Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Food Service Manager Salary in Charlotte, NC

Food Service Managers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $75,460 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,414 take-home, or $4,951 a month.

Median salary
$75,460
$36.28 per hour
Typical range
$56,900 – $112,090
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Charlotte, NC
2,760
1.32× national concentration
▲1.6%
Pay trend: The median for food service managers in Charlotte, NC rose from $74,300 (May 2024) to $75,460 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.8%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median food service manager salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Food Service Manager in Charlotte, NC
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$59,414
per year · effective tax rate 21.3%
$4,951Monthly
$2,476Twice a month
$2,285Every 2 weeks
$28.56Hourly
  • Federal income tax$7,771
  • Social Security (6.2%)$4,679
  • Medicare (1.45%)$1,094
  • North Carolina income tax$2,502
  • Take-home pay$59,414

Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state

The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. 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 Charlotte, NC

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$56,900$27.36$46,138$3,845
25th percentile$60,120$28.90$48,596$4,050
Median (50th)$75,460$36.28$59,414$4,951
75th percentile$96,220$46.26$73,190$6,099
90th percentile (top earners)$112,090$53.89$83,722$6,977

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $75,460 buys in Charlotte, NC

Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food service manager's $59,414 take-home pay has the buying power of $61,033 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,428
29% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,577
32% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$3,523
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Charlotte, NC has 1.3× the national concentration of food service manager jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.

Best-paying cities for food service managers, adjusted for cost of living

Charlotte, NC ranks #4 of 23 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Tampa, FL $80,180$65,237$64,661
2Boston, MA $92,650$69,597$64,283
3Indianapolis, IN $75,730$59,902$62,596
4Charlotte, NC $75,460$59,414$61,033
5Philadelphia, PA $75,070$59,337$57,859
6Miami, FL $81,170$65,933$57,758
7San Francisco, CA $88,290$65,813$56,925
8New 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 Charlotte, NC?

The median food service manager salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $75,460 a year, or about $36.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,120 and $96,220.

What is a food service manager’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?

On the median $75,460 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $59,414 a year ($4,951 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,502 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.

Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a food service manager?

Pay here is 9% above the national median of $69,390. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $61,033 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #4 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a food service manager afford rent in Charlotte, NC?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median food service manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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Cost of living & all salaries in Charlotte, NC →