Database Administrators vs Food Service Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Database Administrators professionals earn $70,670 more per year than Food Service Managers professionals — that's 108.2% higher. At the 90th percentile, Database Administrators earns $209,990 compared to $105,420 for Food Service Managers.
Salary Range Comparison
Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Food Service Managers$42,380 – $105,420
$42,380$209,990
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Database Administrators | Food Service Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $81,630 | $42,380 | +$39,250 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,900 | $53,090 | +$54,810 |
| Median (50th) | $135,980 | $65,310 | +$70,670 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,480 | $82,300 | +$87,180 |
| 90th Percentile | $209,990 | $105,420 | +$104,570 |
| Mean (Average) | $142,620 | $72,370 | +$70,250 |
Employment Numbers
Database Administrators
64,770
employed nationwide
Food Service Managers
244,230
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Database Administrators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $188,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $170,700 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $162,310 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $155,880 |
Best Cities for Food Service Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $95,540 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $86,840 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $84,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $82,570 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $82,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Food Service Managers?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $70,670 (108.2% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Database Administrators?
Database Administrators salaries range from $81,630 (10th percentile) to $209,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $135,980.
What is the salary range for Food Service Managers?
Food Service Managers salaries range from $42,380 (10th percentile) to $105,420 (90th percentile), with a median of $65,310.
How many Database Administrators and Food Service Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and 244,230 Food Service Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Food Service Managers to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Food Service Managers earns $65,310. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS