Caterer Salary in the United States

How much does a Caterer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Caterer in the United States is $45,456 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $55,314
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $40,763 to $50,616
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $36,491
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View as table View as graph 25% $40,763 10% $36,491 90% $55,314 75% $50,616 $45,456 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Caterer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $50,616 $4,218 $973 $24
Average $45,456 $3,788 $874 $22
25th Percentile $40,763 $3,397 $784 $20
Check out Caterer Job Openings in the United States
Caterer

Giant Eagle - Columbus, OH

Physician Oncology Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

Physician Neurology Ohio Locum Tenens Locums Physician

MD Staff, LLC - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Caterer Salaries

A Caterer'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.

Top Paying Cities for Caterers

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: $57,333
  • San Francisco: $56,705
  • Oakland: $55,510

What Skills Can Increase a Caterer'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.
See More Skills
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 Caterer'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
$50,910
12%
Listening
$50,456
11%
Coordination
$50,001
10%
Microsoft Office
$50,001
10%
Networking
$49,547
9%
Sense Of Urgency
$49,092
8%
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Caterer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Caterer 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, Caterer positions in Business Services or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Caterer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Caterer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$59,092$28.030%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$54,547$26.020%

How Education impacts a Caterer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Caterers enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Caterer with a No Diploma is between $40,984 and $45,631).

Caterer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Caterer
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%
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Caterer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Caterer'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 August 01, 2026

Salaries of jobs related to Caterer

Salary Trends for Caterer

Salaries for a Caterer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $40,399 in 2023 to around $40,146 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Caterer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Caterer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$40,399
2024
$40,635
2025
$40,146
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $40,399
2024 $40,635
2025 $40,146
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Caterer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Caterer

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

Find Your Next Caterer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Caterer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    8 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    9 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    11 Days Ago

  • The Curare Group, Inc

    Columbus, OH

    The Curare Group, Inc | Columbus, OH

    Hospital is seeking a Board Certified/Board Eligible Pediatrician to join a well-respected and growing practice located an hour from Columbus. Only Pediatr... more

    11 Days Ago

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FAQ about Caterer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Caterer?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Caterer 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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