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Catering manager salary
Average catering manager salary
$51,962
Understanding the Catering Manager Salary
Catering Managers play a crucial role in planning and executing events, ensuring that food and service meet client expectations. In October 2025, the average salary for a Catering Manager is $51,962 per year. Factors influencing this salary include geographical location, level of experience, and the scale of operations managed.
Salary Variability by State
In the United States, some states offer higher salaries for catering managers due to demand and cost of living. For instance, states like California and New York typically provide competitive compensation. In contrast, regions with lower living costs may offer less. Understanding these dynamics can help you make informed career decisions.
Career Opportunities
A career as a Catering Manager can be rewarding, with opportunities for growth in various sectors, including corporate events, weddings, and private parties. Pursuing certifications and gaining experience in food service management can enhance your prospects for higher-paying positions.
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Where can a Catering Manager earn more?
Catering manager salary estimates from across the web
Average catering manager salary by state
The highest-paying states for catering managers are Nevada, California, and Hawaii. The lowest average catering manager salary states are Oklahoma, Indiana, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for catering managers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $63,232 | $30.40 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $59,722 | $28.71 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $61,499 | $29.57 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $52,125 | $25.06 |
| 5 | New York | $58,649 | $28.20 |
| 6 | California | $62,443 | $30.02 |
| 7 | Delaware | $55,030 | $26.46 |
| 8 | Washington | $55,641 | $26.75 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $50,884 | $24.46 |
| 10 | Maryland | $54,924 | $26.41 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $58,688 | $28.22 |
| 12 | Illinois | $52,078 | $25.04 |
| 13 | Virginia | $53,429 | $25.69 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $49,926 | $24.00 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $55,576 | $26.72 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $54,290 | $26.10 |
| 17 | Arizona | $52,066 | $25.03 |
| 18 | Utah | $49,561 | $23.83 |
| 19 | Georgia | $51,024 | $24.53 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $62,370 | $29.99 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $47,661 | $22.91 |
| 22 | Montana | $49,634 | $23.86 |
| 23 | Maine | $50,241 | $24.15 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $50,674 | $24.36 |
| 25 | Vermont | $53,138 | $25.55 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $52,875 | $25.42 |
| 27 | Colorado | $50,333 | $24.20 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $57,178 | $27.49 |
| 30 | Ohio | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| 31 | Oregon | $51,463 | $24.74 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $45,347 | $21.80 |
| 33 | Idaho | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $47,931 | $23.04 |
| 35 | Alabama | $46,668 | $22.44 |
| 36 | Missouri | $44,767 | $21.52 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $47,008 | $22.60 |
| 38 | Texas | $44,631 | $21.46 |
| 39 | Florida | $46,863 | $22.53 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $46,512 | $22.36 |
| 41 | Indiana | $42,904 | $20.63 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $41,521 | $19.96 |
| 43 | Iowa | $46,588 | $22.40 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $42,955 | $20.65 |
| 45 | Michigan | $43,119 | $20.73 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $44,623 | $21.45 |
| 47 | Alaska | $44,151 | $21.23 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $43,055 | $20.70 |
| 49 | Kansas | $40,930 | $19.68 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $41,338 | $19.87 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $41,304 | $19.86 |
Highest paying cities for catering managers
The highest-paying cities for catering managers are Santa Clara, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Providence, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara, CA | $64,774 | $31.14 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $63,116 | $30.34 |
| 3 | Providence, RI | $61,378 | $29.51 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $57,283 | $27.54 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $55,915 | $26.88 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $55,509 | $26.69 |
| 8 | Madison, MS | $54,437 | $26.17 |
| 9 | McLean, VA | $54,418 | $26.16 |
| 10 | Edison, NJ | $52,906 | $25.44 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $52,626 | $25.30 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $52,206 | $25.10 |
| 13 | Tucson, AZ | $51,434 | $24.73 |
| 14 | Albany, GA | $51,429 | $24.73 |
| 15 | Colorado Springs, CO | $50,699 | $24.37 |
| 16 | Helena, MT | $49,645 | $23.87 |
| 17 | Moorhead, MN | $47,760 | $22.96 |
| 18 | Clarksville, TN | $47,604 | $22.89 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $45,410 | $21.83 |
| 20 | Milwaukee, WI | $44,650 | $21.47 |
Catering manager salary details
A catering manager's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a catering manager's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| Average | $51,962 | $4,330 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying catering manager jobs
The highest paying types of catering managers are general manager, director of catering, and manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Of Catering | $65,732 | $5,478 | $31.60 | 54,263 |
| Food And Beverage Manager | $53,013 | $4,418 | $25.49 | 159,775 |
| Food Manager | $37,654 | $3,138 | $18.10 | 276,643 |
| Restaurant Manager | $52,202 | $4,350 | $25.10 | 225,340 |
| Hourly Manager | $36,449 | $3,037 | $17.52 | 257,505 |
| Manager | $58,651 | $4,888 | $28.20 | 1,236,194 |
Top companies hiring catering managers now:
Which companies pay catering managers the most?
