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.
Food service managers (SOC 11-9051) employed 238,430 people in May 2025. The median pay is $69,390 a year ($33.36 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $45,960 and the highest-paid 10% more than $107,640. BLS projects its employment to change by +5.8% between 2025 and 2035 (about 38,800 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 ($95,190), Massachusetts ($92,240), Hawaii ($87,800). Most jobs: California (33,180), Texas (25,990), Florida (18,500).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,960 | $22.10 |
| 25th percentile | $56,870 | $27.34 |
| Median | $69,390 | $33.36 |
| Mean | $74,880 | $36.00 |
| 75th percentile | $86,800 | $41.73 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $107,640 | $51.75 |
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 | 344,300 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 364,200 |
| Change in jobs | 19,900 |
| Percent change | +5.8% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 38,800 |
| Self-employed share | 30.6% |
| Typical entry education | 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 |
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 | 4,330 | 1.33 | $63,010 | $45,770 | $97,450 | -9% | 21% |
| Alaska | 380 | 0.75 | $82,030 | $58,180 | $119,440 | +18% | 21% |
| Arizona | 3,400 | 0.68 | $70,180 | $52,060 | $105,520 | +1% | 29% |
| Arkansas | 2,720 | 1.36 | $55,120 | $37,690 | $79,300 | -21% | 21% |
| California | 33,180 | 1.19 | $78,260 | $47,690 | $127,340 | +13% | 32% |
| Colorado | 2,440 | 0.55 | $79,870 | $66,140 | $123,060 | +15% | 27% |
| Connecticut | 1,520 | 0.58 | $77,990 | $52,020 | $108,460 | +12% | 24% |
| Delaware | 770 | 1.03 | $74,430 | $57,820 | $107,200 | +7% | 25% |
| District of Columbia | 1,000 | 0.93 | $81,680 | $74,000 | $134,630 | +18% | 28% |
| Florida | 18,500 | 1.21 | $72,790 | $45,800 | $113,940 | +5% | 30% |
| Georgia | 9,230 | 1.23 | $65,280 | $39,990 | $97,860 | -6% | 28% |
| Hawaii | 1,230 | 1.27 | $87,800 | $47,390 | $127,740 | +27% | 27% |
| Idaho | 670 | 0.51 | $70,140 | $43,110 | $105,160 | +1% | 24% |
| Illinois | 11,270 | 1.20 | $63,930 | $36,390 | $101,960 | -8% | 25% |
| Indiana | 4,990 | 1.02 | $71,430 | $43,580 | $100,480 | +3% | 19% |
| Iowa | 1,760 | 0.73 | $66,700 | $45,610 | $100,170 | -4% | 18% |
| Kansas | 1,540 | 0.70 | $70,320 | $46,190 | $103,340 | +1% | 18% |
| Kentucky | 1,680 | 0.55 | $70,410 | $41,070 | $102,780 | +1% | 17% |
| Louisiana | 1,950 | 0.66 | $61,400 | $40,140 | $103,660 | -12% | 21% |
| Maine | 1,210 | 1.23 | $70,510 | $46,290 | $89,470 | +2% | 21% |
| Massachusetts | 4,310 | 0.77 | $92,240 | $58,290 | $129,990 | +33% | 24% |
| Michigan | 9,240 | 1.37 | $60,790 | $41,600 | $93,180 | -12% | 23% |
| Minnesota | 730 | 0.16 | $79,820 | $58,000 | $105,340 | +15% | 19% |
| Mississippi | 1,920 | 1.08 | $59,540 | $36,400 | $89,700 | -14% | 20% |
| Missouri | 1,600 | 0.36 | $65,520 | $51,680 | $98,400 | -6% | 20% |
| Montana | 950 | 1.21 | $72,140 | $50,730 | $105,000 | +4% | 20% |
| Nebraska | 2,050 | 1.30 | $60,450 | $46,690 | $92,450 | -13% | 22% |
| Nevada | 4,310 | 1.81 | $65,320 | $47,750 | $127,320 | -6% | 31% |
| New Hampshire | 590 | 0.56 | $77,360 | $60,850 | $107,660 | +11% | 24% |
| New Jersey | 6,360 | 0.97 | $78,020 | $55,240 | $122,510 | +12% | 28% |
| New Mexico | 1,410 | 1.06 | $65,210 | $48,730 | $108,300 | -6% | 21% |
| New York | 8,000 | 0.54 | $84,200 | $62,420 | $143,180 | +21% | 23% |
| North Carolina | 9,420 | 1.24 | $74,080 | $51,780 | $104,060 | +7% | 22% |
| North Dakota | 950 | 1.45 | $72,210 | $37,050 | $101,660 | +4% | 16% |
| Ohio | 8,570 | 1.01 | $62,980 | $43,680 | $95,670 | -9% | 21% |
| Oklahoma | 2,020 | 0.77 | $63,840 | $43,680 | $112,720 | -8% | 20% |
| Oregon | 4,420 | 1.46 | $62,110 | $48,050 | $101,180 | -10% | 31% |
| Pennsylvania | 10,530 | 1.13 | $64,750 | $43,900 | $94,660 | -7% | 23% |
| Rhode Island | 760 | 0.99 | $82,850 | $61,690 | $118,150 | +19% | 21% |
| South Carolina | 5,080 | 1.44 | $66,190 | $47,130 | $103,680 | -5% | 23% |
| South Dakota | 1,270 | 1.82 | $60,640 | $50,880 | $79,010 | -13% | 20% |
| Tennessee | 4,550 | 0.91 | $64,410 | $43,080 | $101,150 | -7% | 24% |
| Texas | 25,990 | 1.20 | $60,770 | $43,310 | $98,570 | -12% | 29% |
| Utah | 2,400 | 0.90 | $69,480 | $46,800 | $99,860 | +0% | 28% |
| Vermont | 500 | 1.08 | $77,910 | $43,100 | $134,010 | +12% | 20% |
| Virginia | 3,820 | 0.61 | $71,230 | $50,970 | $103,470 | +3% | 28% |
| Washington | 1,180 | 0.22 | $95,190 | $68,240 | $138,210 | +37% | 23% |
| West Virginia | 1,230 | 1.14 | $54,800 | $36,770 | $75,090 | -21% | 19% |
| Wisconsin | 6,000 | 1.33 | $61,810 | $40,900 | $99,850 | -11% | 22% |
| Wyoming | 590 | 1.37 | $62,610 | $42,090 | $95,990 | -10% | 19% |
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 | 760 | $98,800 | $74,550 | $138,780 | 0.24 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,280 | $92,650 | $61,870 | $132,730 | 0.79 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 1,020 | $92,420 | $51,560 | $95,340 | 0.81 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,360 | $89,900 | $59,810 | $153,870 | 0.78 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 4,880 | $88,290 | $51,930 | $152,300 | 1.34 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 680 | $85,390 | $42,560 | $123,440 | 0.99 |
