As of May 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Catering Manager in the United States is $25, which translates to an annual salary of about $52,344.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Catering Manager'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Catering Manager'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Catering Manager | $49,990 |
| Intermediate Level Catering Manager | $50,272 |
| Senior Level Catering Manager | $52,156 |
| Specialist Level Catering Manager | $54,368 |
| Expert Level Catering Manager | $55,320 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Catering Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Customer Service | 6.28% |
| HACCP | 1.54% |
| Community Marketing | 0.86% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Outside Sales
|
$61,242 |
17%
|
|
Negotiating
|
$59,672 |
14%
|
|
Networking
|
$58,625 |
12%
|
|
Listening
|
$58,102 |
11%
|
|
Products and Services
|
$57,578 |
10%
|
|
Problem Solving
|
$57,578 |
10%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Catering Managers enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Catering Manager with a Associate's Degree is between $50,191 and $54,976).
Catering Manager Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.3% |
| High School | 18.9% |
| Associates | 16.5% |
| Bachelors | 59.2% |
| Masters | 5.1% |
| Doctorate | 0.0% |
Understanding how a Catering Manager'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 May 01, 2026Salaries for a Catering Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $43,995 in 2023 to around $43,994 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Catering Manager salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $43,995 |
| 2024 | $44,713 |
| 2025 | $43,994 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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Plans, directs, and coordinates catered events for an establishment. Negotiates contracts, assists in the selection of menu items, schedules catering staff, arranges for facilities or equipment, and communicates customer needs to the appropriate personnel. Develops and maintains catering accounts by ensuring customer satisfaction before, during, and after the event. May require a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a head of a unit/department. Supervises a group of primarily para-professional level staffs. May also be a level above a supervisor within high volume administrative/ production environments. Makes day-to-day decisions within or for a group/small department. Has some authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 3-5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. Thorough knowledge of functional area and department processes.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Customer Service: 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.
HACCP: HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement to manufacturing and consumption of the finished product.
Community Marketing: Community marketing is a strategy to engage an audience in an active, non-intrusive prospect and customer conversation
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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