Food service managers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Food Service Managers: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
Food service managers held about 371,000 jobs in 2004. Most managers were salaried, but more than 40 per cent were self-employed in independent restaurants or other small food service establishments. About 70 percent of all salaried jobs for food service managers were in full-service restaurants or limited-service eating places, such as fast-food restaurants and cafeterias. Other salaried jobs were in drinking places (alcoholic beverages) and in special food services—an industry that includes food service contractors who supply food services at institutional, governmental, commercial, or industrial locations. A small number of salaried jobs were in traveler accommodation (hotels); educational services; amusement, gambling, and recreation industries; nursing care facilities; and hospitals. Jobs are located throughout the country, with large cities and tourist areas providing more opportunities for full-service dining positions.
Median annual earnings of salaried food service managers were $39,610 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,010 and $51,460. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,500, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $68,860. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of food service managers in May 2004 were as follows:
| Traveler accommodation | $43,660 |
| Special food services | 43,530 |
| Full-service restaurants | 41,490 |
| Limited-service eating places | 36,400 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | 36,290 |
In addition to receiving typical benefits, most salaried food service managers are provided free meals and the opportunity for additional training, depending on their length of service. Some food service managers, especially those in full-service restaurants, may earn bonuses depending on sales volume or revenue.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Food Service Managers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Food service managers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Manufacturing employment: 160 mean earnings: $58,390 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,320 | $38,390 | $51,960 | $69,190 | $92,330 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 110 mean earnings: $58,640 | $28,800 | $38,370 | $52,860 | $70,350 | $92,080 |
| Retail Trade employment: 3,810 mean earnings: $40,170 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,580 | $29,840 | $38,390 | $46,090 | $57,580 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 2,790 mean earnings: $39,510 | $23,170 | $29,410 | $38,210 | $45,120 | $56,270 |
| Gasoline Stations employment: 460 mean earnings: $36,060 | $22,240 | $27,110 | $33,390 | $42,540 | $53,840 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 40 mean earnings: $33,750 | $23,410 | $24,860 | $27,270 | $32,030 | $54,520 |
| General Merchandise Stores employment: 220 mean earnings: $48,060 | $34,040 | $38,250 | $43,460 | $53,330 | $67,480 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 210 mean earnings: $47,880 | $29,830 | $36,880 | $47,490 | $57,730 | $68,860 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 110 mean earnings: $53,840 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,030 | $34,120 | $43,860 | $69,210 | $91,660 |
| Air Transportation employment: 30 mean earnings: $78,540 | $55,970 | $62,790 | $71,590 | $91,410 | $116,830 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation employment: 60 mean earnings: $38,770 | $29,180 | $31,810 | $36,110 | $43,010 | $55,360 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 40 mean earnings: $55,390 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,050 | $41,530 | $50,850 | $65,190 | $87,690 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 30 mean earnings: $54,490 | $37,460 | $41,290 | $49,780 | $60,320 | $86,190 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 300 mean earnings: $56,490 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,270 | $38,360 | $48,750 | $65,270 | $85,220 |
| Real Estate employment: 200 mean earnings: $56,780 | $31,400 | $38,780 | $48,770 | $63,160 | $83,900 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 100 mean earnings: $56,230 | $27,590 | $37,560 | $49,190 | $73,150 | $86,580 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 390 mean earnings: $47,830 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,110 | $38,360 | $45,030 | $54,060 | $72,990 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 390 mean earnings: $47,830 | $30,110 | $38,360 | $45,030 | $54,060 | $72,990 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 4,390 mean earnings: $57,680 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,130 | $39,690 | $47,620 | $67,000 | $89,490 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 4,390 mean earnings: $57,680 | $33,130 | $39,690 | $47,620 | $67,000 | $89,490 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 1,890 mean earnings: $52,930 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,360 | $37,530 | $46,890 | $61,360 | $81,430 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 1,890 mean earnings: $52,930 | $29,360 | $37,530 | $46,890 | $61,360 | $81,430 |
| Educational Services employment: 8,740 mean earnings: $42,690 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,730 | $27,480 | $38,980 | $54,110 | $71,060 |
| Educational Services employment: 8,740 mean earnings: $42,690 | $20,730 | $27,480 | $38,980 | $54,110 | $71,060 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 8,350 mean earnings: $45,040 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,610 | $32,590 | $42,000 | $54,450 | $69,690 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 30 mean earnings: $54,850 | $31,230 | $36,130 | $50,110 | $74,520 | $87,480 |
| Hospitals employment: 1,480 mean earnings: $58,100 | $34,630 | $43,620 | $55,630 | $70,160 | $87,260 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 5,730 mean earnings: $42,680 | $25,620 | $31,970 | $40,420 | $51,190 | $63,020 |
| Social Assistance employment: 1,110 mean earnings: $39,510 | $21,110 | $26,770 | $36,580 | $47,140 | $60,560 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 5,140 mean earnings: $50,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $28,540 | $35,380 | $45,550 | $59,490 | $78,710 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 400 mean earnings: $50,120 | $28,220 | $34,970 | $45,400 | $58,000 | $78,550 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 4,720 mean earnings: $50,240 | $28,550 | $35,400 | $45,560 | $59,600 | $78,640 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 155,930 mean earnings: $44,370 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,230 | $32,660 | $41,020 | $52,000 | $66,270 |
| Accommodation employment: 8,780 mean earnings: $50,960 | $29,630 | $36,450 | $46,510 | $61,040 | $78,820 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 147,150 mean earnings: $43,980 | $26,080 | $32,490 | $40,760 | $51,470 | $65,190 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 560 mean earnings: $53,810 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,320 | $35,330 | $45,840 | $65,370 | $87,760 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 530 mean earnings: $54,540 | $29,570 | $35,810 | $46,500 | $66,540 | $88,780 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 1,550 mean earnings: $52,030 (def) (IG) | $29,740 | $35,650 | $49,150 | $66,200 | $81,050 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 1,550 mean earnings: $52,030 | $29,740 | $35,650 | $49,150 | $66,200 | $81,050 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.