Food Service Managers: Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Food Service Managers Perform?
The core tasks performed by food service managers include:
- Count money and make bank deposits.
- Establish standards for personnel performance and customer service.
- Keep records required by government agencies regarding sanitation or food subsidies.
- Schedule staff hours and assign duties.
- Investigate and resolve complaints regarding food quality, service, or accommodations.
- Maintain food and equipment inventories, and keep inventory records.
- Perform some food preparation or service tasks, such as cooking, clearing tables, and serving food and drinks when necessary.
- Monitor budgets and payroll records, and review financial transactions to ensure that expenditures are authorized and budgeted.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful food service managers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Food Service Managers Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Banquet Director
- Banquet Manager
- CDM (Certified Dietary Manager)
- CFPP (Certified Food Protection Professional)
- Cafe Operator
- Cafeteria Director
- Cafeteria Manager
- Cafeteria Operator
Job Outlook
There are roughly 369,360 food service managers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +7.7% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Food Service Managers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $165,782 |
| Hourly median | $79.70 |
| 10th percentile | $111,630 |
| 25th percentile | $138,706 |
| 75th percentile | $192,858 |
| 90th percentile | $219,933 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Food Service Managers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $92,290 |
| Massachusetts | $85,940 |
| Hawaii | $82,380 |
| Alaska | $82,300 |
| Rhode Island | $82,300 |
| Colorado | $82,270 |
| New York | $80,170 |
| District of Columbia | $80,040 |
| New Jersey | $79,370 |
| Virgin Islands | $77,770 |
| Connecticut | $76,860 |
| Minnesota | $76,780 |
| Delaware | $76,210 |
| New Hampshire | $75,190 |
| California | $75,140 |
| Vermont | $72,740 |
| Virginia | $67,910 |
| Maryland | $67,290 |
| North Carolina | $65,770 |
| Iowa | $65,600 |
| Illinois | $65,130 |
| North Dakota | $64,940 |
| Maine | $64,410 |
| Georgia | $63,980 |
| Oklahoma | $63,930 |
| Florida | $63,650 |
| Oregon | $63,600 |
| Montana | $63,370 |
| Arizona | $63,310 |
| South Carolina | $63,080 |
| New Mexico | $62,860 |
| Texas | $62,610 |
| Kansas | $62,490 |
| Idaho | $62,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,250 |
| Louisiana | $62,170 |
| Indiana | $61,930 |
| Michigan | $61,400 |
| Missouri | $61,220 |
| Tennessee | $61,000 |
| Nevada | $60,740 |
| Ohio | $60,650 |
| Nebraska | $60,600 |
| South Dakota | $60,600 |
| Wyoming | $60,570 |
| Kentucky | $60,340 |
| Alabama | $59,920 |
| Utah | $57,450 |
| Wisconsin | $56,510 |
| Arkansas | $53,880 |
| Mississippi | $51,430 |
| West Virginia | $50,920 |
| Guam | $43,220 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,650 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for food service managers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $79,325 | 3.7% | 0.82 |
| Middle Atlantic | $74,700 | 11.2% | 0.82 |
| Far Western US | $73,895 | 21.0% | 1.34 |
| Rocky Mountains | $67,053 | 2.4% | 0.73 |
| Plains States | $63,361 | 3.9% | 0.84 |
| Southwest | $62,849 | 12.0% | 0.94 |
| Southeast | $62,573 | 27.0% | 1.16 |
| Great Lakes | $61,657 | 18.3% | 1.28 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $95,540 | 1,140 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $93,090 | 60 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $93,070 | 210 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $92,670 | 150 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $89,220 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $86,840 | 3,000 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $85,430 | 60 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $84,180 | 1,060 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of food service managers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 208,270 | $63,800 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 7,510 | $84,990 |
| Educational Services | 6,730 | $77,240 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 6,560 | $80,200 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 5,870 | $78,050 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,480 | $72,650 |
| Retail Trade | 1,790 | $61,340 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,030 | $72,330 |
Below are examples of industries where food service managers work:
Tech Stack
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for food service managers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
Getting Started in This Career
Typical food service managers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Food Scientists and Technologists (Supplemental)
- Dietetic Technicians (Supplemental)
- Chefs and Head Cooks (Primary-Short)
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (Primary-Short)
- Cooks, Fast Food (Supplemental)
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (Primary-Short)
- Cooks, Private Household (Primary-Short)
- Cooks, Restaurant (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring food service managers commonly pursue programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
6 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-9051.00 (Food Service Managers).
BusinessDegreeCentral.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© BusinessDegreeCentral.com – All Rights Reserved.