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The average salary for a culinary manager in the United States is approximately $51,100 per year or $25 per hour. This figure reflects the diverse responsibilities culinary managers hold, from staff management to menu planning and cost control. Salaries can vary significantly based on experience, location, and type of establishment.
In states like California and New York, culinary managers tend to earn higher salaries compared to the national average. Factors such as cost of living and competition in the food industry influence these differences. For example, culinary managers in metropolitan areas often command higher wages due to increased demand and higher operational costs.
As culinary managers gain experience, they can pursue higher paying positions, such as executive chefs or regional managers, which can significantly boost earning potential. Additionally, culinary managers with specialized skills in high-demand cuisines or sustainable practices may find better opportunities in upscale restaurants or hotels. Staying informed about industry trends and salary benchmarks is crucial for career advancement.
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The highest-paying states for culinary managers are New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The lowest average culinary manager salary states are Arkansas, South Carolina, and South Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | $58,378 | $28.07 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $52,263 | $25.13 |
| 3 | Washington | $60,495 | $29.08 |
| 4 | Maine | $59,693 | $28.70 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $62,391 | $30.00 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $62,385 | $29.99 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $61,687 | $29.66 |
| 8 | Nevada | $57,935 | $27.85 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $57,867 | $27.82 |
| 10 | Alabama | $50,639 | $24.35 |
| 11 | Indiana | $51,249 | $24.64 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $53,124 | $25.54 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $47,748 | $22.96 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $56,734 | $27.28 |
| 15 | New York | $55,806 | $26.83 |
| 16 | Idaho | $51,224 | $24.63 |
| 17 | Delaware | $53,297 | $25.62 |
| 18 | Georgia | $50,830 | $24.44 |
| 19 | Virginia | $50,964 | $24.50 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $48,721 | $23.42 |
| 21 | Alaska | $54,393 | $26.15 |
| 22 | Illinois | $49,793 | $23.94 |
| 23 | Vermont | $54,834 | $26.36 |
| 24 | Ohio | $46,467 | $22.34 |
| 25 | California | $55,650 | $26.75 |
| 26 | Missouri | $47,462 | $22.82 |
| 27 | Michigan | $47,448 | $22.81 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| 29 | Oregon | $51,968 | $24.98 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $48,336 | $23.24 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $48,459 | $23.30 |
| 32 | Texas | $45,449 | $21.85 |
| 33 | Maryland | $46,739 | $22.47 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $47,508 | $22.84 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $52,905 | $25.44 |
| 36 | Colorado | $46,821 | $22.51 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $41,363 | $19.89 |
| 38 | Montana | $44,752 | $21.52 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $41,217 | $19.82 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $41,035 | $19.73 |
| 41 | Iowa | $45,536 | $21.89 |
| 42 | Arizona | $43,592 | $20.96 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $45,256 | $21.76 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $44,372 | $21.33 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $38,250 | $18.39 |
| 46 | Florida | $42,641 | $20.50 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $42,580 | $20.47 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $40,810 | $19.62 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $41,160 | $19.79 |
| 50 | Kansas | $39,217 | $18.85 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $40,940 | $19.68 |
The highest-paying cities for culinary managers are Newark, NJ, Seattle, WA, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $62,606 | $30.10 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $60,818 | $29.24 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $58,736 | $28.24 |
| 4 | Plymouth, MA | $58,327 | $28.04 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $55,935 | $26.89 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $52,570 | $25.27 |
