Food Service Aide Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Food Service Aide in the United States is $34,630 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $39,507
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $32,241 to $37,183
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $30,065
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered HR
View as table View as graph 25% $32,241 10% $30,065 90% $39,507 75% $37,183 $34,630 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Food Service Aide Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $37,183 $3,099 $715 $18
Average $34,630 $2,886 $666 $17
25th Percentile $32,241 $2,687 $620 $16
Check out Food Service Aide Job Openings in the United States
Food Service Worker Kitchen Helper Dietary Aide

Healthcare Services Group - Columbus, OH

Food Service

Littleton's Market - Columbus, OH

Food Service

SSA Attractions Group - Columbus, OH

Food Service

SSA Attractions Group - Columbus, OH

Search More Food Service Aide Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Food Service Aide Salaries

A Food Service Aide'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 Food Service Aide Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Food Service Aide'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): $34,066
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $34,132
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $35,002
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $36,154
  • Expert (over 8 years): $36,236
Levels Salary
Entry Level Food Service Aide$34,066
Intermediate Level Food Service Aide$34,132
Senior Level Food Service Aide$35,002
Specialist Level Food Service Aide$36,154
Expert Level Food Service Aide$36,236
$34,066 0 yr
$34,132 < 2 yrs
$35,002 2-4 yrs
$36,154 5-8 yrs
$36,236 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Food Service Aide 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 Food Service Aides. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $38,342.
  • California: $38,197.
  • Massachusetts: $37,688.

Top Paying Cities for Food Service Aides

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: $43,679
  • San Francisco: $43,201
  • Oakland: $42,290

What Skills Can Increase a Food Service Aide's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.79% 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.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 3.76% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
  • Safety Standards (Mentioned in 1.74% Job Postings): Safety standards are designed to ensure the safety of products, activities and processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.79%
Foodservice 3.76%
Safety Standards 1.74%
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 Food Service Aide's salary.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • WFM: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration
$37,400
8%
WFM
$37,054
7%
Leadership
$36,362
5%
Honesty and Integrity
$36,362
5%
Team Management
$36,362
5%
Foodservice
$36,015
4%
Get Latest Data

Food Service Aide Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Food Service Aide 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 Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Food Service Aide positions in Financial Services or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Food Service Aide as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Food Service Aide

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$45,019$22.030%
Aerospace & Defense$43,288$21.025%
MFG Nondurable$41,556$20.020%
Healthcare$39,824$19.015%
Business Services$38,093$18.010%

How Education impacts a Food Service Aide's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Food Service Aides enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Food Service Aide with a No Diploma is between $33,458 and $35,114).

Food Service Aide Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Food Service Aide
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.1%
High School 53.0%
Associates 30.3%
Bachelors 10.6%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
view as graph

Food Service Aide Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Food Service Aide'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 Food Service Aide

Salaries for a Food Service Aide can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $34,096 in 2023 to around $33,315 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Food Service Aide salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Food Service Aide Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$34,096
2024
$33,955
2025
$33,315
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $34,096
2024 $33,955
2025 $33,315
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Food Service Aide

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 Food Service Aide

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

Find Your Next Food Service Aide Job

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

United States
  • SSA Attractions Group

    Columbus, OH

    SSA Attractions Group | Columbus, OH

    SSA Attractions Group - 333 West Broad Street - Responsibilities: Ensure location is adequately stocked, prepped and staffed for daily operation. Oversee q... more

    3 Days Ago

  • SSA Group, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    SSA Group, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Food Service Supervisor. SSA Group works with zoos, aquariums, museums, and other cultural attractions on integrating dining, retail, admissions and more. ... more

    7 Days Ago

  • True North

    Columbus, OH

    True North | Columbus, OH

    Food Service Cook. The Food Service Cook is responsible for preparing, cooking, and presenting Krispy Krunchy Chicken products in accordance with company s... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Worthington Schools

    Columbus, OH

    Worthington Schools | Columbus, OH

    Food Service Associate. One part-time Food Service Associate to work 4.50 hrs per day, Monday through Friday from on a 178 day calendar. Responsible for as... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Healthcare Services Group, Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    Healthcare Services Group, Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Overview. Role: Food Service Director / Dining Services Director. Join Healthcare Services Group (HCSG) as a Food Service... more

    4 Days Ago

  • OhioHealth

    Columbus, OH

    OhioHealth | Columbus, OH

    Our Belief System. We are more than a health system. We are a belief system. We believe wellness and sickness are both part of a lifelong partnership, and ... more

    4 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 Food Service Aide

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

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Food Service Aide 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.

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