Catering Operations Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Catering Operations Manager make in the United States?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for a Catering Operations Manager in the United States is $54,070 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,856
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,593 to $62,333
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,696
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View as table View as graph 25% $47,593 10% $41,696 90% $69,856 75% $62,333 $54,070 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Catering Operations Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $62,333 $5,194 $1,199 $30
Average $54,070 $4,506 $1,040 $26
25th Percentile $47,593 $3,966 $915 $23
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Key Factors That Influence Catering Operations Manager Salaries

A Catering Operations 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.

How Experience Level Affects Catering Operations Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Catering Operations 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $51,057
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $51,346
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $53,270
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $55,528
  • Expert (over 8 years): $56,501
Levels Salary
Entry Level Catering Operations Manager$51,057
Intermediate Level Catering Operations Manager$51,346
Senior Level Catering Operations Manager$53,270
Specialist Level Catering Operations Manager$55,528
Expert Level Catering Operations Manager$56,501
$51,057 0 yr
$51,346 < 2 yrs
$53,270 2-4 yrs
$55,528 5-8 yrs
$56,501 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Catering Operations Managers

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: $68,199
  • San Francisco: $67,528
  • Oakland: $66,031

What Skills Can Increase a Catering Operations Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.28% 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.
  • HACCP (Mentioned in 1.54% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 0.86% Job Postings): Community marketing is a strategy to engage an audience in an active, non-intrusive prospect and customer conversation
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.28%
HACCP 1.54%
Community Marketing 0.86%
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 Operations Manager's salary.
  • Outside Sales: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Negotiating: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Outside Sales
$63,262
17%
Negotiating
$61,640
14%
Networking
$60,559
12%
Listening
$60,018
11%
Products and Services
$59,477
10%
Problem Solving
$59,477
10%
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How Education impacts a Catering Operations Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Catering Operations 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 Operations Manager with a Associate's Degree is between $50,191 and $54,976).

Catering Operations Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Catering Operations Manager
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%
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Catering Operations Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Catering Operations 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 February 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Catering Operations Manager

Salaries for a Catering Operations Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $44,924 in 2023 to around $44,922 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Catering Operations Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Catering Operations Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$44,924
2024
$45,656
2025
$44,922
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $44,924
2024 $45,656
2025 $44,922
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Catering Operations Manager

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

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

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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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