Food Service Managers pay range in Denver
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $113,270 or more. The middle half of food service managers in Denver earn between $68,750 and $96,360.
- $68K10th
- $69K25th
- $79KMedian
- $96K75th
- $113K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $88,150 | $7,346 | $42.38 |
| Median | $79,490 | $6,624 | $38.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,750 | $5,729 | $33.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,360 | $8,030 | $46.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Service Managers pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Food service managers in Denver earn about the same as the Colorado average ($89,350) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($74,880). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $69,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $88,150 | $79,490 | $68,020 | $113,270 | 1,320 |
| Colorado | $89,350 | $79,870 | $66,140 | $123,060 | 2,440 |
| 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 Denver
On the average salary of $88,150, a single filer in Denver takes home about $67,673 a year, or $5,639 a month and $2,603 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 (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Denver a good place for food service managers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $88,150 buys what about $83,332 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Service Managers salary in other Colorado cities
Denver ranks 2nd of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job; Boulder pays the most ($90,590).
- Boulder$90,590
- Denver$88,150
- Fort Collins$85,250
- Colorado Springs$83,180
- Pueblo$81,510
- Greeley$81,170
- Grand Junction$80,520
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
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Food Service Managers salary in Denver: questions
How much do food service managers make an hour in Denver?
$42.38 an hour on average, and $38.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food service managers salary in Denver?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food service managers take-home pay in Denver?
About $67,673 a year ($5,639 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $88,150. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do food service managers earn more in Denver than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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