Catering Sales Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Catering Sales Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Catering Sales Director in the United States is $193,530 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $93.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $239,436
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $177,114 to $217,559
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $162,168

Key Factors That Influence Catering Sales Director Salaries

A Catering Sales Director'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 Sales Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Catering Sales Director'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): $127,103
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $165,758
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $191,763
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $226,081
  • Expert (over 8 years): $275,581
Levels Salary
Sales Man... Level Catering Sales Director$127,103
Sales Sen... Level Catering Sales Director$165,758
Catering ... Level Catering Sales Director$191,763
Vice Pres... Level Catering Sales Director$226,081
Senior Vi... Level Catering Sales Director$275,581

How Do Catering Sales Director Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Sales Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $214,276.
  • California: $213,464.
  • Massachusetts: $210,619.

Top Paying Cities for Catering Sales Directors

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: $244,099
  • San Francisco: $241,427
  • Oakland: $236,339

What Skills Can Increase a Catering Sales Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 9.21% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Advertising (Mentioned in 2.24% Job Postings): Advertising is a marketing communication that employs an openly sponsored, non-personal message to promote or sell a product, service or idea.:465 Sponsors of advertising are typically businesses wishing to promote their products or services. Advertising is differentiated from public relations in that an advertiser pays for and has control over the message. It differs from personal selling in that the message is non-personal, i.e., not directed to a particular individual.:661,672 Advertising is communicated through various mass media, including traditional media such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio, outdoor advertising or direct mail; and new media such as search results, blogs, social media, websites or text messages. The actual presentation of the message in a medium is referred to as an advertisement, or "ad" or advert for short. Commercial ads often seek to generate increased consumption of their products or services through "branding", which associates a product name or image with certain qualities in the minds of consumers. On the other hand, ads that intend to elicit an immediate sale are known as direct-response advertising. Non-commercial entities that advertise more than consumer products or services include political parties, interest groups, religious organizations and governmental agencies. Non-profit organizations may use free modes of persuasion, such as a public service announcement. Advertising may also help to reassure employees or shareholders that a company is viable or successful.
  • Fintech (Mentioned in 1.33% Job Postings): Integrating software technologies and applications to improve and automate the delivery and use of financial operations to consumers.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 9.21%
Advertising 2.24%
Fintech 1.33%

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 Sales Director's salary.

  • Fintech: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Direct Sales: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Team Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Fintech $203,207
5%
Direct Sales $201,271
4%
Team Management $201,271
4%

Catering Sales Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Catering Sales Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Catering Sales Director positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Catering Sales Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Catering Sales Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$241,912$116.025%
Software & Networking$241,912$116.025%
Energy & Utilities$232,236$112.020%
Internet$222,559$107.015%
Pharmaceuticals$222,559$107.015%

How Education impacts a Catering Sales Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Catering Sales Directors enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Sales Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $195,341 and $210,416).

Catering Sales Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Catering Sales Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 7.9%
Associates 6.0%
Bachelors 57.8%
Masters 26.0%
Doctorate 1.4%

Catering Sales Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Catering Sales Director'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
$177,114
Average $193,530/year
$217,559
$14,760
Average $16,128/month
$18,130
$3,406
Average $3,722/week
$4,184
$85
Average $93/hour
$105
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $217,559 $18,130 $4,184 $105
Average $193,530 $16,128 $3,722 $93
25th Percentile $177,114 $14,760 $3,406 $85

Most common benefits for Catering Sales Director

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

Common company salaries for Catering Sales Director

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

Find Your Next Catering Sales Director Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Catering Sales Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Catering Sales Director?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Catering Sales Director roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst