Food Service Manager salary in Wilmington, NC
Food Service Managers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $71,710 a year ($34.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,730 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $69,390. Pay here is 3% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $74,080. There are 2.3 food service managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $72,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food service managers in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,800 | $23.94 |
| 25th percentile | $58,400 | $28.08 |
| Median | $71,710 | $34.48 |
| 75th percentile | $82,850 | $39.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,730 | $46.99 |
| Average (mean) | $72,860 | $35.03 |
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 | $5,975.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,987.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,758.08 |
| Weekly | $1,379.04 |
| Hourly | $34.48 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Food Service Manager pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Manager | $103,810 | $49.91 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| Managers, All Other | $129,120 | $62.08 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $106,630 | $51.27 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $166,910 | $80.24 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $82,930 | — |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $103,000 | $49.52 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $169,810 | $81.64 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $77,860 | $37.43 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $57,720 | $27.75 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $82,460 | $39.65 |
| Lodging Manager | $62,180 | $29.89 |
| General and Operations Managers | $90,270 | $43.40 |
| Sales Manager | $133,400 | $64.14 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, NC
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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for food service managers in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $71,710 a year, or $34.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food service managers make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of food service managers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $97,730 a year. The top 25% earn $82,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for food service managers in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,800 a year, and a quarter of food service managers earn $58,400 or less.
How many food service managers work in Wilmington, NC?
About 450 food service managers are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.