hire management trainees out of college programs in hospitality or food service management[20]. Colleges offer four-year degrees in restaurant and hospitality management or in running institutional food service, and community colleges and technical institutes offer associate's degree programs[21]. Business is another degree field that may help[21]. These programs often cover nutrition, sanitation and food preparation, along with accounting, business law and management[22].

New managers usually get on-the-job training of at least 1 month[23]. It can cover food preparation, sanitation, security, company policies, managing staff and recordkeeping[23].

Some states and localities require food safety certification, so check with your state or local health department[24]. Even where it is not required, a manager can earn the Food Protection Manager Certification by passing a food safety exam[25].

In an O*NET survey of 36 workers, 30% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 21% said a post-secondary certificate, 19% an associate's degree, 16% less than a high school diploma and 10% a bachelor's degree[26]. With so few respondents, treat these shares as a rough picture only.

What food service managers do

O*NET describes the job as planning, directing or coordinating the work of an organization or department that serves food and drinks[27]. Common tasks include:

Job titles workers report include banquet manager, catering manager, food service director and food and beverage manager[29]. Important qualities include business skills, clear communication and courtesy toward customers[30][31][32].

Where they work

Food services and drinking places employed 55% of food service managers in 2025, the largest share of any employer type[33]. A full-service restaurant may have a management team with a general manager, assistant managers and an executive chef[34].

BLS describes the work as often hectic, and dealing with unhappy customers can be stressful[35]. Injury and illness rates for these managers are among the highest of all occupations[36]. Kitchens are crowded and have hazards such as hot ovens and slippery floors, and slips, falls and cuts are common[36].

Full-time hours are typical, and some managers work over 40 hours in a week[37]. Hours vary. They can include early mornings, nights, weekends or holidays, and managers may be called in on short notice[37]. Managers of cafeterias or other food facilities at a school, factory or office building may have more regular business hours[38].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 344,300 jobs to 364,200, a gain of 19,900[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[39]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].

BLS expects about 38,800 openings a year on average[6]. These include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.1% of workers leave the labor force and 7.3% move to a different occupation[40].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is well above the all-occupation median, and the formal education requirement is a high school diploma[1][2][7]. The trade-off is time and conditions. Managers usually build experience in food service jobs first, the work can be hectic, and schedules can include nights, weekends and holidays[4][35][37]. Job growth is projected to be faster than average, with many openings each year[3][39][6]. Pay differs by state, so local figures are worth checking[14].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[41].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a food service manager make an hour?
The median was $33.36 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $22.09, and the top 10% earned more than $51.75[9].
What degree do you need to be a food service manager?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with work experience in a related job[7]. Some employers prefer postsecondary education, especially at upscale restaurants and hotels[20].
How long does it take to become a food service manager?
Managers often spend several years working in food service jobs before promotion[4][18]. New managers usually receive on-the-job training of at least 1 month[23].
Is food service management in demand?
BLS projects 5.8% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 38,800 openings a year[3][39][6].
What is the highest paying state for food service managers?
Washington had the highest median, $95,190, followed by Massachusetts at $92,240[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Food Service Managers in the US was $69,390 per year and $33.36 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Food Service Managers is projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 344,300 to 364,200 jobs (a change of +19,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Food Service Managers: 10th percentile $45,960, 25th percentile $56,870, 75th percentile $86,800, 90th percentile $107,640. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 38,800 openings for Food Service Managers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Food Service Managers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Food Service Managers was $74,880 per year and $36.00 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Food Service Managers: 10th percentile $22.09, 25th percentile $27.34, 75th percentile $41.73, 90th percentile $51.75. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 238,430 people were employed as Food Service Managers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 30.6% of Food Service Managers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for Food Service Managers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Food Service Managers jobs: California 33,180; Texas 25,990; Florida 18,500; Illinois 11,270; Pennsylvania 10,530. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Food Service Managers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $98,800; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $93,550; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $92,650; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $92,420; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $89,900; Napa, CA $89,870; Barnstable Town, MA $89,090; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $88,290. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Food Service Managers jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 11,330 (median $77,850); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 10,000 (median $82,970); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 8,530 (median $65,620); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 6,710 (median $61,760); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 5,590 (median $67,580); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 5,030 (median $62,200). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET 11-9051.00 survey of workers (36 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 30%, Post-Secondary Certificate 21%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 19%, Less than a High School Diploma 16%, Bachelor's Degree 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET description of Food Service Managers. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Food Service Managers. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET 11-9051.00 sample job titles reported by workers: 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. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of food service managers in 2025: Food services and drinking places 55%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  38. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  39. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  40. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Food Service Managers: 3.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  41. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.