First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (SOC 35-1012) earn a median $44,080 a year ($21.19 an hour) in the United States, with 1,223,240 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers do
These supervisors directly supervise and coordinate the workers who prepare and serve food. They schedule and assign the cooks, servers, and counter staff, show new hires how the stations work, and teach the food-safety and sanitation routines of the operation. During service they step in wherever the line is backed up, which can mean taking orders, running the register, or clearing tables. They settle complaints from diners, count the till, prepare bank deposits, and handle financial activities such as payroll. They also recommend ways to improve work procedures, service quality, and job safety, and they lay out workstations and the timing of courses. It differs from the chef and head cook code, whose holder directs the cooking itself. The title applies to supervisors of both kitchen and serving staff.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the usual education level (about 70 percent).
Also called: Banquet Captain, Banquet Supervisor, Bar Manager, Bartender Manager, Cafeteria Manager.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.40 | $17.30 | $21.19 | $26.24 | $31.52 | $22.20 | 1,223,240 |
| Annual | $29,940 | $35,980 | $44,080 | $54,570 | $65,570 | $46,180 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $21.21 | $23.39 | $28.56 | $35.51 | $39.34 | $29.80 | 20,700 | 5.83 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $44,110 | $48,660 | $59,400 | $73,860 | $81,820 | $61,990 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $19.40 | $22.11 | $27.49 | $31.46 | $37.32 | $27.78 | 2,830 | 4.03 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $40,360 | $45,990 | $57,170 | $65,430 | $77,630 | $57,770 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $17.85 | $20.08 | $25.45 | $30.78 | $37.25 | $26.79 | 10,770 | 6.35 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $37,130 | $41,770 | $52,940 | $64,010 | $77,480 | $55,720 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $18.09 | $20.60 | $24.30 | $29.66 | $36.16 | $25.82 | 25,510 | 8.88 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $37,620 | $42,850 | $50,550 | $61,680 | $75,210 | $53,710 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $18.13 | $21.11 | $23.95 | $28.64 | $31.88 | $25.10 | 1,970 | 6.47 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $37,700 | $43,920 | $49,820 | $59,560 | $66,300 | $52,200 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $13.47 | $14.34 | $17.54 | $22.78 | $29.60 | $19.76 | 137,930 | 9.80 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $28,010 | $29,830 | $36,480 | $47,370 | $61,560 | $41,100 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $18.57 | $21.37 | $22.59 | $28.46 | $36.15 | $25.39 | 130,190 | 7.15 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $38,630 | $44,460 | $46,980 | $59,200 | $75,180 | $52,810 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $14.66 | $17.27 | $21.38 | $27.51 | $31.31 | $22.40 | 91,500 | 9.21 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $30,490 | $35,920 | $44,470 | $57,220 | $65,120 | $46,600 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.58 | $18.87 | $22.69 | $28.02 | $35.11 | $24.32 | 65,580 | 6.77 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $36,570 | $39,250 | $47,190 | $58,280 | $73,020 | $50,590 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $14.30 | $16.93 | $17.95 | $22.31 | $28.20 | $20.04 | 51,990 | 9.37 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $29,750 | $35,220 | $37,340 | $46,400 | $58,660 | $41,680 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $22.28 | $24.57 | $29.62 | $36.57 | $39.90 | $31.07 | 12,090 | 5.79 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $46,340 | $51,110 | $61,610 | $76,070 | $82,990 | $64,620 | ||||
