How to become a First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Official title: First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Also called: Cafeteria Manager, Dietary Supervisor, Dining Services Director, Food and Beverage Director, Food and Nutrition Services Supervisor, Food Production Supervisor, Food Service Supervisor, Kitchen Manager, Kitchen Supervisor, Restaurant Manager
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.
Main tasks
- Resolve customer complaints regarding food service.
- Train workers in food preparation, and in service, sanitation, and safety procedures.
- Assign duties, responsibilities, and work stations to employees in accordance with work requirements.
- Present bills and accept payments.
- Perform various financial activities, such as cash handling, deposit preparation, and payroll.
- Supervise and participate in kitchen and dining area cleaning activities.
- Recommend measures for improving work procedures and worker performance to increase service quality and enhance job safety.
- Specify food portions and courses, production and time sequences, and workstation and equipment arrangements.
How to become one
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $44,080 a year The middle half earn $35,980 to $54,570.
- About 1,236,400 people work in this job now, and about 1,303,500 are projected by 2035. (+5.4%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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Questions people ask
How much does a First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $44,080 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $35,980 to $54,570.
Is a First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 1,236,400 to about 1,303,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers?
Usually not. Only 17% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.