Food Service Manager salary in North Carolina
Food Service Managers in North Carolina earn a median of $74,080 a year ($35.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,060 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $69,390. North Carolina ranks 16th of 51 states for food service managers pay. There are 1.9 food service managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $76,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food service managers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,780 | $24.89 |
| 25th percentile | $59,790 | $28.75 |
| Median | $74,080 | $35.62 |
| 75th percentile | $91,080 | $43.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,060 | $50.03 |
| Average (mean) | $76,550 | $36.81 |
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 | $6,173.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,086.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,849.23 |
| Weekly | $1,424.62 |
| Hourly | $35.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Service Manager salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $76,160 | 1,640 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $75,800 | 510 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $75,460 | 2,760 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $74,770 | 100 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $73,780 | 600 |
| Asheville, NC | $73,090 | 400 |
| Greenville, NC | $72,830 | 140 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $72,770 | 270 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $72,140 | 260 |
| Wilmington, NC | $71,710 | 450 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $71,500 | 470 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $71,430 | 80 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $71,030 | 90 |
| Burlington, NC | $65,160 | 170 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $64,990 | 950 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $63,710 | 130 |
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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $141,160 | $67.87 |
| Construction Manager | $106,640 | $51.27 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $114,410 | $55.01 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $83,180 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $61,430 | $29.54 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $101,060 | $48.59 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $167,840 | $80.69 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $173,870 | $83.59 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $79,590 | $38.26 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $57,200 | $27.50 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $98,880 | $47.54 |
| Lodging Manager | $63,860 | $30.70 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $77,990 | $37.49 |
| Postmasters and Mail Superintendents | $96,410 | $46.35 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for food service managers in North Carolina is $74,080 a year, or $35.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food service managers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of food service managers in North Carolina earn at least $104,060 a year. The top 25% earn $91,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for food service managers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,780 a year, and a quarter of food service managers earn $59,790 or less.
How many food service managers work in North Carolina?
About 9,420 food service managers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.