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Catering Coordinator Salary in the United States

How much does a Catering Coordinator make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Catering Coordinator in the United States is $45,798 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

However, a Catering Coordinator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $56,565
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $41,490 to $51,434
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $37,568

Key Factors That Influence Catering Coordinator Salaries

A Catering Coordinator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Catering Coordinator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Catering Coordinator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Catering Coordinator (1-3 years): $45,798
  • Catering Manager (3-5 years): $52,326
  • Catering Senior Manager (5+ years): $79,095
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Catering Coordinator1-3 years$45,798
Catering Manager3-5 years$52,326
Catering Senior Manager5+ years$79,095

Top Paying Cities for Catering Coordinators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $57,765
  • San Francisco: $57,133
  • Oakland: $55,929

What Skills Can Increase a Catering Coordinator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 3.47% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Food Handling (Mentioned in 1.61% Job Postings): Food Handling means one or more operations of food production, manufacture, offering or displaying for sale, storage, preserving, wrapping, transportation, delivery, importation, exportation, or the licensing or approval for any of such activities.
  • Service Quality (Mentioned in 0.99% Job Postings): Service quality is a measure of how an organization delivers its services compared to the expectations of its customers.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 3.47%
Food Handling 1.61%
Service Quality 0.99%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Catering Coordinator's salary.

  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Listening: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Time Management $51,294
12%
Listening $50,836
11%
Coordination $50,378
10%

Catering Coordinator Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Catering Coordinator salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $49,289. While startup companies pay approximate $41,781.

Catering Coordinator Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $41,781
Growth Stage 51~500 $44,167
Established 501~5000 $47,618
Enterprise 5000+ $49,289

Catering Coordinator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Catering Coordinator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Catering Coordinator positions in Business Services or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Catering Coordinator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Catering Coordinator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$59,537$29.030%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$54,958$26.020%

How Education impacts a Catering Coordinator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Catering Coordinator enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Catering Coordinator with a Bachelor's Degree is between $42,652 and $47,070.

Catering Coordinator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Catering Coordinator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 15.6%
High School 15.6%
Associates 10.9%
Bachelors 68.8%
Masters 4.7%
Doctorate 0.0%

Catering Coordinator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Catering Coordinator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$41,490
Average $45,798/year
$51,434
$3,458
Average $3,817/month
$4,286
$798
Average $881/week
$989
$20
Average $22/hour
$25
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $51,434 $4,286 $989 $25
Average $45,798 $3,817 $881 $22
25th Percentile $41,490 $3,458 $798 $20

Catering Coordinator Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Catering Coordinator, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Catering Coordinator Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Banquet Supervisor $34,904 -24%
Catering Manager $52,326 14%

Most common benefits for Catering Coordinator

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Catering Coordinator

Here are companies hiring for Catering Coordinator and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Catering Coordinator

1. Where can a Catering Coordinator earn the most?

A Catering Coordinator's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Catering Coordinator earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Catering Coordinator is $57,765.

2. What is the highest pay for Catering Coordinator?

The highest pay for Catering Coordinator is $56,565.

3. What is the lowest pay for Catering Coordinator?

The lowest pay for Catering Coordinator is $37,568.

4. What are the responsibilities of Catering Coordinator?

Oversees the fulfillment of catering orders from receipt of an order to execution, payment, and delivery. Interacts with clients and makes menu recommendations. Ensures accuracy of catering order and timely delivery. Typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. Typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Catering Coordinator?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Catering Coordinator roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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