Food Service Managers vs Human Resources Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Human Resources Specialists professionals earn $7,600 more per year than Food Service Managers professionals — that's 11.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Food Service Managers earns $105,420 compared to $126,540 for Human Resources Specialists.
Salary Range Comparison
Food Service Managers$42,380 – $105,420
Human Resources Specialists$45,440 – $126,540
$42,380$126,540
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Food Service Managers | Human Resources Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $42,380 | $45,440 | $-3,060 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,090 | $55,870 | $-2,780 |
| Median (50th) | $65,310 | $72,910 | $-7,600 |
| 75th Percentile | $82,300 | $97,270 | $-14,970 |
| 90th Percentile | $105,420 | $126,540 | $-21,120 |
| Mean (Average) | $72,370 | $79,730 | $-7,360 |
Employment Numbers
Food Service Managers
244,230
employed nationwide
Human Resources Specialists
917,460
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 Human Resources Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $114,080 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $100,600 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $97,340 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $88,050 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $83,930 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Food Service Managers or Human Resources Specialists?
Human Resources Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $7,600 (11.6% 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 Human Resources Specialists?
Human Resources Specialists salaries range from $45,440 (10th percentile) to $126,540 (90th percentile), with a median of $72,910.
How many Food Service Managers and Human Resources Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 244,230 Food Service Managers positions and 917,460 Human Resources Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Human Resources Specialists to Food Service Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Food Service Managers has a median salary of $65,310 while Human Resources Specialists earns $72,910. 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