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Food service associate salary
Average food service associate salary
$15.21
Understanding Food Service Associate Salaries
The average Food Service Associate earns approximately $31,642 annually, translating to about $15.21 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific employer. For instance, associates working in urban areas or high-end establishments may see higher wages compared to those in smaller towns.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start around $25,000, while experienced associates can earn upwards of $40,000. This progression illustrates the potential for growth within the food service industry, making it a viable career option for those seeking stability.
Top Paying States
Food Service Associates in states like California, New York, and Washington often receive the highest salaries due to higher living costs and demand for skilled workers. Understanding these variables can help job seekers target their applications effectively.
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Where can a Food Service Associate earn more?
Food service associate salaries by experience level
Food service associate salary estimates from across the web
Average food service associate salary by state
The average food service associate salary in Rhode Island, Washington, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average food service associate salary states are Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for food service associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $33,122 | $15.92 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $32,543 | $15.65 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $33,385 | $16.05 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $36,285 | $17.44 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $35,941 | $17.28 |
| 6 | Vermont | $33,399 | $16.06 |
| 7 | Washington | $36,177 | $17.39 |
| 8 | New York | $34,738 | $16.70 |
| 9 | Michigan | $29,891 | $14.37 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $29,375 | $14.12 |
| 11 | Florida | $31,861 | $15.32 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $33,014 | $15.87 |
| 13 | Alaska | $30,751 | $14.78 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $31,355 | $15.07 |
| 15 | Delaware | $29,633 | $14.25 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $31,405 | $15.10 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $37,443 | $18.00 |
| 18 | Iowa | $28,061 | $13.49 |
| 19 | Oregon | $32,679 | $15.71 |
| 20 | Colorado | $30,557 | $14.69 |
| 21 | Illinois | $31,379 | $15.09 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $29,827 | $14.34 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $28,345 | $13.63 |
| 24 | Utah | $29,311 | $14.09 |
| 25 | Ohio | $28,535 | $13.72 |
| 26 | Indiana | $27,714 | $13.32 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $28,026 | $13.47 |
| 28 | California | $33,167 | $15.95 |
| 29 | Arizona | $27,936 | $13.43 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $26,425 | $12.70 |
| 31 | Texas | $26,354 | $12.67 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $26,806 | $12.89 |
| 33 | Maryland | $30,527 | $14.68 |
| 34 | Virginia | $27,864 | $13.40 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $25,958 | $12.48 |
| 36 | Nevada | $27,170 | $13.06 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $25,886 | $12.45 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $31,877 | $15.33 |
| 39 | Montana | $27,961 | $13.44 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $23,738 | $11.41 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $22,275 | $10.71 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $23,455 | $11.28 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $23,680 | $11.38 |
| 44 | Kansas | $24,912 | $11.98 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $21,980 | $10.57 |
| 46 | Missouri | $24,800 | $11.92 |
| 47 | Idaho | $24,726 | $11.89 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $23,852 | $11.47 |
| 49 | Georgia | $24,025 | $11.55 |
| 50 | Alabama | $19,712 | $9.48 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $18,620 | $8.95 |
Highest paying cities for food service associates
The highest-paying cities for food service associates are Washington, DC, Bellevue, WA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $37,415 | $17.99 |
| 2 | Bellevue, WA | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $35,955 | $17.29 |
| 4 | Binghamton, NY | $35,098 | $16.87 |
| 5 | Salinas, CA | $34,016 | $16.35 |
| 6 | South Portland, ME | $33,165 | $15.94 |
| 7 | Neptune, NJ | $32,842 | $15.79 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $32,590 | $15.67 |
| 9 | Nashua, NH | $32,528 | $15.64 |
| 10 | Elmhurst, IL | $31,525 | $15.16 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $30,567 | $14.70 |
| 12 | Pontiac, MI | $29,981 | $14.41 |
| 13 | Omaha, NE | $29,915 | $14.38 |
| 14 | Fond du Lac, WI | $29,611 | $14.24 |
| 15 | Dover, DE | $29,381 | $14.13 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $29,347 | $14.11 |
| 17 | Toledo, OH | $29,295 | $14.08 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $28,360 | $13.63 |
| 19 | Urbandale, IA | $27,894 | $13.41 |
| 20 | Gilbert, AZ | $27,882 | $13.40 |
Food service associate salary details
A food service associate's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a food service associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,642 | $2,637 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying food service associate jobs
The highest paying types of food service associates are associate, chef de cuisine, and sous chef.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pastry Cook | $34,858 | $2,905 | $16.76 | 136,754 |
| Line Cook | $32,895 | $2,741 | $15.81 | 168,993 |
| Sous Chef | $48,716 | $4,060 | $23.42 | 22,393 |
| Line Chef | $26,651 | $2,221 | $12.81 | 144,227 |
| Chef De Cuisine | $51,926 | $4,327 | $24.96 | 18,300 |
| Food Prep | $25,840 | $2,153 | $12.42 | 168,743 |
Top companies hiring food service associates now:
Which companies pay food service associates the most?
