Food Service Contractors — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the food service contractors industry earns $37,468 per year ($18.01/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$37,468
Avg Annual Pay
521,524
Total Employees
25,206
Total Establishments
21
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Food Service Workers Earn?

At $37,468/year (equivalent to $18.01/hour for a full-time worker), food service contractors wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical food service contractors business employs 21 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

6.4%

For the average food service contractors business generating $12.4M/year with 21 employees at $37,468 each, total payroll represents roughly 6.4% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a food service contractorsbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $48,708/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 21 employees = ~$786,828/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $18.01/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $12.4M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Food Service Contractors revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do food service contractors employees make?
The average food service contractors employee earns $37,468 per year, which is equivalent to $18.01/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the food service contractors industry?
The food service contractors industry employs 521,524 workers across 25,206 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 21 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).