Food Service Managers vs Instructional Coordinators: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Instructional Coordinators professionals earn $9,410 more per year than Food Service Managers professionals — that's 14.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Food Service Managers earns $105,420 compared to $115,410 for Instructional Coordinators.
Salary Range Comparison
Food Service Managers$42,380 – $105,420
Instructional Coordinators$46,560 – $115,410
$42,380$115,410
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Food Service Managers | Instructional Coordinators | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $42,380 | $46,560 | $-4,180 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,090 | $59,120 | $-6,030 |
| Median (50th) | $65,310 | $74,720 | $-9,410 |
| 75th Percentile | $82,300 | $94,780 | $-12,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $105,420 | $115,410 | $-9,990 |
| Mean (Average) | $72,370 | $77,600 | $-5,230 |
Employment Numbers
Food Service Managers
244,230
employed nationwide
Instructional Coordinators
210,850
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Food Service Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $95,540 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $86,840 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $84,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $82,570 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $82,400 |
Best Cities for Instructional Coordinators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $113,210 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $101,720 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $101,670 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $101,460 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $100,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Food Service Managers or Instructional Coordinators?
Instructional Coordinators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $9,410 (14.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Food Service Managers?
Food Service Managers salaries range from $42,380 (10th percentile) to $105,420 (90th percentile), with a median of $65,310.
What is the salary range for Instructional Coordinators?
Instructional Coordinators salaries range from $46,560 (10th percentile) to $115,410 (90th percentile), with a median of $74,720.
How many Food Service Managers and Instructional Coordinators jobs are there?
There are approximately 244,230 Food Service Managers positions and 210,850 Instructional Coordinators positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Instructional Coordinators to Food Service Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Food Service Managers has a median salary of $65,310 while Instructional Coordinators earns $74,720. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS