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Catering Senior Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Catering Senior Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Catering Senior Manager in the United States is $79,095 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $100,265
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,228 to $90,176
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $65,976
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Catering Senior Manager Salaries

A Catering Senior Manager'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 Senior Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Catering Senior Manager'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): $76,533
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $76,840
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $77,865
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $81,080
  • Expert (over 8 years): $83,230
Levels Salary
Entry Level Catering Senior Manager$76,533
Intermediate Level Catering Senior Manager$76,840
Senior Level Catering Senior Manager$77,865
Specialist Level Catering Senior Manager$81,080
Expert Level Catering Senior Manager$83,230
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How Do Catering Senior Manager 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 Senior Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $87,574.
  • California: $87,242.
  • Massachusetts: $86,079.

Top Paying Cities for Catering Senior Managers

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: $99,763
  • San Francisco: $98,670
  • Oakland: $96,591

What Skills Can Increase a Catering Senior Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 3.74% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Food Preparation (Mentioned in 1.65% Job Postings): The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to food preparation: Food preparation – art form and applied science that includes but is not limited to cooking.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 0.76% 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 3.74%
Food Preparation 1.65%
Foodservice 0.76%
See More Skills

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 Senior Manager's salary.

  • Environmental Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Outside Sales: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Environmental Safety $88,586
12%
Commitment $86,214
9%
Outside Sales $86,214
9%
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Catering Senior Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Catering Senior Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $85,124. While startup companies pay approximate $72,157.

Catering Senior Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $72,157
Growth Stage 51~500 $76,278
Established 501~5000 $82,238
Enterprise 5000+ $85,124

Catering Senior Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Catering Senior Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Catering Senior Manager positions in Business Services or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Catering Senior Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Catering Senior Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$94,914$46.020%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$87,004$42.010%

How Education impacts a Catering Senior Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Catering Senior Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Catering Senior Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $69,747 and $81,080.

Catering Senior Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Catering Senior Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 20.2%
High School 20.2%
Associates 16.0%
Bachelors 54.3%
Masters 9.6%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Catering Senior Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Catering Senior Manager'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
$72,228
Average $79,095/year
$90,176
$6,019
Average $6,591/month
$7,515
$1,389
Average $1,521/week
$1,734
$35
Average $38/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $90,176 $7,515 $1,734 $43
Average $79,095 $6,591 $1,521 $38
25th Percentile $72,228 $6,019 $1,389 $35

Most common benefits for Catering Senior Manager

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

Common company salaries for Catering Senior Manager

Here are companies hiring for Catering Senior Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Catering Senior Manager

1. Where can a Catering Senior Manager earn the most?

A Catering Senior Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Catering Senior Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Catering Senior Manager is $99,763.

2. What is the highest pay for Catering Senior Manager?

The highest pay for Catering Senior Manager is $100,265.

3. What is the lowest pay for Catering Senior Manager?

The lowest pay for Catering Senior Manager is $65,976.

4. What are the responsibilities of Catering Senior Manager?

Oversees all of the catering operations including booking, selecting, and pricing menu items, and acquiring and renting equipment. Monitors the preparation and service of food and refreshments. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a director. Typically manages through subordinate managers and professionals in larger groups of moderate complexity. Provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional area of responsibility. May give input into developing the budget. Typically requires 3+ years of managerial experience. Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations and requiring coordination with other departments.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Catering Senior Manager?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Catering Senior Manager roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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