Catering manager salaries at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Buehler are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average catering manager salary at companies like Legend Holdings and Goodwin Recruiting are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brigham and Women's Hospital | $63,527 | $30.54 |
| 2 | Buehler | $60,089 | $28.89 |
| 3 | Legend Holdings | $59,266 | $28.49 |
| 4 | Goodwin Recruiting | $58,737 | $28.24 |
| 5 | Hyatt Hotels | $58,227 | $27.99 |
| 6 | Crescent Hotels & Resorts | $57,932 | $27.85 |
| 7 | HEI Hotels & Resorts | $57,885 | $27.83 |
| 8 | Pyramid Hotel Group | $57,834 | $27.80 |
| 9 | Ethan Allen Workforce Solutions | $57,581 | $27.68 |
| 10 | Schulte Hospitality Group | $57,247 | $27.52 |
| 11 | Asha | $57,133 | $27.47 |
| 12 | Metropolitan | $56,985 | $27.40 |
| 13 | Roche Bros. Supermarkets | $56,960 | $27.38 |
| 14 | Legends Hospitality | $56,844 | $27.33 |
| 15 | Thompson Hospitality | $56,611 | $27.22 |
| 16 | Paramount Events | $56,303 | $27.07 |
| 17 | University of Washington | $56,272 | $27.05 |
| 18 | Highgate Hotels | $56,258 | $27.05 |
| 19 | Kinseth Hospitality | $55,936 | $26.89 |
| 20 | Chicken Salad Chick | $55,880 | $26.87 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Catering manager salary trends
The average catering manager salary has risen by $7,786 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average catering manager earned $44,176 annually, but today, they earn $51,962 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for catering managers over the last decade.
Compare catering manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average catering manager salary over time
Compare catering manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Catering manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,000 | $24.98 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $50,800 | $24.42 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $49,800 | $23.94 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $47,800 | $22.97 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $46,700 | $22.43 | +4.2% |
Recently added catering manager salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Group, North America | Catering Manager | Stratford, CT | 06/30/2025 | $60,000 |
| Oakview Group | Catering Manager | | University of Connecticut Athletics | Storrs, CT | 06/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Hilton | Senior Catering Manager-Conrad Washington DC | Washington, DC | 06/28/2025 | $65,000 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Manager, Catering-George Mason University | Fairfax, VA | 06/28/2025 | $55,000 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Senior Catering Manager | Charlotte, NC | 06/28/2025 | $80,000 |
| Hy-Vee | Catering Manager (Experienced) | Brooklyn Park, MN | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Hy-Vee | Catering Manager | Rochester, NY | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Legends | Catering Manager (Raymond James Stadium) | Tampa, FL | 06/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| Legends Careers | Catering Manager (Raymond James Stadium) | Tampa, FL | 06/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| Elior North America | Catering Manager | Saint Louis, MO | 06/27/2025 | $40,000 |
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