Director of Culinary Services Salary in the United States

How much does a Director of Culinary Services make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director of Culinary Services in the United States is $88,064 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

However, a Director of Culinary Services's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $110,206
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $78,530 to $99,654
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $69,850
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View as table View as graph 25% $78,530 10% $69,850 90% $110,206 75% $99,654 $88,064 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Director of Culinary Services Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $99,654 $8,304 $1,916 $48
Average $88,064 $7,339 $1,694 $42
25th Percentile $78,530 $6,544 $1,510 $38
Check out Director of Culinary Services Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Director of Culinary Services Salaries

A Director of Culinary Services'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 Director of Culinary Services Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director of Culinary Services'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): $83,654
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $84,081
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $85,504
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $89,257
  • Expert (over 8 years): $91,473
Levels Salary
Entry Level Director of Culinary Services$83,654
Intermediate Level Director of Culinary Services$84,081
Senior Level Director of Culinary Services$85,504
Specialist Level Director of Culinary Services$89,257
Expert Level Director of Culinary Services$91,473
$83,654 0 yr
$84,081 < 2 yrs
$85,504 2-4 yrs
$89,257 5-8 yrs
$91,473 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Director of Culinary Services 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 Director of Culinary Services. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $97,504.
  • California: $97,134.
  • Massachusetts: $95,840.

Top Paying Cities for Director of Culinary Services

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: $111,075
  • San Francisco: $109,859
  • Oakland: $107,543

What Skills Can Increase a Director of Culinary Services's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.17% 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.
  • Purchasing (Mentioned in 1.98% Job Postings): Purchasing refers to a business or organization attempting to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between organizations. Typically the word “purchasing” is not used interchangeably with the word “procurement”, since procurement typically includes expediting, supplier quality, and transportation and logistics (T&L) in addition to purchasing.
  • Managed Services (Mentioned in 0.94% Job Postings): Managed services is the practice of outsourcing on a proactive basis certain processes and functions intended to improve operations and cut expenses. It is an alternative to the break/fix or on-demand outsourcing model where the service provider performs on-demand services and bills the customer only for the work done. Under this subscription model, the client or customer is the entity that owns or has direct oversight of the organization or system being managed whereas the Managed Services Provider (MSP) is the service provider delivering the managed services. The client and the MSP are bound by a contractual, service-level agreement that states the performance and quality metrics of their relationship.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.17%
Purchasing 1.98%
Managed Services 0.94%
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 Director of Culinary Services's salary.
  • Managed Services: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Workplace Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Managed Services
$96,870
10%
Workplace Safety
$95,989
9%
Commitment
$94,228
7%
Presentation
$93,348
6%
Attention to Detail
$92,467
5%
Catering
$92,467
5%
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Director of Culinary Services Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Director of Culinary Services roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Director of Culinary Services positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Director of Culinary Services as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Director of Culinary Services

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$110,080$53.025%
Biotechnology$105,676$51.020%
Energy & Utilities$101,273$49.015%
Internet$101,273$49.015%
Chemicals$96,870$47.010%

How Education impacts a Director of Culinary Services's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Director of Culinary Services enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Director of Culinary Services with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $87,282 and $93,991).

Director of Culinary Services Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Director of Culinary Services
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.3%
High School 43.9%
Associates 18.5%
Bachelors 32.3%
Masters 2.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Director of Culinary Services Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director of Culinary Services'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

Salary Trends for Director of Culinary Services

Salaries for a Director of Culinary Services can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $47,562 in 2023 to around $48,011 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Director of Culinary Services salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Director of Culinary Services Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$47,562
2024
$48,230
2025
$48,011
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $47,562
2024 $48,230
2025 $48,011
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Director of Culinary Services

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Director of Culinary Services

Here are companies hiring for Director of Culinary Services and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Director of Culinary Services Job

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

United States
  • Compassus

    Columbus, OH

    Compassus | Columbus, OH

    Hospice Director Clinical Services (Registered Nurse/RN). Company: OhioHealth at Home in partnership with Compassus. At OhioHealth at Home in Partnership w... more

    4 Days Ago

  • University Health Careers

    Columbus, OH

    University Health Careers | Columbus, OH

    About University Health :At University Health, we are dedicated to improving the health of our community through exceptional patient care, education, and i... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Executive Director, Patient Support Services. About the Company. Late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company. Industry. Biotechnology. Type. Public Compa... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Executive Director, Legal & Advocacy Services. About the Company. Well-established organization providing legal services to individuals with mental health ... more

    3 Days Ago

  • B &amp; F Healthcare Services

    Columbus, OH

    B &amp; F Healthcare Services | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. About the Role. Join B & F Healthcare Services as a Program Director, where you will contribute to the health and happine... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Culinary Services Group

    Columbus, OH

    Culinary Services Group | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. . Culinary Services Group is hiring immediately for full time and part time. FOOD. TRANSPORTER/DELIVERY. DRIVER. position... more

    5 Days Ago

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FAQ about Director of Culinary Services

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Director of Culinary Services?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Director of Culinary Services 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.

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