Food service associate salaries at Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners and Brigham and Women's Hospital are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average food service associate salary at companies like Northrop Grumman and WESTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB OF AUSTIN are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners | $36,187 | $17.40 |
| 2 | Brigham and Women's Hospital | $36,119 | $17.36 |
| 3 | Northrop Grumman | $35,726 | $17.18 |
| 4 | WESTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB OF AUSTIN | $34,694 | $16.68 |
| 5 | Amazon | $34,168 | $16.43 |
| 6 | Hackensack Meridian Health | $33,903 | $16.30 |
| 7 | Global Partners | $33,626 | $16.17 |
| 8 | San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance | $33,448 | $16.08 |
| 9 | P&S Surgical Hospital | $33,331 | $16.02 |
| 10 | Cape Cod Healthcare | $33,325 | $16.02 |
| 11 | Meijer | $33,262 | $15.99 |
| 12 | SpaceX | $33,241 | $15.98 |
| 13 | OnCue Express | $33,126 | $15.93 |
| 14 | Northwell Health | $33,123 | $15.92 |
| 15 | Emory University | $33,110 | $15.92 |
| 16 | Highmark | $33,079 | $15.90 |
| 17 | Walmart | $33,032 | $15.88 |
| 18 | SLCH President | $32,846 | $15.79 |
| 19 | John Muir Health | $32,808 | $15.77 |
| 20 | Yale New Haven Health | $32,798 | $15.77 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Food Service Associate salary by industry
The average food service associate salary varies across industries:
- The average food service associate salary in the technology industry is $33,477, the highest of any industry.
- The average food service associate salary in the finance industry is $31,900.
- Food service associates in the hospitality industry earn an average salary of $30,580, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for food service associates
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $33,477 | $16.09 |
| 2 | Retail | $31,900 | $15.34 |
| 3 | Health Care | $31,419 | $15.11 |
| 4 | Hospitality | $30,580 | $14.70 |
High paying food service associate jobs
Food service associate salary trends
The average food service associate salary has risen by $8,253 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average food service associate earned $23,389 annually, but today, they earn $31,642 a year. That works out to a 22% change in pay for food service associates over the last decade.
Compare food service associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average food service associate salary over time
Compare food service associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Food service associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,600 | $15.21 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | $30,100 | $14.47 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $28,800 | $13.85 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $27,600 | $13.26 | +5.7% |
| 2021 | $26,000 | $12.51 | +5.9% |
Recently added food service associate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy North Group | Convenience Store Food Service Associate | Mayflower, AR | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
| Food and Flame | Deli/Food Service Associate-Seasonal | Springfield, MO | 06/29/2025 | $43,827 |
| Food and Flame | Deli/Food Service Associate | Warner Robins, GA | 06/29/2025 | $43,827 |
| Food and Flame | Deli/Food Service Associate | Mount Crawford, VA | 06/29/2025 | $48,001 |
| Kelly Services | Prepared Foods Associates/Merchandiser | Vancouver, WA | 06/28/2025 | $38,610 |
| Haffner's | Convenience Store Food Service Associate | Plymouth, MA | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
| Par Pacific Holdings Inc. | Food Service Associate (Nomnom Asotin | | Asotin, WA | 06/27/2025 | $35,062 |
| Centracare Health | Food Prep Nutrition Services Associate | Saint Cloud, MN | 06/27/2025 | $28,488 |
| Swarthmore College | Food & Services Associate Pooled) | Swarthmore, PA | 06/27/2025 | $38,610 |
| University of Maryland Medical Center Baltimore Washington | Food Service Associate, Stock Replenishment, Per Diem | Chestertown, MD | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
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