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Catering staff salary
Average catering staff salary
$14.96
Average Catering Staff Salary
The average salary for catering staff in the United States is $31,107 annually or roughly $15 per hour. Factors such as experience and location can significantly influence earnings. For instance, entry-level positions may start closer to $14 an hour, while those with several years in the field can earn upwards of $18 per hour depending on their role and the complexity of events they manage.
Where Can Catering Staff Earn More?
Catering staff can find higher salaries in metropolitan areas and states with a high demand for event services. For example, states like California and New York typically offer salaries above the national average due to the volume of events and higher living costs. Additionally, specialized roles within the catering field, such as event coordinators or catering managers, can command higher pay rates.
Catering Staff Salaries by Experience Level
- Entry-level: ~$14/hour
- Mid-level: ~$16/hour
- Experienced: ~$18/hour
Understanding these dynamics can help individuals navigate their career paths effectively and make informed decisions about their future in catering.
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Where can a Catering Staff earn more?
Catering staff salaries by experience level
Catering staff salary estimates from across the web
Average catering staff salary by state
The average catering staff salary in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average catering staff salary states are Mississippi, West Virginia, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for catering staff
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $39,285 | $18.89 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $38,142 | $18.34 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $38,938 | $18.72 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $37,794 | $18.17 |
| 5 | Oregon | $36,523 | $17.56 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $33,438 | $16.08 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $38,288 | $18.41 |
| 8 | Washington | $35,875 | $17.25 |
| 9 | New York | $34,892 | $16.77 |
| 10 | Maine | $32,864 | $15.80 |
| 11 | Vermont | $33,962 | $16.33 |
| 12 | California | $35,268 | $16.96 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $38,255 | $18.39 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $35,509 | $17.07 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $34,748 | $16.71 |
| 16 | Virginia | $35,495 | $17.06 |
| 17 | Colorado | $34,945 | $16.80 |
| 18 | Delaware | $35,123 | $16.89 |
| 19 | Indiana | $32,299 | $15.53 |
| 20 | Nevada | $31,144 | $14.97 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $33,041 | $15.89 |
| 22 | Iowa | $33,317 | $16.02 |
| 23 | Maryland | $33,988 | $16.34 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $31,996 | $15.38 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $31,864 | $15.32 |
| 26 | Utah | $30,671 | $14.75 |
| 27 | Ohio | $30,177 | $14.51 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $32,761 | $15.75 |
| 29 | Montana | $31,765 | $15.27 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $32,036 | $15.40 |
| 31 | Arizona | $30,218 | $14.53 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $30,653 | $14.74 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $28,492 | $13.70 |
| 34 | Alaska | $31,900 | $15.34 |
| 35 | Missouri | $28,831 | $13.86 |
| 36 | Michigan | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| 37 | Florida | $29,238 | $14.06 |
| 38 | Idaho | $29,872 | $14.36 |
| 39 | Illinois | $27,929 | $13.43 |
| 40 | Kansas | $28,154 | $13.54 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $28,241 | $13.58 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $28,657 | $13.78 |
| 43 | Georgia | $28,355 | $13.63 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $27,958 | $13.44 |
| 45 | Alabama | $25,758 | $12.38 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $25,280 | $12.15 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $25,945 | $12.47 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $26,404 | $12.69 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $27,129 | $13.04 |
| 50 | Texas | $26,155 | $12.57 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $26,763 | $12.87 |
Highest paying cities for catering staff
The highest-paying cities for catering staff are North Andover, MA, Washington, DC, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Andover, MA | $39,319 | $18.90 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $38,318 | $18.42 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $35,979 | $17.30 |
| 4 | Clifton Park, NY | $35,349 | $16.99 |
| 5 | Virginia Beach, VA | $35,226 | $16.94 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $34,762 | $16.71 |
| 7 | Bethlehem, PA | $33,726 | $16.21 |
| 8 | Terre Haute, IN | $32,051 | $15.41 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $30,651 | $14.74 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $30,508 | $14.67 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,311 | $14.57 |
| 12 | Daytona Beach, FL | $29,396 | $14.13 |
| 13 | Greenville, SC | $29,074 | $13.98 |
| 14 | Livonia, MI | $29,054 | $13.97 |
| 15 | Franklin, TN | $28,529 | $13.72 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $28,450 | $13.68 |
| 17 | Springfield, MO | $28,427 | $13.67 |
| 18 | Oklahoma City, OK | $27,084 | $13.02 |
| 19 | Belleville, IL | $26,978 | $12.97 |
| 20 | Fort Worth, TX | $26,344 | $12.67 |
Catering staff salary details
A catering staff's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a catering staff's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,107 | $2,592 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying catering staff jobs
The highest paying types of catering staff are chef/kitchen manager, chef/catering, 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 |
| Bar Manager/Bartender | $25,051 | $2,088 | $12.04 | 59,783 |
| Shift Leader | $33,841 | $2,820 | $16.27 | 229,485 |
| Deli Manager | $39,221 | $3,268 | $18.86 | 131,359 |
| Chef/Kitchen Manager | $49,415 | $4,118 | $23.76 | 38,242 |
| Kitchen Supervisor | $40,520 | $3,377 | $19.48 | 66,303 |
Top companies hiring catering staff now:
Which companies pay catering staff the most?
