Food Service Manager Salary in San Diego, CA
Food Service Managers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $80,010 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,866 take-home, or $5,072 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food service manager salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,772
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,961
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,160
- California income tax$3,211
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,040
- Take-home pay$60,866
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Service Manager pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,760 | $22.00 | $37,534 | $3,128 |
| 25th percentile | $63,980 | $30.76 | $50,850 | $4,237 |
| Median (50th) | $80,010 | $38.47 | $60,866 | $5,072 |
| 75th percentile | $100,610 | $48.37 | $73,174 | $6,098 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,040 | $58.67 | $85,974 | $7,164 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,010 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food service manager's $60,866 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,399 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.8× 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
San Diego, CA ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $80,010 | $60,866 | $54,399 |
*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.
Food Service Manager salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $88,290
- Los Angeles, CA — $77,850
- Riverside, CA — $71,030
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food service manager make in San Diego, CA?
The median food service manager salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $80,010 a year, or about $38.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,980 and $100,610.
What is a food service manager’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $80,010 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $60,866 a year ($5,072 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,251 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a food service manager?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $69,390. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,399 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #12 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food service manager afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median food service manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Chief Executive — $238,440
- Natural Sciences Manager — $207,200
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $206,740
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $202,810
- Marketing Manager — $174,840
- Financial Manager — $174,210
- Managers, All Other — $169,240
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $163,200
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $138,080
- Construction Manager — $133,210
- Administrative Services Manager — $122,000
- Sales Manager — $119,750