Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers (SOC 35-1012) employed 1,223,240 people in May 2025. The median pay is $44,080 a year ($21.19 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $29,940 and the highest-paid 10% more than $65,570. BLS projects its employment to change by +5.4% between 2025 and 2035 (about 171,500 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years experience in a related occupation.
Highest median pay: Washington ($59,400), District of Columbia ($57,170), Connecticut ($52,940). Most jobs: Texas (137,930), California (130,190), Florida (91,500).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,940 | $14.39 |
| 25th percentile | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Median | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| Mean | $46,180 | $22.20 |
| 75th percentile | $54,570 | $26.24 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $65,570 | $31.52 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 1,236,400 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 1,303,500 |
| Change in jobs | 67,100 |
| Percent change | +5.4% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 171,500 |
| Self-employed share | 0.8% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | Less than 5 years |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 19,180 | 1.15 | $37,110 | $28,600 | $59,500 | -16% | 35% |
| Alaska | 2,390 | 0.93 | $46,570 | $35,840 | $66,210 | +6% | 37% |
| Arizona | 21,450 | 0.84 | $40,550 | $35,440 | $63,750 | -8% | 49% |
| Arkansas | 11,200 | 1.09 | $33,800 | $27,820 | $50,580 | -23% | 35% |
| California | 130,190 | 0.91 | $46,980 | $38,630 | $75,180 | +7% | 54% |
| Colorado | 25,510 | 1.13 | $50,550 | $37,620 | $75,210 | +15% | 43% |
| Connecticut | 10,770 | 0.81 | $52,940 | $37,130 | $77,480 | +20% | 35% |
| Delaware | 4,030 | 1.06 | $48,120 | $37,610 | $73,060 | +9% | 38% |
| District of Columbia | 2,830 | 0.51 | $57,170 | $40,360 | $77,630 | +30% | 41% |
| Florida | 91,500 | 1.17 | $44,470 | $30,490 | $65,120 | +1% | 49% |
| Georgia | 48,420 | 1.26 | $38,600 | $28,400 | $62,420 | -12% | 47% |
| Hawaii | 7,330 | 1.49 | $48,880 | $37,530 | $78,730 | +11% | 48% |
| Idaho | 7,440 | 1.10 | $38,190 | $27,790 | $60,900 | -13% | 43% |
| Illinois | 41,030 | 0.86 | $39,470 | $32,010 | $65,000 | -10% | 40% |
| Indiana | 23,500 | 0.93 | $44,880 | $31,010 | $63,340 | +2% | 30% |
| Iowa | 11,400 | 0.93 | $38,760 | $29,010 | $60,040 | -12% | 30% |
| Kansas | 10,520 | 0.93 | $38,220 | $28,680 | $60,050 | -13% | 34% |
| Kentucky | 18,010 | 1.14 | $35,810 | $28,190 | $58,980 | -19% | 33% |
| Louisiana | 16,680 | 1.10 | $35,800 | $26,230 | $60,340 | -19% | 36% |
| Maine | 3,740 | 0.74 | $47,990 | $36,730 | $64,990 | +9% | 30% |
| Maryland | 20,150 | 0.93 | $42,450 | $35,140 | $63,470 | -4% | 49% |
| Massachusetts | 23,220 | 0.81 | $46,600 | $37,380 | $76,630 | +6% | 48% |
| Michigan | 32,890 | 0.95 | $37,940 | $29,500 | $59,750 | -14% | 37% |
| Minnesota | 20,760 | 0.89 | $45,270 | $35,910 | $65,650 | +3% | 34% |
| Mississippi | 10,480 | 1.15 | $36,530 | $26,310 | $58,450 | -17% | 33% |
| Missouri | 21,650 | 0.94 | $37,400 | $31,010 | $60,980 | -15% | 34% |
| Montana | 4,650 | 1.15 | $44,010 | $30,780 | $64,320 | -0% | 32% |
| Nebraska | 7,840 | 0.97 | $39,230 | $31,840 | $55,610 | -11% | 34% |
| Nevada | 14,230 | 1.17 | $44,030 | $30,490 | $63,520 | -0% | 47% |
| New Hampshire | 3,840 | 0.71 | $49,710 | $34,900 | $75,100 | +13% | 38% |
| New Jersey | 27,750 | 0.82 | $48,420 | $35,960 | $77,810 | +10% | 45% |
| New Mexico | 6,540 | 0.95 | $39,310 | $30,740 | $60,630 | -11% | 34% |
| New York | 65,580 | 0.86 | $47,190 | $36,570 | $73,020 | +7% | 42% |
| North Carolina | 39,750 | 1.02 | $45,010 | $29,750 | $64,670 | +2% | 36% |
| North Dakota | 2,780 | 0.82 | $44,720 | $35,250 | $60,720 | +1% | 26% |
| Ohio | 51,990 | 1.19 | $37,340 | $29,750 | $58,660 | -15% | 35% |
| Oklahoma | 18,900 | 1.41 | $35,420 | $27,000 | $56,670 | -20% | 35% |
| Oregon | 16,880 | 1.09 | $46,950 | $36,030 | $71,010 | +7% | 41% |
| Pennsylvania | 35,560 | 0.75 | $43,050 | $29,530 | $61,780 | -2% | 35% |
| Rhode Island | 3,320 | 0.84 | $48,400 | $36,350 | $75,500 | +10% | 35% |
| South Carolina | 20,120 | 1.11 | $38,520 | $28,120 | $63,080 | -13% | 40% |
| South Dakota | 2,920 | 0.81 | $40,640 | $34,350 | $50,670 | -8% | 29% |
| Tennessee | 29,100 | 1.13 | $40,500 | $29,500 | $63,140 | -8% | 38% |
| Texas | 137,930 | 1.25 | $36,480 | $28,010 | $61,560 | -17% | 49% |
| Utah | 13,670 | 1.00 | $38,750 | $30,750 | $63,210 | -12% | 49% |
| Vermont | 1,970 | 0.82 | $49,820 | $37,700 | $66,300 | +13% | 32% |
| Virginia | 30,640 | 0.95 | $45,550 | $32,030 | $63,250 | +3% | 43% |
| Washington | 20,700 | 0.74 | $59,400 | $44,110 | $81,820 | +35% | 37% |
| West Virginia | 6,390 | 1.16 | $33,070 | $27,160 | $49,390 | -25% | 32% |
| Wisconsin | 21,240 | 0.92 | $39,670 | $30,310 | $60,650 | -10% | 35% |
| Wyoming | 2,680 | 1.21 | $36,820 | $28,780 | $64,300 | -16% | 33% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 12,090 | $61,610 | $46,340 | $82,990 | 0.74 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 610 | $58,740 | $44,600 | $79,990 | 0.83 |