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | Hourly | $21.44 | $22.93 | $28.24 | $35.00 | $38.46 | $29.34 | 610 | 6.56 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $44,600 | $47,680 | $58,740 | $72,790 | $79,990 | $61,030 | ||||
| Bellingham, WA | Hourly | $21.17 | $22.50 | $28.14 | $33.85 | $37.73 | $28.74 | 600 | 6.58 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $44,040 | $46,810 | $58,520 | $70,410 | $78,480 | $59,780 | ||||
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | Hourly | $18.70 | $20.70 | $28.01 | $34.53 | $38.98 | $27.88 | 2,720 | 6.73 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $38,900 | $43,060 | $58,260 | $71,820 | $81,080 | $57,990 | ||||
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | Hourly | $21.20 | $23.08 | $27.82 | $34.14 | $37.24 | $28.63 | 340 | 6.56 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $44,100 | $48,000 | $57,870 | $71,000 | $77,460 | $59,540 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.89 | $19.48 | $23.41 | $29.22 | $37.62 | $25.49 | 61,060 | 6.43 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $37,220 | $40,510 | $48,690 | $60,770 | $78,260 | $53,020 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.91 | $21.58 | $22.58 | $29.31 | $36.15 | $25.66 | 41,640 | 6.64 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $39,340 | $44,880 | $46,970 | $60,960 | $75,180 | $53,380 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $13.89 | $14.74 | $18.14 | $25.01 | $30.16 | $20.80 | 39,780 | 9.82 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $28,880 | $30,650 | $37,730 | $52,020 | $62,730 | $43,260 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $11.48 | $14.33 | $17.51 | $23.41 | $29.88 | $19.88 | 31,290 | 9.51 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $23,870 | $29,810 | $36,410 | $48,700 | $62,140 | $41,350 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.46 | $17.73 | $20.50 | $27.47 | $32.69 | $22.60 | 30,180 | 6.69 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $32,150 | $36,880 | $42,650 | $57,130 | $68,000 | $47,000 | ||||
Top industries employing first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
Restaurants and Other Eating Places employ 76.0% of first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers nationally (930,110 jobs) at a median $41,160 a year ($19.79 an hour), followed by Special Food Services (4.5%) and Elementary and Secondary Schools (2.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places NAICS 722500 | 930,110 | 76.0% | $41,160 | $19.79 |
| Special Food Services NAICS 722300 | 55,180 | 4.5% | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 35,950 | 2.9% | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) NAICS 4450A1 | 34,940 | 2.9% | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| Traveler Accommodation NAICS 721100 | 28,090 | 2.3% | $50,720 | $24.38 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,223,240). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $36,570 for first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers in May 2021 and $44,080 in May 2025, with employment of 1,040,600 and 1,223,240.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $36,570 | $17.58 | 1,040,600 |
| May 2022 | $37,050 | $17.81 | 1,169,620 |
| May 2023 | $38,520 | $18.52 | 1,176,540 |
| May 2024 | $42,010 | $20.20 | 1,187,460 |
| May 2025 | $44,080 | $21.19 | 1,223,240 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $28.56 | $59,400 | $44,110 | $81,820 | 20,700 | 5.83 | 0.74 |
| 2 | District of Columbia profile | $27.49 | $57,170 | $40,360 | $77,630 | 2,830 | 4.03 | 0.51 |
| 3 | Connecticut profile | $25.45 | $52,940 | $37,130 | $77,480 | 10,770 | 6.35 | 0.81 |
| 4 | Colorado profile | $24.30 | $50,550 | $37,620 | $75,210 | 25,510 | 8.88 | 1.13 |
| 5 | Vermont profile | $23.95 | $49,820 | $37,700 | $66,300 | 1,970 | 6.47 | 0.82 |
| 6 | New Hampshire profile | $23.90 | $49,710 | $34,900 | $75,100 | 3,840 | 5.62 | 0.71 |
| 7 | Hawaii profile | $23.50 | $48,880 | $37,530 | $78,730 | 7,330 | 11.68 | 1.49 |
| 8 | New Jersey profile | $23.28 | $48,420 | $35,960 | $77,810 | 27,750 | 6.48 | 0.82 |
