Quick answer: Food Service Managers in the Ocala area earn a median $63,860 per year, below the national median of $69,390, and the metro employs about 200 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Ocala metro | Florida | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $63,860 | $72,790 | $69,390 |
| 10th percentile | $40,380 | $45,800 | $45,960 |
| 25th percentile | $51,230 | $59,010 | $56,870 |
| 75th percentile | $75,530 | $91,480 | $86,800 |
| 90th percentile | $101,110 | $113,940 | $107,640 |
| Employment | 200 | 18,500 | 238,430 |
| Location quotient | 1.08 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Ocala, FL metropolitan statistical area.
The Ocala median of $63,860 is below the national median of $69,390, and below the Florida statewide median of $72,790 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.08 means food service managers are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Food service management tracks restaurant density, tourism and hospitality activity, so it is one of the most evenly distributed occupations on the site.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Miami | $81,170 | 4,350 |
| Orlando | $64,990 | 3,320 |
| Tampa | $80,180 | 2,670 |
| Jacksonville | $72,340 | 1,770 |
| North Port | $74,260 | 620 |
| Deltona | $68,140 | 590 |
| Cape Coral | $73,560 | 530 |
| Naples | $81,300 | 510 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. No license is required to manage a restaurant. The regulatory piece is food safety: a food protection manager certification, commonly ServSafe from the National Restaurant Association, with the specific requirement set by local health departments rather than nationally. On the academic side ACPHA accredits hospitality administration programs, though employer recognition and demonstrated operating results carry more weight here than programmatic accreditation.
See the Florida licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your local health department and state food safety authority.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
This page lists 9 schools within 245 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 9 of them carry a score.
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
The median annual wage for food service managers in the Ocala, FL metro area is $63,860, below the national median of $69,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Ocala, FL metro area employs about 200 food service managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. No license is required to manage a restaurant. The regulatory piece is food safety: a food protection manager certification, commonly ServSafe from the National Restaurant Association, with the specific requirement set by local health departments rather than nationally. On the academic side ACPHA accredits hospitality administration programs, though employer recognition and demonstrated operating results carry more weight here than programmatic accreditation. Confirm current requirements with your local health department and state food safety authority.
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your local health department and state food safety authority.
The Ocala metro median is $63,860 against a statewide median of $72,790 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
