Food Service Managers vs General and Operations Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn $37,640 more per year than Food Service Managers professionals — that's 57.6% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Food Service Managers$42,380 – $105,420
General and Operations Managers$47,420 – N/A
$42,380$105,420
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Food Service Managers | General and Operations Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $42,380 | $47,420 | $-5,040 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,090 | $67,160 | $-14,070 |
| Median (50th) | $65,310 | $102,950 | $-37,640 |
| 75th Percentile | $82,300 | $164,130 | $-81,830 |
| 90th Percentile | $105,420 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $72,370 | $133,120 | $-60,750 |
Employment Numbers
Food Service Managers
244,230
employed nationwide
General and Operations Managers
3,584,420
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
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 |
Best Cities for General and Operations Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $162,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $152,090 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $151,420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $149,260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $141,280 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Food Service Managers or General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $37,640 (57.6% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
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.
What is the salary range for General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers salaries range from $47,420 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $102,950.
How many Food Service Managers and General and Operations Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 244,230 Food Service Managers positions and 3,584,420 General and Operations Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from General and Operations Managers to Food Service Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Food Service Managers has a median salary of $65,310 while General and Operations Managers earns $102,950. 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