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Caterer salary
Average caterer salary
$13.89
Understanding Caterer Salaries
The salary of a caterer can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the type of events catered. The average salary of $28,891 reflects a range of roles and responsibilities within the field.
Experience Levels
Entry-level caterers may expect to earn around $24,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can see salaries approaching $35,000 or more. Specialized roles, such as event planners or culinary managers, can command even higher wages.
Geographic Differences
Location plays a crucial role in determining caterer salaries. For example, caterers in metropolitan areas often earn more than those in rural locations due to higher demand and cost of living. The highest paying states for caterers include California, New York, and Texas.
Job Opportunities
Catering offers a variety of job opportunities, from working for catering companies to freelance positions for private events. Networking and gaining certifications can enhance job prospects and salary potential.
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Where can a Caterer earn more?
Caterer salaries by experience level
Caterer salary estimates from across the web
Average caterer salary by state
The average caterer salary in New York, Washington, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average caterer salary states are Mississippi, New Mexico, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for caterers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $38,252 | $18.39 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $33,797 | $16.25 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $33,836 | $16.27 |
| 4 | Washington | $34,317 | $16.50 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $33,505 | $16.11 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $29,261 | $14.07 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $31,798 | $15.29 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $31,662 | $15.22 |
| 9 | Virginia | $32,014 | $15.39 |
| 10 | Michigan | $29,628 | $14.24 |
| 11 | Vermont | $30,671 | $14.75 |
| 12 | California | $33,548 | $16.13 |
| 13 | Colorado | $31,119 | $14.96 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $27,953 | $13.44 |
| 15 | Delaware | $30,644 | $14.73 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $29,759 | $14.31 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $28,012 | $13.47 |
| 18 | Maine | $29,658 | $14.26 |
| 19 | Montana | $28,958 | $13.92 |
| 20 | Oregon | $29,500 | $14.18 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $32,625 | $15.69 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $28,060 | $13.49 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $30,018 | $14.43 |
| 24 | Alaska | $29,649 | $14.25 |
| 25 | Indiana | $25,965 | $12.48 |
| 26 | Nevada | $28,236 | $13.57 |
| 27 | Iowa | $26,839 | $12.90 |
| 28 | Ohio | $26,276 | $12.63 |
| 29 | Idaho | $27,566 | $13.25 |
| 30 | Utah | $26,304 | $12.65 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $25,459 | $12.24 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $26,699 | $12.84 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $29,577 | $14.22 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $24,988 | $12.01 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $25,864 | $12.43 |
| 36 | Maryland | $28,449 | $13.68 |
| 37 | Illinois | $26,346 | $12.67 |
| 38 | Kansas | $25,835 | $12.42 |
| 39 | Texas | $25,658 | $12.34 |
| 40 | Arizona | $25,494 | $12.26 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $24,871 | $11.96 |
| 42 | Florida | $25,350 | $12.19 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $23,487 | $11.29 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $24,550 | $11.80 |
| 45 | Missouri | $24,936 | $11.99 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $23,714 | $11.40 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $23,134 | $11.12 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $23,852 | $11.47 |
| 49 | Georgia | $24,446 | $11.75 |
| 50 | Alabama | $23,002 | $11.06 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $22,515 | $10.82 |
Highest paying cities for caterers
The highest-paying cities for caterers are Beverly, MA, Bristol, CT, and Burbank, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beverly, MA | $33,897 | $16.30 |
| 2 | Bristol, CT | $33,655 | $16.18 |
| 3 | Burbank, CA | $33,243 | $15.98 |
| 4 | Arlington, VA | $32,682 | $15.71 |
| 5 | Duluth, MN | $32,414 | $15.58 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $31,191 | $15.00 |
| 7 | Fargo, ND | $29,218 | $14.05 |
| 8 | Allentown, PA | $28,309 | $13.61 |
| 9 | Bellevue, NE | $27,927 | $13.43 |
| 10 | Concord, NC | $26,651 | $12.81 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $26,392 | $12.69 |
| 12 | Abilene, TX | $26,210 | $12.60 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $26,101 | $12.55 |
| 14 | West Lafayette, IN | $25,998 | $12.50 |
| 15 | Lenexa, KS | $25,804 | $12.41 |
| 16 | Knoxville, TN | $25,773 | $12.39 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $25,533 | $12.28 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $25,373 | $12.20 |
| 19 | Georgetown, KY | $24,884 | $11.96 |
| 20 | Milwaukee, WI | $24,507 | $11.78 |
Caterer salary details
A caterer's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $36,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a caterer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 75th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| Average | $28,891 | $2,408 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
Highest paying caterer jobs
The highest paying types of caterers are assistant manager/bartender, chef/kitchen manager, and front of house manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front Of House Manager | $41,163 | $3,430 | $19.79 | 221,210 |
| Food And Beverage Supervisor | $38,335 | $3,195 | $18.43 | 61,726 |
| Banquet Captain | $34,428 | $2,869 | $16.55 | 60,883 |
| Chef/Kitchen Manager | $49,415 | $4,118 | $23.76 | 38,242 |
| Shift Leader | $33,841 | $2,820 | $16.27 | 229,485 |
| Deli Manager | $39,221 | $3,268 | $18.86 | 131,359 |
Which companies pay caterers the most?
Caterer salaries at The College of St. Scholastica and Hoosier Energy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average caterer salary at companies like H-E-B and University of Richmond are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The College of St. Scholastica | $36,532 | $17.56 |
| 2 | Hoosier Energy | $33,417 | $16.07 |
| 3 | H-E-B | $32,475 | $15.61 |
| 4 | University of Richmond | $31,226 | $15.01 |
| 5 | Pro Health Care Services | $30,748 | $14.78 |
| 6 | The Medical Center Inc | $30,728 | $14.77 |
| 7 | Compass Group USA | $30,514 | $14.67 |
| 8 | Live Nation Entertainment | $30,245 | $14.54 |
| 9 | South Georgia Medical Center | $30,100 | $14.47 |
| 10 | Warner Bros. | $29,985 | $14.42 |
| 11 | Dickinson College | $29,247 | $14.06 |
| 12 | Seattle Children's Healthcare System | $29,198 | $14.04 |
| 13 | Lakeview | $29,161 | $14.02 |
| 14 | Sodexo Management, Inc. | $29,160 | $14.02 |
| 15 | WarnerMedia | $29,033 | $13.96 |
| 16 | ISS A/S | $28,888 | $13.89 |
| 17 | Corner Bakery Cafe | $28,732 | $13.81 |
| 18 | Giant Eagle | $28,639 | $13.77 |
| 19 | Aramark | $28,554 | $13.73 |
| 20 | Marriott International | $28,169 | $13.54 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Caterer salary by industry
The average caterer salary varies across industries:
- The average caterer salary in the hospitality industry is $29,992, the highest of any industry.
- The average caterer salary in the finance industry is $29,907.
- Caterers in the retail industry earn an average salary of $28,572, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for caterers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | $29,992 | $14.42 |
| 2 | Health Care | $29,907 | $14.38 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $29,369 | $14.12 |
| 4 | Education | $29,131 | $14.01 |
| 5 | Retail | $28,572 | $13.74 |
High paying caterer jobs
Caterer salary trends
The average caterer salary has risen by $4,196 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average caterer earned $24,695 annually, but today, they earn $28,891 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for caterers over the last decade.
Compare caterer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average caterer salary over time
Compare caterer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Caterer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28,900 | $13.89 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $27,900 | $13.42 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $27,100 | $13.04 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $26,700 | $12.84 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $26,300 | $12.65 | +3.6% |
Recently added caterer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame | Temporary | Three Leaf Catering | Notre Dame, IN | 06/26/2025 | $36,523 |
| Delaware North Companies | Catering Set Up Team, Highmark Stadium | Orchard Park, NY | 06/25/2025 | $35,479 |
| Peopleready | Caterer | Rochester, MN | 06/24/2025 | $34,436 |
| Peopleready | Caterer | Owensboro, KY | 06/17/2025 | $25,044 |
| One Egg Group LLC | ONE Egg Catering Kitchen-Catering Team | Manhattan, KS | 06/17/2025 | $29,218 |
| Thomas Cuisine | Caterer at Clovis Community Medical Center | Clovis, CA | 06/10/2025 | $43,827 |
| Peopleready | Caterer | Lehi, UT | 06/06/2025 | $35,479 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Catering Conversions | Kansas City, MO | 06/05/2025 | $33,392 |
| Oregon State University | Residential Dining or Catering | Corvallis, OR | 05/24/2025 | $30,679 |
| Peopleready | Caterer | Dover, NH | 05/13/2025 | $37,566 |
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