| 7 | Fort Wayne, IN | $52,482 | $25.23 |
| 8 | Rome, GA | $50,999 | $24.52 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $49,997 | $24.04 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $47,995 | $23.07 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $47,611 | $22.89 |
| 12 | Independence, MO | $47,578 | $22.87 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $47,025 | $22.61 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $45,896 | $22.07 |
| 15 | Fort Worth, TX | $45,441 | $21.85 |
| 16 | Miami, FL | $42,792 | $20.57 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $40,828 | $19.63 |
| 18 | Overland Park, KS | $39,236 | $18.86 |
| 19 | Murfreesboro, TN | $38,234 | $18.38 |
A culinary manager's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $69,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $51,100 | $4,258 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
The highest paying types of culinary managers are manager, restaurant general manager, and chef manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant General Manager | $56,521 | $4,710 | $27.17 | 339,757 |
| Food And Beverage Manager | $53,013 | $4,418 | $25.49 | 159,775 |
| Food Service Manager | $43,564 | $3,630 | $20.94 | 160,740 |
| Beverage Manager | $53,129 | $4,427 | $25.54 | 90,318 |
| Food Manager | $37,654 | $3,138 | $18.10 | 276,643 |
| Dining Room Manager | $49,372 | $4,114 | $23.74 | 162,992 |
Top companies hiring culinary managers now:
Culinary manager salaries at Boston Public Schools and Ted's Montana Grill are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average culinary manager salary at companies like Hyatt Hotels and The Cheesecake Factory are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Public Schools | $58,716 | $28.23 |
| 2 | Ted's Montana Grill | $57,742 | $27.76 |
| 3 | Hyatt Hotels | $57,368 | $27.58 |
| 4 | The Cheesecake Factory | $56,806 | $27.31 |
| 5 | American Senior Benefits | $56,669 | $27.24 |
| 6 | Seabury | $54,667 | $26.28 |
| 7 | OnShift | $54,147 | $26.03 |
| 8 | Butterfield Trail Village | $53,624 | $25.78 |
| 9 | Casey's Pond | $53,397 | $25.67 |
| 10 | Blount Fine Foods | $53,397 | $25.67 |
| 11 | Fricker'S | $53,397 | $25.67 |
| 12 | Augustana Care | $52,774 | $25.37 |
| 13 | Uncle Julio's | $52,233 | $25.11 |
| 14 | Town & Country Markets | $52,044 | $25.02 |
| 15 | Meritage Hospitality Group | $51,466 | $24.74 |
| 16 | Yale University | $51,336 | $24.68 |
| 17 | Wegmans Food Markets | $51,229 | $24.63 |
| 18 | UC Santa Barbara | $50,832 | $24.44 |
| 19 | Patrice and Associates Franchising | $50,764 | $24.41 |
| 20 | University of California-Berkeley | $50,643 | $24.35 |
The average culinary manager salary has risen by $7,657 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average culinary manager earned $43,443 annually, but today, they earn $51,100 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for culinary managers over the last decade.
Compare culinary manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare culinary manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $51,100 | $24.57 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | $50,000 | $24.02 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $49,000 | $23.55 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | $47,000 | $22.59 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $45,900 | $22.06 | +4.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomin' Brands, Inc. | Culinary Manager | Algonquin, IL | 06/27/2025 | $45,000 |
| Bloomin' Brands, Inc. | Culinary Manager | Broomfield, CO | 06/27/2025 | $51,150 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | System Culinary Manager | Atlanta, GA | 06/25/2025 | $75,000 |
| Forte Belanger | Culinary Staff-Events Group | Troy, MI | 06/22/2025 | $38,610 |
| Kteam | Regional Culinary Manager | Austin, TX | 06/19/2025 | $75,000 |
| Master St. Vincent de Paul of Baltim | Culinary Manager | Baltimore, MD | 06/15/2025 | $60,000 |
| Xperience XRG Careers | Culinary Manager-EL Torito | San Leandro, CA | 06/12/2025 | $75,000 |
| Mountain View of Cascadia | Culinary Manager | Eureka, MT | 06/11/2025 | $45,914 |
| UCLA Health | Assistant Culinary Manager | Los Angeles, CA | 06/10/2025 | $59,062 |
| Xperience Restaurant Group | Culinary Manager-EL Torito | San Leandro, CA | 06/10/2025 | $75,000 |
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