| Worcester, MA | 340 | $83,570 | $49,140 | $119,840 | 0.63 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 10,000 | $82,970 | $61,210 | $140,410 | 0.69 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,080 | $82,760 | $59,920 | $118,150 | 0.98 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 510 | $81,300 | $54,120 | $148,530 | 1.91 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 4,350 | $81,170 | $50,070 | $133,880 | 1.01 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 2,670 | $80,180 | $45,700 | $101,050 | 1.20 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 670 | $80,080 | $51,820 | $143,400 | 2.59 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,130 | $80,010 | $45,760 | $122,040 | 1.75 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 660 | $79,820 | $57,310 | $104,950 | 0.22 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 330 | $79,750 | $47,760 | $133,860 | 1.05 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,320 | $79,490 | $68,020 | $113,270 | 0.53 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,300 | $79,290 | $57,990 | $129,570 | 0.69 |
| Salinas, CA | 310 | $79,170 | $46,210 | $130,160 | 1.09 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 420 | $79,070 | $52,000 | $120,590 | 0.45 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 360 | $79,020 | $60,370 | $103,680 | 0.59 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 450 | $78,570 | $47,630 | $129,840 | 1.46 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 310 | $78,390 | $46,390 | $121,710 | 1.68 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 11,330 | $77,850 | $46,830 | $125,290 | 1.18 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 330 | $77,320 | $58,440 | $113,350 | 0.48 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,640 | $76,160 | $41,010 | $103,570 | 1.44 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,540 | $76,160 | $49,500 | $115,140 | 0.93 |
| Rochester, NY | 340 | $76,100 | $55,420 | $123,840 | 0.44 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 510 | $75,800 | $51,840 | $105,170 | 0.97 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 2,380 | $75,730 | $41,640 | $100,480 | 1.40 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 960 | $75,700 | $49,840 | $115,650 | 1.58 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 590 | $75,610 | $46,180 | $143,710 | 1.18 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2,760 | $75,460 | $56,900 | $112,090 | 1.32 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 410 | $75,440 | $60,390 | $111,780 | 0.51 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 900 | $75,350 | $47,710 | $100,970 | 0.54 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,740 | $75,070 | $55,390 | $101,490 | 1.07 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 310 | $75,040 | $46,620 | $121,570 | 1.62 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 320 | $74,870 | $53,660 | $124,480 | 2.58 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 620 | $74,260 | $47,740 | $114,990 | 1.19 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 600 | $73,780 | $57,870 | $106,930 | 1.07 |
| Richmond, VA | 510 | $73,570 | $58,120 | $108,500 | 0.50 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 530 | $73,560 | $46,880 | $107,550 | 1.14 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 590 | $73,260 | $49,130 | $103,680 | 2.62 |
| Asheville, NC | 400 | $73,090 | $45,760 | $101,420 | 1.45 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 670 | $72,630 | $46,290 | $93,600 | 1.52 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 710 | $72,500 | $43,760 | $100,010 | 0.68 |
| Modesto, CA | 350 | $72,360 | $46,000 | $116,410 | 1.16 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,770 | $72,340 | $43,270 | $113,940 | 1.51 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 580 | $71,810 | $42,420 | $127,390 | 0.84 |
| Wilmington, NC | 450 | $71,710 | $49,800 | $97,730 | 1.52 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 470 | $71,500 | $49,340 | $97,010 | 1.13 |
| Boise City, ID | 300 | $71,410 | $45,990 | $103,790 | 0.50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,750 | $71,030 | $50,470 | $124,390 | 1.42 |
| Fresno, CA | 610 | $70,860 | $45,010 | $110,900 | 0.84 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 390 | $70,610 | $44,000 | $107,620 | 0.75 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,560 | $70,180 | $50,490 | $106,310 | 0.70 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,680 | $69,860 | $39,880 | $101,560 | 0.99 |
| Tulsa, OK | 490 | $68,670 | $38,420 | $109,900 | 0.70 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 350 | $68,150 | $48,350 | $99,920 | 1.03 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 590 | $68,140 | $44,980 | $103,920 | 1.76 |
The median is $69,390 a year ($33.36 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $45,960 and the highest-paid tenth over $107,640 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
238,430 in May 2025, and BLS projects +5.8% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Washington, with a median of $95,190 (among states with published figures).