Food Service Manager salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Food Service Managers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $77,470 a year ($37.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,500 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $69,390. Pay here is 1% lower than the California statewide median of $78,260. There are 2.5 food service managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $78,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food service managers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| 25th percentile | $60,270 | $28.98 |
| Median | $77,470 | $37.25 |
| 75th percentile | $86,170 | $41.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,500 | $53.13 |
| Average (mean) | $78,840 | $37.90 |
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 | $6,455.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,227.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,979.62 |
| Weekly | $1,489.81 |
| Hourly | $37.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $77,470 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 other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Food Service Manager pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $138,640 | $66.66 |
| Managers, All Other | $170,650 | $82.04 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $81,130 | $39.00 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $157,630 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $71,070 | $34.17 |
| Construction Manager | $128,730 | $61.89 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $206,880 | $99.46 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $109,890 | $52.83 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $202,380 | $97.30 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $77,610 | $37.31 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $172,410 | $82.89 |
| General and Operations Managers | $105,360 | $50.65 |
| Sales Manager | $117,090 | $56.30 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for food service managers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $77,470 a year, or $37.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food service managers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of food service managers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $110,500 a year. The top 25% earn $86,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for food service managers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,500 a year, and a quarter of food service managers earn $60,270 or less.
How many food service managers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 240 food service managers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.