Food Service Managers vs Training and Development Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Training and Development Specialists professionals earn $540 more per year than Food Service Managers professionals — that's 0.8% higher. At the 90th percentile, Food Service Managers earns $105,420 compared to $120,190 for Training and Development Specialists.
Salary Range Comparison
Food Service Managers$42,380 – $105,420
Training and Development Specialists$37,510 – $120,190
$37,510$120,190
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Food Service Managers | Training and Development Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $42,380 | $37,510 | +$4,870 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,090 | $48,900 | +$4,190 |
| Median (50th) | $65,310 | $65,850 | $-540 |
| 75th Percentile | $82,300 | $91,550 | $-9,250 |
| 90th Percentile | $105,420 | $120,190 | $-14,770 |
| Mean (Average) | $72,370 | $73,760 | $-1,390 |
Employment Numbers
Food Service Managers
244,230
employed nationwide
Training and Development Specialists
436,610
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 Training and Development Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,530 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92,710 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $92,390 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82,330 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $79,210 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Food Service Managers or Training and Development Specialists?
Training and Development Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $540 (0.8% 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 Training and Development Specialists?
Training and Development Specialists salaries range from $37,510 (10th percentile) to $120,190 (90th percentile), with a median of $65,850.
How many Food Service Managers and Training and Development Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 244,230 Food Service Managers positions and 436,610 Training and Development Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Training and Development Specialists to Food Service Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Food Service Managers has a median salary of $65,310 while Training and Development Specialists earns $65,850. 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