| Bellingham, WA | 600 | $58,520 | $44,040 | $78,480 | 0.84 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 2,720 | $58,260 | $38,900 | $81,080 | 0.86 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 340 | $57,870 | $44,100 | $77,460 | 0.83 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 970 | $56,600 | $39,650 | $86,490 | 1.68 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 710 | $56,260 | $43,360 | $78,920 | 0.70 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 300 | $55,690 | $44,720 | $80,430 | 0.73 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 6,390 | $55,520 | $41,530 | $82,700 | 0.72 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 690 | $54,200 | $39,650 | $77,900 | 0.68 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,780 | $53,200 | $37,380 | $79,850 | 0.80 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 3,600 | $52,540 | $36,970 | $75,350 | 0.76 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 13,570 | $52,520 | $38,820 | $76,500 | 1.07 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1,470 | $52,380 | $44,430 | $77,270 | 0.91 |
| Boulder, CO | 1,520 | $52,020 | $39,130 | $78,580 | 1.01 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 1,500 | $51,770 | $40,310 | $75,530 | 0.74 |
| Yakima, WA | 570 | $51,670 | $39,520 | $76,690 | 0.75 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 1,100 | $51,600 | $37,010 | $77,440 | 1.10 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 14,790 | $51,520 | $44,660 | $83,990 | 0.79 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 700 | $51,440 | $38,670 | $70,350 | 0.74 |
| Napa, CA | 700 | $51,320 | $38,010 | $79,270 | 1.15 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 1,020 | $51,220 | $36,630 | $76,280 | 0.81 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 980 | $50,860 | $38,990 | $78,670 | 1.33 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,770 | $49,880 | $38,030 | $68,970 | 0.78 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 990 | $49,260 | $31,550 | $74,130 | 0.63 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 1,830 | $49,250 | $35,340 | $78,060 | 1.34 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 9,900 | $48,900 | $36,680 | $75,350 | 1.04 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 61,060 | $48,690 | $37,220 | $78,260 | 0.82 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 2,080 | $48,360 | $34,210 | $70,850 | 1.57 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 1,230 | $48,320 | $40,390 | $74,130 | 1.28 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 5,060 | $48,310 | $37,530 | $78,300 | 1.44 |
| Bozeman, MT | 790 | $48,290 | $35,550 | $74,990 | 1.39 |
| Salinas, CA | 1,450 | $48,220 | $40,020 | $76,360 | 0.99 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 960 | $48,220 | $40,810 | $75,680 | 1.24 |
| Vallejo, CA | 1,340 | $48,170 | $40,680 | $73,690 | 1.19 |
| Bend, OR | 1,040 | $48,050 | $36,030 | $72,870 | 1.22 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 420 | $47,710 | $36,440 | $74,990 | 0.93 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 19,650 | $47,580 | $36,660 | $74,610 | 0.80 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 1,670 | $47,340 | $31,080 | $70,950 | 1.70 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 1,810 | $47,320 | $40,660 | $75,130 | 1.14 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 600 | $47,290 | $35,360 | $67,920 | 1.24 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 10,500 | $47,280 | $34,820 | $74,870 | 0.98 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 1,630 | $47,150 | $36,390 | $72,930 | 1.22 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 16,410 | $47,090 | $38,900 | $77,390 | 0.77 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 12,920 | $46,980 | $37,910 | $72,700 | 1.07 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 41,640 | $46,970 | $39,340 | $75,180 | 0.84 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 1,340 | $46,850 | $35,100 | $74,040 | 0.71 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 7,390 | $46,840 | $38,230 | $74,710 | 0.87 |
| Ithaca, NY | 350 | $46,780 | $36,620 | $71,390 | 0.94 |
| Dover, DE | 580 | $46,720 | $36,940 | $61,350 | 1.08 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 5,340 | $46,640 | $36,170 | $75,030 | 0.95 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 16,380 | $46,580 | $34,010 | $69,020 | 0.72 |
| Kokomo, IN | 320 | $46,550 | $31,740 | $67,550 | 1.15 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 630 | $46,520 | $37,270 | $76,680 | 1.22 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 3,140 | $46,280 | $31,040 | $72,900 | 1.17 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 490 | $46,270 | $39,680 | $71,560 | 1.26 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,670 | $46,190 | $39,260 | $68,970 | 1.09 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 2,300 | $46,150 | $30,230 | $65,370 | 0.85 |
| Bangor, ME | 490 | $46,130 | $36,350 | $60,620 | 0.87 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 13,300 | $46,110 | $37,590 | $70,730 | 0.87 |
The median is $44,080 a year ($21.19 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $29,940 and the highest-paid tenth over $65,570 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
1,223,240 in May 2025, and BLS projects +5.4% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Washington, with a median of $59,400 (among states with published figures).