Management
Food service manager
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
Median pay
$69,390
Growth to 2035
+6%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
38,800
Time to qualify*
2.1 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Food service manager
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Food service manager: 41% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: Banquet Manager · Catering Manager · CDM (Certified Dietary Manager) · Dining Service Director · F and B Manager (Food and Beverage Manager) · Food Service Director · Food Service Manager · Food Service Supervisor
Outlook and AI
Food service managers held 344,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 364,200 by 2035 (+6%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Food service manager vs. Chefs and head cooks
- Food service manager vs. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Food service manager vs. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Food service manager vs. Cooks, restaurant
- Food service manager vs. Cooks, private household
- Food service manager vs. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Food service manager vs. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Food service manager vs. First-line supervisor of retail sales workers
- Food service manager vs. First-line supervisor of personal service workers
- Food service manager vs. Cooks, short order