Food Service Managers vs Tax Preparers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Food Service Managers professionals earn $14,750 more per year than Tax Preparers professionals — that's 29.2% higher. At the 90th percentile, Food Service Managers earns $105,420 compared to $96,240 for Tax Preparers.
Salary Range Comparison
Food Service Managers$42,380 – $105,420
Tax Preparers$30,500 – $96,240
$30,500$105,420
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Food Service Managers | Tax Preparers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $42,380 | $30,500 | +$11,880 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,090 | $37,750 | +$15,340 |
| Median (50th) | $65,310 | $50,560 | +$14,750 |
| 75th Percentile | $82,300 | $75,590 | +$6,710 |
| 90th Percentile | $105,420 | $96,240 | +$9,180 |
| Mean (Average) | $72,370 | $58,860 | +$13,510 |
Employment Numbers
Food Service Managers
244,230
employed nationwide
Tax Preparers
73,570
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 Tax Preparers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $83,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $83,240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $74,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $71,990 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $68,160 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Food Service Managers or Tax Preparers?
Food Service Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $14,750 (29.2% 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 Tax Preparers?
Tax Preparers salaries range from $30,500 (10th percentile) to $96,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $50,560.
How many Food Service Managers and Tax Preparers jobs are there?
There are approximately 244,230 Food Service Managers positions and 73,570 Tax Preparers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Tax Preparers to Food Service Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Food Service Managers has a median salary of $65,310 while Tax Preparers earns $50,560. 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