First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$44,080
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$21.19
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$65,570
entry level starts ~$29,940
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 1,223,000 employed

How much do First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers make?

The median pay for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers in the United States is $44,080 per year — about $21.19 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $29,940, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $65,570.

That is $17,310 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers salary range by percentile

Half of all First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers earn between $35,980 and $54,570 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$29,940$14.39
25th percentile (early career)$35,980$17.30
50th percentile (median)$44,080$21.19
75th percentile (experienced)$54,570$26.24
90th percentile (top earners)$65,570$31.52

Highest-paying states for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers pay at $59,400 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($57,170) and Connecticut ($52,940). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $33,070 — a gap of $26,330 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Washington$59,400$28.56+35%
2District of Columbia$57,170$27.49+30%
3Connecticut$52,940$25.45+20%
4Colorado$50,550$24.30+15%
5Vermont$49,820$23.95+13%

Workforce and education

About 1,223,000 people work as First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $46,180 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers make in the United States?
The median First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers salary in the United States is $44,080 per year, or about $21.19 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $29,940, while the top 10% of earners make $65,570 or more.
How does First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers median of $44,080 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers, with a median salary of $59,400 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers need?
For most positions, no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers work in the United States?
About 1,223,000 people were employed as First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other food service roles with similar pay.

Cook, Private Household

$47,940
median pay · 1,000 employed

Fast Food and Counter Workers

$31,200
median pay · 3,854,000 employed

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

$37,450
median pay · 441,000 employed

Cook, Short Order

$35,880
median pay · 139,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.