Food Service Managers pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $110,500 or more. The middle half of food service managers in Santa Cruz earn between $60,270 and $86,170.
- $46K10th
- $60K25th
- $77KMedian
- $86K75th
- $110K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,840 | $6,570 | $37.90 |
| Median | $77,470 | $6,456 | $37.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,270 | $5,022 | $28.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $86,170 | $7,181 | $41.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Service Managers pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Food service managers in Santa Cruz earn 6% less than the California average ($84,300) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($74,880). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $69,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $78,840 | $77,470 | $46,500 | $110,500 | 240 |
| California | $84,300 | $78,260 | $47,690 | $127,340 | 33,180 |
| United States | $74,880 | $69,390 | $45,960 | $107,640 | 238,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Service Managers salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $78,840, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $61,054 a year, or $5,088 a month and $2,348 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Santa Cruz a good place for food service managers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $78,840 buys what about $71,741 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 14.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Service Managers salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 14th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($98,230).
- San Jose$98,230
- Napa$96,840
- San Francisco$94,820
- Salinas$86,290
- Santa Rosa$85,080
- San Diego$84,680
- Los Angeles$84,570
- Santa Maria$82,980
- El Centro$82,240
- Santa Cruz$78,840
Highest-paying cities for food service managers
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($104,480).
- Seattle, WA$104,480
- Kennewick, WA$104,110
- San Jose, CA$98,230
- Olympia, WA$97,450
- Napa, CA$96,840
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Service Managers salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do food service managers make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$37.90 an hour on average, and $37.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food service managers salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food service managers take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $61,054 a year ($5,088 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,840. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food service managers earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($74,880).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 11-9051; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.61, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.