Catering staff salaries at Table 301 and Roanoke College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average catering staff salary at companies like Cornell University and Missouri State University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Table 301 | $44,016 | $21.16 |
| 2 | Roanoke College | $37,042 | $17.81 |
| 3 | Cornell University | $34,838 | $16.75 |
| 4 | Missouri State University | $34,588 | $16.63 |
| 5 | Alterra Mountain | $34,078 | $16.38 |
| 6 | Uncle Julio's | $33,986 | $16.34 |
| 7 | A S Hospitality | $33,814 | $16.26 |
| 8 | Oklahoma State Fair | $33,181 | $15.95 |
| 9 | Chicken Salad Chick | $31,831 | $15.30 |
| 10 | Sodexo Management, Inc. | $31,600 | $15.19 |
| 11 | Russell Morin | $31,222 | $15.01 |
| 12 | BCforward | $31,052 | $14.93 |
| 13 | Zingerman's | $31,039 | $14.92 |
| 14 | Compass Group USA | $31,024 | $14.92 |
| 15 | Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay | $30,901 | $14.86 |
| 16 | Corner Bakery Cafe | $30,440 | $14.63 |
| 17 | Westminster Canterbury of Lynchburg | $30,335 | $14.58 |
| 18 | Elite Hospitality | $29,793 | $14.32 |
| 19 | ManpowerGroup | $29,740 | $14.30 |
| 20 | Aramark | $29,662 | $14.26 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Catering Staff salary by industry
The average catering staff salary varies across industries:
- The average catering staff salary in the education industry is $33,555, the highest of any industry.
- The average catering staff salary in the finance industry is $31,718.
- Catering staff in the retail industry earn an average salary of $29,678, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for catering staff
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $33,555 | $16.13 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $31,718 | $15.25 |
| 3 | Real Estate | $31,400 | $15.10 |
| 4 | Retail | $29,678 | $14.27 |
High paying catering staff jobs
Catering staff salary trends
The average catering staff salary has risen by $4,517 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average catering staff earned $26,590 annually, but today, they earn $31,107 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for catering staff over the last decade.
Compare catering staff salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average catering staff salary over time
Compare catering staff salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Catering staff salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,100 | $14.96 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $30,100 | $14.45 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $29,200 | $14.04 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $28,800 | $13.83 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $28,300 | $13.62 | +3.6% |
Recently added catering staff salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Event Catering Wait Staff and | Clifton Park, NY | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Event Catering Wait Staff | Detroit, MI | 06/25/2025 | $31,305 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Event Catering Wait Staff and | Atlanta, GA | 06/25/2025 | $31,305 |
| Compass Group Careers | Event Catering Wait Staff | San Marcos, CA | 06/25/2025 | $29,218 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Event Catering Wait Staff and | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
| Lakeview Village | Catering Event Staff | Lenexa, KS | 06/24/2025 | $33,392 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Event Catering Wait Staff | Dallas, TX | 06/23/2025 | $37,566 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Event Catering Wait Staff | Milwaukee, WI | 06/23/2025 | $37,566 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Event Catering Wait Staff | Saint Louis, MO | 06/23/2025 | $41,740 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | Catering Service Staff | Raleigh, NC | 06/22/2025 | $31,305 |
Catering staff salary FAQs
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