Food Service Managers vs Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Food Service Managers professionals earn $5,870 more per year than Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners professionals — that's 9.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Food Service Managers earns $105,420 compared to $101,310 for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners.
Salary Range Comparison
Food Service Managers$42,380 – $105,420
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$35,990 – $101,310
$35,990$105,420
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Food Service Managers | Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $42,380 | $35,990 | +$6,390 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,090 | $45,610 | +$7,480 |
| Median (50th) | $65,310 | $59,440 | +$5,870 |
| 75th Percentile | $82,300 | $77,150 | +$5,150 |
| 90th Percentile | $105,420 | $101,310 | +$4,110 |
| Mean (Average) | $72,370 | $65,090 | +$7,280 |
Employment Numbers
Food Service Managers
244,230
employed nationwide
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
134,670
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 Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $81,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $79,070 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $77,860 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $74,890 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $69,420 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Food Service Managers or Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners?
Food Service Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $5,870 (9.9% 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 Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners?
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners salaries range from $35,990 (10th percentile) to $101,310 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,440.
How many Food Service Managers and Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners jobs are there?
There are approximately 244,230 Food Service Managers positions and 134,670 Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners to Food Service Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Food Service Managers has a median salary of $65,310 while Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners earns $59,440. 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