Food Service Manager salary in California
Food Service Managers in California earn a median of $78,260 a year ($37.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 33,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,340 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $69,390. California ranks 10th of 51 states for food service managers pay. There are 1.8 food service managers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $84,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food service managers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,690 | $22.93 |
| 25th percentile | $60,040 | $28.87 |
| Median | $78,260 | $37.63 |
| 75th percentile | $100,190 | $48.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,340 | $61.22 |
| Average (mean) | $84,300 | $40.53 |
Half of food service managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,521.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,260.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,010 |
| Weekly | $1,505 |
| Hourly | $37.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $78,260 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Service Manager salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $89,900 | 1,360 |
| Napa, CA | $89,870 | 230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $88,290 | 4,880 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $80,010 | 4,130 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $79,750 | 330 |
| Salinas, CA | $79,170 | 310 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,570 | 450 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $78,390 | 310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,850 | 11,330 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $77,470 | 240 |
| El Centro, CA | $77,290 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,160 | 1,540 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $75,610 | 590 |
| Vallejo, CA | $74,820 | 260 |
| Modesto, CA | $72,360 | 350 |
| Chico, CA | $71,850 | 140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $71,030 | 3,750 |
| Yuba City, CA | $71,030 | 80 |
| Fresno, CA | $70,860 | 610 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $70,610 | 390 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $65,400 | 480 |
| Visalia, CA | $64,920 | 210 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $64,850 | 80 |
| Redding, CA | $62,070 | 100 |
| Merced, CA | $59,170 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for food service managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $95,190 |
| Massachusetts | $92,240 |
| Hawaii | $87,800 |
| New York | $84,200 |
| Rhode Island | $82,850 |
| Alaska | $82,030 |
| District of Columbia | $81,680 |
| Colorado | $79,870 |
| Minnesota | $79,820 |
| California | $78,260 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $174,560 | $83.92 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $141,480 | $68.02 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $77,030 | $37.04 |
| Construction Manager | $133,160 | $64.02 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $83,210 | $40.01 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $159,950 | — |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $210,280 | $101.10 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $210,230 | $101.07 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $125,460 | $60.32 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $99,650 | $47.91 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $67,100 | $32.26 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $79,550 | $38.25 |
| Lodging Manager | $76,950 | $37.00 |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $77,840 | $37.42 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-9051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food service manager make in California?
The median salary for food service managers in California is $78,260 a year, or $37.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food service managers make in California?
The top 10% of food service managers in California earn at least $127,340 a year. The top 25% earn $100,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for food service managers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,690 a year, and a quarter of food service managers earn $60,040 or less.
How many food service managers work in California?
About 33,180 food service managers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.