First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

The median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers is $38,520, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $43,310, and an estimated 1,176,540 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +11.4% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -5.4% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 6% between 2024 and 2034.

Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment

How the national median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.

National median wage trend for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers, nominal and inflation-adjusted, BLS OEWS.
Year	Median (nominal)	In 2023 $ (real)	Employment
2023	$38,520	$38,520	1,176,540
2022	$37,050	$38,575	1,169,620
2021	$36,570	$41,122	1,040,600
2020	$34,570	$40,700	891,540

Nominal change

+11.4%

Inflation (CPI)

+17.7%

Real change

-5.4%

Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)

The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).

Projected Growth

+6%

Faster than average

Employment 2024

1,215,000

Projected 2034

1,288,000

Annual Openings

183,900

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Highest-Paying Areas (2023)

Where First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $38,520. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.

Highest-paying areas for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers, BLS OEWS 2023.
Area	Median Annual	vs National	Employment
District of Columbia	$57,520	+49.3%	3,390
Rhode Island	$56,410	+46.4%	3,910
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area	$51,620	+34%	1,650
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area	$48,520	+26%	1,170
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area	$47,190	+22.5%	710
New Jersey	$46,780	+21.4%	25,850
Vermont	$46,600	+21%	1,900
New Hampshire	$46,320	+20.2%	4,060
Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area	$46,210	+20%	400
Colorado	$46,180	+19.9%	24,650

Full wages-by-state breakdown →

Wage Distribution (National, 2023)

10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.

10th Pct

$28,830

25th Pct

$34,480

Median

$38,520

75th Pct

$48,680

90th Pct

$62,320

H-1B Employer Filings

Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.

The average H-1B median wage for this occupation is $70,000 — 81.7% above the OEWS national median of $38,520. H-1B sponsors are certifying pay above the prevailing market rate.

H-1B employer filings for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers, DOL LCA data.
Employer	State	Filings	Median Wage
Park Cafe Group, Inc.	CA	1	$70,000

Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.

Related Occupations in Food Preparation & Serving

Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.

Chefs and Head Cooks $58,920 Cooks, Private Household $42,590 Fast Food and Counter Workers $37,379 Cooks, All Other $35,920 Cooks, Restaurant $35,780 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,320 Cooks, Short Order $34,130 Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other $33,870

All Food Preparation & Serving occupations →

Wages by State Compare with another occupation All H-1B Employers