Food Service Managers vs Medical Assistants: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Food Service Managers professionals earn $21,110 more per year than Medical Assistants professionals — that's 47.8% higher. At the 90th percentile, Food Service Managers earns $105,420 compared to $57,830 for Medical Assistants.
Salary Range Comparison
Food Service Managers$42,380 – $105,420
Medical Assistants$35,020 – $57,830
$35,020$105,420
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Food Service Managers | Medical Assistants | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $42,380 | $35,020 | +$7,360 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,090 | $37,610 | +$15,480 |
| Median (50th) | $65,310 | $44,200 | +$21,110 |
| 75th Percentile | $82,300 | $48,160 | +$34,140 |
| 90th Percentile | $105,420 | $57,830 | +$47,590 |
| Mean (Average) | $72,370 | $44,720 | +$27,650 |
Employment Numbers
Food Service Managers
244,230
employed nationwide
Medical Assistants
793,460
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 Medical Assistants
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,570 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $59,910 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $58,850 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $52,040 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Food Service Managers or Medical Assistants?
Food Service Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $21,110 (47.8% 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 Medical Assistants?
Medical Assistants salaries range from $35,020 (10th percentile) to $57,830 (90th percentile), with a median of $44,200.
How many Food Service Managers and Medical Assistants jobs are there?
There are approximately 244,230 Food Service Managers positions and 793,460 Medical Assistants positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Medical Assistants to Food Service Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Food Service Managers has a median salary of $65,310 while Medical Assistants earns $44,200. 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