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Director of food and nutrition services salary
Average director of food and nutrition services salary
$100,887
Understanding the Salary Landscape
The role of the Director of Food and Nutrition Services is vital in ensuring that food service operations run smoothly and meet health standards. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $100,887 per year, translating to about $49 per hour. Salaries can differ based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific type of facility. For instance, directors in metropolitan areas may earn higher salaries due to increased living costs.
Salary Variations by State
In states like California and New York, salaries for directors of food and nutrition services can be significantly higher than the national average. Other states with competitive salaries include Texas and Florida, where the demand for skilled professionals in healthcare facilities is growing. Understanding these regional salary variations can help aspiring directors negotiate their compensation effectively.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Directors often find opportunities for advancement by gaining additional experience or certifications in nutrition management. Networking within professional organizations and attending industry conferences can also enhance career prospects.
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Where can a Director Of Food And Nutrition Services earn more?
Average director of food and nutrition services salary by state
The highest-paying states for directors of food and nutrition services are New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The lowest average director of food and nutrition services salary states are Tennessee, North Dakota, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for directors of food and nutrition services
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $121,290 | $58.31 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $125,694 | $60.43 |
| 3 | North Carolina | $110,414 | $53.08 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $125,294 | $60.24 |
| 5 | Indiana | $107,666 | $51.76 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $124,892 | $60.04 |
| 7 | Virginia | $111,585 | $53.65 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $117,537 | $56.51 |
| 9 | New York | $112,854 | $54.26 |
| 10 | Nevada | $110,379 | $53.07 |
| 11 | Utah | $112,575 | $54.12 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $114,712 | $55.15 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $104,665 | $50.32 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $107,822 | $51.84 |
| 15 | Alabama | $99,479 | $47.83 |
| 16 | Vermont | $111,602 | $53.65 |
| 17 | California | $121,156 | $58.25 |
| 18 | Louisiana | $95,043 | $45.69 |
| 19 | Georgia | $103,728 | $49.87 |
| 20 | Washington | $109,206 | $52.50 |
| 21 | Delaware | $110,747 | $53.24 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $112,280 | $53.98 |
| 23 | Michigan | $98,420 | $47.32 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $106,058 | $50.99 |
| 25 | Iowa | $87,185 | $41.92 |
| 26 | Ohio | $99,665 | $47.92 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $90,163 | $43.35 |
| 28 | Oregon | $97,142 | $46.70 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $94,269 | $45.32 |
| 30 | Illinois | $101,830 | $48.96 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $87,478 | $42.06 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $83,635 | $40.21 |
| 33 | Idaho | $96,606 | $46.45 |
| 34 | Alaska | $88,088 | $42.35 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $86,287 | $41.48 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $78,826 | $37.90 |
| 37 | Missouri | $88,994 | $42.79 |
| 38 | Arizona | $84,979 | $40.86 |
| 39 | Maryland | $99,160 | $47.67 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $77,628 | $37.32 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $77,730 | $37.37 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $73,066 | $35.13 |
| 43 | Texas | $89,137 | $42.85 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $76,246 | $36.66 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $82,139 | $39.49 |
| 46 | Montana | $78,313 | $37.65 |
| 47 | Colorado | $85,381 | $41.05 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $81,086 | $38.98 |
| 49 | Kansas | $72,337 | $34.78 |
| 50 | Florida | $76,606 | $36.83 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $77,166 | $37.10 |
Highest paying cities for directors of food and nutrition services
The highest-paying cities for directors of food and nutrition services are Novato, CA, Hackensack, NJ, and Bridgeport, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $128,904 | $61.97 |
| 2 | Hackensack, NJ | $127,522 | $61.31 |
| 3 | Bridgeport, CT | $115,531 | $55.54 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $113,874 | $54.75 |
| 5 | Alexandria, VA | $112,462 | $54.07 |
| 6 | Wilmington, DE | $111,508 | $53.61 |
| 7 | Pasco, WA | $110,016 | $52.89 |
| 8 | Matthews, NC | $108,715 | $52.27 |
| 9 | Morgantown, WV | $106,156 | $51.04 |
| 10 | Downers Grove, IL | $102,341 | $49.20 |
| 11 | Massillon, OH | $101,247 | $48.68 |
| 12 | Alexandria, LA | $96,560 | $46.42 |
| 13 | Arlington, TX | $90,284 | $43.41 |
| 14 | Scottsdale, AZ | $85,436 | $41.08 |
| 15 | Nashville, TN | $77,998 | $37.50 |
| 16 | Bradenton, FL | $77,497 | $37.26 |
Director of food and nutrition services salary details
A director of food and nutrition services's salary ranges from $56,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $178,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a director of food and nutrition services's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $178,000 | $14,833 | $86 |
| 75th Percentile | $136,000 | $11,333 | $65 |
| Average | $100,887 | $8,407 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 10th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
Highest paying director of food and nutrition services jobs
The highest paying types of directors of food and nutrition services are service director, director, and director of food and beverage.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swing Manager | $38,427 | $3,202 | $18.47 | 203,761 |
| Bar Manager | $46,828 | $3,902 | $22.51 | 165,633 |
| Restaurant Manager | $52,202 | $4,350 | $25.10 | 225,340 |
| Kitchen Manager | $50,448 | $4,204 | $24.25 | 151,781 |
| Shift Manager | $32,110 | $2,676 | $15.44 | 335,517 |
| Food Service Director | $53,939 | $4,495 | $25.93 | 136,337 |
Top companies hiring directors of food and nutrition services now:
Which companies pay directors of food and nutrition services the most?
