How to become a Food Service Manager
Official title: Food Service Managers
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, Kitchen Manager, Restaurant Manager
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
Main 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.
How to become one
Food service managers typically need a high school diploma and several years of work experience in the food service industry. Some receive additional training at community colleges, technical or vocational schools, culinary schools, or 4-year colleges.
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Manager, Food Service.
- Licence: A licence is required in 13 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $69,390 a year The middle half earn $56,870 to $86,800.
- About 344,300 people work in this job now, and about 364,200 are projected by 2035. (+5.8%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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- Education Administrators, Postsecondary
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Food Service Manager?
Food service managers typically need a high school diploma and several years of work experience in the food service industry. Some receive additional training at community colleges, technical or vocational schools, culinary schools, or 4-year colleges.
How much does a Food Service Manager earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $69,390 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $56,870 to $86,800.
Is a Food Service Manager a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 344,300 to about 364,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Food Service Manager?
Not always. 25% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Manager, Food Service.
Will AI change the work of a Food Service Manager?
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 Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, 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.