Daily Briefing (Insiders Only): Here’s How Much Money You Should Be Making
Force Brands has released its 2025 Consumer Brands Salary & Market Trends report, offering an inside look at average compensations for coveted food and beverage roles. Here are the highlights:
Salaries and bonuses are up. Sixty-two percent of survey participants reported a salary increase in the past year, with 78% of increases due to annual raises and 22% of increases due to a job move.
Pay bumps equal loyalty. Sixty percent of employees who didn’t receive a raise agreed with the statement “I am likely to switch employers in the next year.” Meanwhile, a whopping 88% of employees who received a raise of 11% or more agreed with the statement “I am loyal to my employer.”
It’s sweeter in the C-suite. Executives received twice as many raises above 5% as lower-level employees.
And now, the salaries. (Note: The numbers listed in the report are based on companies generating $21 million to $50 million in annual revenue.)
- A CEO with more than 15 years of experience earns $324,500 to $425,000 a year, while similarly tenured CFOs and COOs are paid $297,500 to $390,000 and $265,000 to $375,000, respectively.
- On the other end of the spectrum, an ecommerce operations manager with five to seven years of experience makes a base salary of $147,500 to $176,500.
- A director of plant operations with seven to 10 years of experience can expect to earn $162,500 to $206,000.
- An associate brand manager with five to seven years of experience is paid $99,500 to $140,500.
The Bottom Line: “Heading into 2025, companies are prioritizing strategic leadership in sales and commercial roles as they position themselves for growth. While salaries have stabilized, competition for top talent remains fierce. Successful brands will be those that offer not just attractive compensation, but also flexibility and a clear mission to navigate a volatile market.” – Anna Johnson, senior partner, Retained Search at ForceBrands