Director of food and nutrition services salaries at Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego and Washington Regional Medical Center are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of food and nutrition services salary at companies like Kaiser Permanente and Lake Charles Memorial Health System are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $182,710 | $87.84 |
| 2 | Washington Regional Medical Center | $177,647 | $85.41 |
| 3 | Kaiser Permanente | $168,324 | $80.92 |
| 4 | Lake Charles Memorial Health System | $158,057 | $75.99 |
| 5 | NORTHERN MONTANA HOSPITAL | $147,460 | $70.89 |
| 6 | Hawaii Pacific Health | $143,928 | $69.20 |
| 7 | Temple Health | $140,079 | $67.35 |
| 8 | Washington Hospital Healthcare System | $134,465 | $64.65 |
| 9 | Loma Linda University Health | $131,441 | $63.19 |
| 10 | Prime Healthcare | $123,658 | $59.45 |
| 11 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $120,759 | $58.06 |
| 12 | Baptist Health Care | $120,494 | $57.93 |
| 13 | Texas Health Resources | $119,485 | $57.44 |
| 14 | Riverside Community Hospital | $119,389 | $57.40 |
| 15 | H-E-B | $117,971 | $56.72 |
| 16 | Boston Public Schools | $117,745 | $56.61 |
| 17 | Auburn City Schools | $114,939 | $55.26 |
| 18 | Hackensack Meridian Health | $105,978 | $50.95 |
| 19 | St. Luke's Hospital | $104,068 | $50.03 |
| 20 | HCA Health Services of Virginia Inc | $101,553 | $48.82 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Director of food and nutrition services salary trends
The average director of food and nutrition services salary has risen by $15,118 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of food and nutrition services earned $85,769 annually, but today, they earn $100,887 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for directors of food and nutrition services over the last decade.
Compare director of food and nutrition services salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average director of food and nutrition services salary over time
Compare director of food and nutrition services salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Director of food and nutrition services salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $101,000 | $48.50 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | $98,600 | $47.41 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $96,700 | $46.49 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | $92,800 | $44.59 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $90,600 | $43.56 | +4.2% |
Recently added director of food and nutrition services salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque Public Schools | Executive Director: Food and Nutrition Services | Albuquerque, NM | 06/30/2025 | $119,264 |
| Bronxcare Health System | Director-Nutritional Services | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $126,000 |
| Prime Healthcare Services | Director of Food & Nutrition | Anaheim, CA | 06/27/2025 | $80,080 |
| Mission Regional Medical Center | Director-Food & Nutrition Services | Victorville, CA | 06/21/2025 | $91,146 |
| Compass Group, North America | Bench Director of Nutrition Services-Cdm Required-West LOS Angeles CA | Los Angeles, CA | 06/12/2025 | $100,000 |
| Edcare | Director of Nutritional Services | Denver, CO | 06/06/2025 | $80,002 |
| Gilroy Unified School District | Director of Child Nutrition Services | Gilroy, CA | 06/03/2025 | $100,381 |
| Cambridge Public Schools | Director of Food and Nutritional Services | Cambridge, MA | 05/25/2025 | $123,162 |
| Aramark Corp | Food Service Director-Aramark Student Nutrition | Washington, DC | 05/22/2025 | $80,000 |
| Cambridge School District | Director of Food and Nutritional Services | Cambridge, MA | 05/22/2025 | $123,162 |
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