Food Service Manager Salary in Boston, MA
Food Service Managers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $92,650 a year — 34% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $69,597 take-home, or $5,800 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food service manager salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,553
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,744
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,343
- Massachusetts income tax$4,413
- Take-home pay$69,597
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Service Manager pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,870 | $29.75 | $49,019 | $4,085 |
| 25th percentile | $75,390 | $36.25 | $58,317 | $4,860 |
| Median (50th) | $92,650 | $44.54 | $69,597 | $5,800 |
| 75th percentile | $102,920 | $49.48 | $76,308 | $6,359 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,730 | $63.81 | $95,570 | $7,964 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $92,650 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food service manager's $69,597 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,283 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Service Manager jobs are less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food service managers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #2 of 23 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa, FL | $80,180 | $65,237 | $64,661 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $92,650 | $69,597 | $64,283 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $75,730 | $59,902 | $62,596 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $75,460 | $59,414 | $61,033 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $75,070 | $59,337 | $57,859 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $81,170 | $65,933 | $57,758 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $88,290 | $65,813 | $56,925 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $82,970 | $63,316 | $56,249 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 23 metros →
About the job: food service managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.8% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food service manager make in Boston, MA?
The median food service manager salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $92,650 a year, or about $44.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,390 and $102,920.
What is a food service manager’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $92,650 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $69,597 a year ($5,800 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,413 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a food service manager?
Pay here is 34% above the national median of $69,390. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,283 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #2 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food service manager afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median food service manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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