Substitute Food Service Worker Salary in the United States

How much does a Substitute Food Service Worker make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Substitute Food Service Worker in the United States is $26,787 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $13.

However, a Substitute Food Service Worker's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $30,456
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $24,674 to $28,708
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $22,750
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI Onboarding
View as table View as graph 25% $24,674 10% $22,750 90% $30,456 75% $28,708 $26,787 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Substitute Food Service Worker Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $28,708 $2,392 $552 $14
Average $26,787 $2,232 $515 $13
25th Percentile $24,674 $2,056 $475 $12
Check out Substitute Food Service Worker Job Openings in the United States
Substitute Food Service

Worthington Schools - Columbus, OH

Food Service Worker Cashier

OhioHealth - Columbus, OH

Food Service Worker Lead

Aramark - Columbus, OH

Food Service Worker

Aramark - Columbus, OH

Search More Substitute Food Service Worker Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Substitute Food Service Worker Salaries

A Substitute Food Service Worker'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Substitute Food Service Worker 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 Substitute Food Service Workers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $29,659.
  • California: $29,546.
  • Massachusetts: $29,152.

Top Paying Cities for Substitute Food Service Workers

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: $33,786
  • San Francisco: $33,417
  • Oakland: $32,712

What Skills Can Increase a Substitute Food Service Worker's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.76% 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 3.11% 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.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 12.76%
Food Handling 3.11%
Packaging 1.57%
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 Substitute Food Service Worker's salary.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Initiative
$28,930
8%
Accountability
$28,930
8%
Leadership
$28,662
7%
Team Management
$28,662
7%
Safety Policies and Procedures
$28,662
7%
Cash Handling
$28,394
6%
Get Latest Data

Substitute Food Service Worker Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Substitute Food Service Worker roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and MFG Nondurable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Substitute Food Service Worker positions in Financial Services or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Substitute Food Service Worker as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Substitute Food Service Worker

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$37,502$18.040%
MFG Nondurable$36,162$17.035%
Business Services$34,823$17.030%
Aerospace & Defense$33,484$16.025%
Insurance$32,144$15.020%

Substitute Food Service Worker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Substitute Food Service Worker'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 Substitute Food Service Worker

Salaries for a Substitute Food Service Worker can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $29,969 in 2023 to around $29,478 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Substitute Food Service Worker salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Substitute Food Service Worker Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$29,969
2024
$29,823
2025
$29,478
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $29,969
2024 $29,823
2025 $29,478
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Substitute Food Service Worker

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Substitute Food Service Worker

Here are companies hiring for Substitute Food Service Worker and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Substitute Food Service Worker Job

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

United States
  • Aramark

    Columbus, OH

    Aramark | Columbus, OH

    Aramark - - Responsibilities: Prepare quality food and baked goods according to a planned menu. Serve food according to meal schedules, department policies... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Compass Group

    Columbus, OH

    Compass Group | Columbus, OH

    Food Service Worker. Culinary Services Group is hiring immediately for a FOOD SERVICE WORKER position. Location: Twin Valley Behavioral Health - 2200 W. Br... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Aramark

    Columbus, OH

    Aramark | Columbus, OH

    Aramark - - Responsibilities: Prepare quality food and baked goods according to a planned menu. Prepare a daily report that verifies transactions. Serve fo... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Compass Group

    Columbus, OH

    Compass Group | Columbus, OH

    Compass Group - 1800 Riverside Drive - Responsibilities: Prepares, presents and serves food as needed. Performs prep work such as washing, peeling, cutting... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Eurest

    Columbus, OH

    Eurest | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. . We are hiring immediately for a full time. FOOD SERVICE WORKER/CASHIER. position. Location. Abbott Labs - 3300 Stelzer ... more

    10 Days Ago

  • Compass Group

    Columbus, OH

    Compass Group | Columbus, OH

    Compass Group - 3300 Stelzer Road - Responsibilities: Perform cashiering duties and sales transactions. Prepare fruits and vegetables and assist in food pr... more

    10 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

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

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

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

FAQ about Substitute Food Service Worker

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Substitute Food Service Worker?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Substitute Food Service Worker roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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