Food Service Manager salary in Merced, CA
Food Service Managers in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $59,170 a year ($28.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,950 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $69,390. Pay here is 24% lower than the California statewide median of $78,260. There are 1.3 food service managers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $72,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food service managers in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,530 | $20.93 |
| 25th percentile | $47,870 | $23.02 |
| Median | $59,170 | $28.45 |
| 75th percentile | $82,650 | $39.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,950 | $58.63 |
| Average (mean) | $72,300 | $34.76 |
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 | $4,930.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,465.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,275.77 |
| Weekly | $1,137.88 |
| Hourly | $28.45 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $89,900 | 1,360 |
| Napa, CA | $89,870 | 230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $88,290 | 4,880 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $80,010 | 4,130 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $79,750 | 330 |
| Salinas, CA | $79,170 | 310 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,570 | 450 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $78,390 | 310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,850 | 11,330 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $77,470 | 240 |
| El Centro, CA | $77,290 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,160 | 1,540 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $75,610 | 590 |
| Vallejo, CA | $74,820 | 260 |
| Modesto, CA | $72,360 | 350 |
| Chico, CA | $71,850 | 140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $71,030 | 3,750 |
| Yuba City, CA | $71,030 | 80 |
| Fresno, CA | $70,860 | 610 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $70,610 | 390 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $65,400 | 480 |
| Visalia, CA | $64,920 | 210 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $64,850 | 80 |
| Redding, CA | $62,070 | 100 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $114,510 | $55.05 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $157,180 | — |
| Managers, All Other | $128,190 | $61.63 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $76,760 | $36.91 |
| Construction Manager | $119,150 | $57.28 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $61,100 | $29.38 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $165,620 | $79.63 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $68,440 | $32.90 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $128,210 | $61.64 |
| General and Operations Managers | $94,990 | $45.67 |
| Sales Manager | $98,670 | $47.44 |
| Financial Manager | $134,170 | $64.51 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $123,590 | $59.42 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $103,840 | $49.92 |
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 Merced, CA?
The median salary for food service managers in the Merced, CA metro area is $59,170 a year, or $28.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food service managers make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of food service managers in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $121,950 a year. The top 25% earn $82,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for food service managers in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,530 a year, and a quarter of food service managers earn $47,870 or less.
How many food service managers work in Merced, CA?
About 110 food service managers are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.