Food Service Manager Salary in Washington, DC
Food Service Managers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $79,290 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,839 take-home, or $5,070 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food service manager salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,614
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,916
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,150
- District of Columbia income tax$3,771
- Take-home pay$60,839
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,990 | $27.88 | $46,452 | $3,871 |
| 25th percentile | $69,180 | $33.26 | $54,448 | $4,537 |
| Median (50th) | $79,290 | $38.12 | $60,839 | $5,070 |
| 75th percentile | $100,720 | $48.42 | $74,094 | $6,174 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,570 | $62.29 | $91,782 | $7,649 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,290 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food service manager's $60,839 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,875 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 Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food service managers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $79,290 | $60,839 | $55,875 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median food service manager salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $79,290 a year, or about $38.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $69,180 and $100,720.
What is a food service manager’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $79,290 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $60,839 a year ($5,070 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,771 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a food service manager?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $69,390. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,875 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #9 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food service manager afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 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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