Food Service Managers vs Project Management Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Project Management Specialists professionals earn $35,440 more per year than Food Service Managers professionals — that's 54.3% higher. At the 90th percentile, Food Service Managers earns $105,420 compared to $165,790 for Project Management Specialists.
Salary Range Comparison
Food Service Managers$42,380 – $105,420
Project Management Specialists$59,830 – $165,790
$42,380$165,790
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Food Service Managers | Project Management Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $42,380 | $59,830 | $-17,450 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,090 | $76,950 | $-23,860 |
| Median (50th) | $65,310 | $100,750 | $-35,440 |
| 75th Percentile | $82,300 | $131,660 | $-49,360 |
| 90th Percentile | $105,420 | $165,790 | $-60,370 |
| Mean (Average) | $72,370 | $108,100 | $-35,730 |
Employment Numbers
Food Service Managers
244,230
employed nationwide
Project Management Specialists
1,006,160
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 Project Management Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,250 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $132,530 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $125,390 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $123,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $121,680 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Food Service Managers or Project Management Specialists?
Project Management Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $35,440 (54.3% 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 Project Management Specialists?
Project Management Specialists salaries range from $59,830 (10th percentile) to $165,790 (90th percentile), with a median of $100,750.
How many Food Service Managers and Project Management Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 244,230 Food Service Managers positions and 1,006,160 Project Management Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Project Management Specialists to Food Service Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Food Service Managers has a median salary of $65,310 while Project Management Specialists earns $100,750. 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