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Food Service Managers: Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
The Daily Work of Food Service Managers Do?
Typical responsibilities of food service managers span:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top food service managers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Food Service Managers Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Banquet Director
- Banquet Manager
- CDM (Certified Dietary Manager)
- CFPP (Certified Food Protection Professional)
- Cafe Operator
- Cafeteria Director
- Cafeteria Manager
- Cafeteria Operator
How Many Food Service Managers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 369,360 food service managers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +7.7% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Food Service Managers Make?
| 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 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay 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 |
Where Food Service Managers Earn the Most
Compensation for food service managers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Food Service Managers
Most 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:
Software Food Service Managers Use
- 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for food service managers tends to involve 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
Education and Training
Most food service managers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
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)
Where to Study
Students preparing for food service managers often complete programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
3 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on 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).
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