Director Of Dining Services Salary in the United States

How much does a Director Of Dining Services make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director Of Dining Services in the United States is $113,538 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $143,801
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $104,377 to $129,379
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $96,036

Key Factors That Influence Director Of Dining Services Salaries

A Director Of Dining Services's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Director Of Dining 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 Dining Services. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $125,709.
  • California: $125,232.
  • Massachusetts: $123,563.

Top Paying Cities for Director Of Dining 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: $143,205
  • San Francisco: $141,638
  • Oakland: $138,653

What Skills Can Increase a Director Of Dining Services's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 6.12% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Menu Development (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): Menu Development focuses primarily on the dish selection and design of a menu. When developing custom menus for clients, we look at the brand's story, guest demographics, local ingredients, and specialties
  • Food Handling (Mentioned in 1.58% 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 6.12%
Menu Development 2.04%
Food Handling 1.58%

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 Dining Services's salary.

  • Expense Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Listening: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Expense Management $118,080
4%
Listening $118,080
4%
Initiative $118,080
4%

Director Of Dining Services Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Director Of Dining Services 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 Hospitality & Leisure and Retail & Wholesale sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Director Of Dining Services positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Director Of Dining Services as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Director Of Dining Services

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure$147,599$71.030%
Retail & Wholesale$124,892$60.010%

How Education impacts a Director Of Dining Services's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Director Of Dining 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 Dining Services with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $97,611 and $108,761).

Director Of Dining Services Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Director Of Dining Services
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 22.0%
Associates 17.3%
Bachelors 52.3%
Masters 6.9%
Doctorate 0.0%

Director Of Dining Services Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director Of Dining 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 October 01, 2026
$104,377
Average $113,538/year
$129,379
$8,698
Average $9,462/month
$10,782
$2,007
Average $2,183/week
$2,488
$50
Average $55/hour
$62
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $129,379 $10,782 $2,488 $62
Average $113,538 $9,462 $2,183 $55
25th Percentile $104,377 $8,698 $2,007 $50

Most common benefits for Director Of Dining Services

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

Common company salaries for Director Of Dining Services

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

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FAQ about Director Of Dining Services

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Director Of Dining Services?

The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Director Of Dining Services 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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