| 9 | Rhode Island profile | $23.27 | $48,400 | $36,350 | $75,500 | 3,320 | 6.63 | 0.84 |
| 10 | Delaware profile | $23.13 | $48,120 | $37,610 | $73,060 | 4,030 | 8.32 | 1.06 |
| 11 | Maine profile | $23.07 | $47,990 | $36,730 | $64,990 | 3,740 | 5.84 | 0.74 |
| 12 | New York profile | $22.69 | $47,190 | $36,570 | $73,020 | 65,580 | 6.77 | 0.86 |
| 13 | California profile | $22.59 | $46,980 | $38,630 | $75,180 | 130,190 | 7.15 | 0.91 |
| 14 | Oregon profile | $22.57 | $46,950 | $36,030 | $71,010 | 16,880 | 8.58 | 1.09 |
| 15 | Massachusetts profile | $22.40 | $46,600 | $37,380 | $76,630 | 23,220 | 6.38 | 0.81 |
| 16 | Alaska profile | $22.39 | $46,570 | $35,840 | $66,210 | 2,390 | 7.34 | 0.93 |
| 17 | Virginia profile | $21.90 | $45,550 | $32,030 | $63,250 | 30,640 | 7.46 | 0.95 |
| 18 | Minnesota profile | $21.77 | $45,270 | $35,910 | $65,650 | 20,760 | 7.04 | 0.89 |
| 19 | North Carolina profile | $21.64 | $45,010 | $29,750 | $64,670 | 39,750 | 8.04 | 1.02 |
| 20 | Indiana profile | $21.58 | $44,880 | $31,010 | $63,340 | 23,500 | 7.34 | 0.93 |
| 21 | North Dakota profile | $21.50 | $44,720 | $35,250 | $60,720 | 2,780 | 6.48 | 0.82 |
| 22 | Florida profile | $21.38 | $44,470 | $30,490 | $65,120 | 91,500 | 9.21 | 1.17 |
| 23 | Nevada profile | $21.17 | $44,030 | $30,490 | $63,520 | 14,230 | 9.18 | 1.17 |
| 24 | Montana profile | $21.16 | $44,010 | $30,780 | $64,320 | 4,650 | 9.09 | 1.15 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania profile | $20.70 | $43,050 | $29,530 | $61,780 | 35,560 | 5.86 | 0.75 |
| 26 | Maryland profile | $20.41 | $42,450 | $35,140 | $63,470 | 20,150 | 7.29 | 0.93 |
| 27 | South Dakota profile | $19.54 | $40,640 | $34,350 | $50,670 | 2,920 | 6.38 | 0.81 |
| 28 | Arizona profile | $19.49 | $40,550 | $35,440 | $63,750 | 21,450 | 6.62 | 0.84 |
| 29 | Tennessee profile | $19.47 | $40,500 | $29,500 | $63,140 | 29,100 | 8.87 | 1.13 |
| 30 | Wisconsin profile | $19.07 | $39,670 | $30,310 | $60,650 | 21,240 | 7.22 | 0.92 |
| 31 | Illinois profile | $18.98 | $39,470 | $32,010 | $65,000 | 41,030 | 6.73 | 0.86 |
| 32 | New Mexico profile | $18.90 | $39,310 | $30,740 | $60,630 | 6,540 | 7.50 | 0.95 |
| 33 | Nebraska profile | $18.86 | $39,230 | $31,840 | $55,610 | 7,840 | 7.65 | 0.97 |
| 34 | Iowa profile | $18.64 | $38,760 | $29,010 | $60,040 | 11,400 | 7.31 | 0.93 |
| 35 | Utah profile | $18.63 | $38,750 | $30,750 | $63,210 | 13,670 | 7.88 | 1.00 |
| 36 | Georgia profile | $18.56 | $38,600 | $28,400 | $62,420 | 48,420 | 9.90 | 1.26 |
| 37 | South Carolina profile | $18.52 | $38,520 | $28,120 | $63,080 | 20,120 | 8.73 | 1.11 |
| 38 | Kansas profile | $18.37 | $38,220 | $28,680 | $60,050 | 10,520 | 7.32 | 0.93 |
| 39 | Idaho profile | $18.36 | $38,190 | $27,790 | $60,900 | 7,440 | 8.68 | 1.10 |
| 40 | Michigan profile | $18.24 | $37,940 | $29,500 | $59,750 | 32,890 | 7.47 | 0.95 |
| 41 | Missouri profile | $17.98 | $37,400 | $31,010 | $60,980 | 21,650 | 7.37 | 0.94 |
| 42 | Ohio profile | $17.95 | $37,340 | $29,750 | $58,660 | 51,990 | 9.37 | 1.19 |
| 43 | Alabama profile | $17.84 | $37,110 | $28,600 | $59,500 | 19,180 | 9.08 | 1.15 |
| 44 | Wyoming profile | $17.70 | $36,820 | $28,780 | $64,300 | 2,680 | 9.54 | 1.21 |
| 45 | Mississippi profile | $17.56 | $36,530 | $26,310 | $58,450 | 10,480 | 9.01 | 1.15 |
| 46 | Texas profile | $17.54 | $36,480 | $28,010 | $61,560 | 137,930 | 9.80 | 1.25 |
| 47 | Kentucky profile | $17.21 | $35,810 | $28,190 | $58,980 | 18,010 | 9.00 | 1.14 |
| 48 | Louisiana profile | $17.21 | $35,800 | $26,230 | $60,340 | 16,680 | 8.62 | 1.10 |
| 49 | Oklahoma profile | $17.03 | $35,420 | $27,000 | $56,670 | 18,900 | 11.07 | 1.41 |
| 50 | Arkansas profile | $16.25 | $33,800 | $27,820 | $50,580 | 11,200 | 8.59 | 1.09 |
| 51 | West Virginia profile | $15.90 | $33,070 | $27,160 | $49,390 | 6,390 | 9.11 | 1.16 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (35-1010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 35-1012 First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 35-1012, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 35-1012.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.