Food Service Manager salary in Boulder, CO
Food Service Managers in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median of $84,820 a year ($40.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,560 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $69,390. Pay here is 6% higher than the Colorado statewide median of $79,870. There are 0.86 food service managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $90,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food service managers in Boulder, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,600 | $32.50 |
| 25th percentile | $73,840 | $35.50 |
| Median | $84,820 | $40.78 |
| 75th percentile | $100,740 | $48.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,560 | $59.40 |
| Average (mean) | $90,590 | $43.56 |
Half of food service managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,068.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,534.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,262.31 |
| Weekly | $1,631.15 |
| Hourly | $40.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Service Manager salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $79,490 | 1,320 |
| Pueblo, CO | $79,100 | 40 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $78,930 | 110 |
| Greeley, CO | $78,080 | n/a |
| Grand Junction, CO | $74,740 | 50 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $72,140 | 240 |
Highest-paying states for food service managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $95,190 |
| Massachusetts | $92,240 |
| Hawaii | $87,800 |
| New York | $84,200 |
| Rhode Island | $82,850 |
| Alaska | $82,030 |
| District of Columbia | $81,680 |
| Colorado | $79,870 |
| Minnesota | $79,820 |
| California | $78,260 |
See Food Service Manager pay in every state or the Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boulder, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $179,090 | $86.10 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $203,420 | $97.80 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $138,150 | $66.42 |
| Construction Manager | $126,450 | $60.79 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $131,350 | $63.15 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $136,330 | — |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $210,340 | $101.13 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $100,160 | $48.15 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $103,440 | $49.73 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $69,900 | $33.61 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $97,730 | $46.99 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $75,040 | $36.08 |
| Lodging Manager | $95,640 | $45.98 |
| General and Operations Managers | $152,100 | $73.13 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-9051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food service manager make in Boulder, CO?
The median salary for food service managers in the Boulder, CO metro area is $84,820 a year, or $40.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food service managers make in Boulder, CO?
The top 10% of food service managers in the Boulder, CO metro area earn at least $123,560 a year. The top 25% earn $100,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for food service managers in Boulder, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,600 a year, and a quarter of food service managers earn $73,840 or less.
How many food service managers work in Boulder, CO?
About 170 food service managers are employed in the Boulder, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.