Food Service Manager

Explore Careers Food Service Manager O*NET-SOC: 11-9051.00 Hospitality Plans, directs, and coordinates activities of restaurants, cafeterias, or other food service establishments, overseeing staff, budgets, food safety, customer satisfaction, and daily operations. See your fit $65K Median Salary +10% Growing High School Diploma Min. Education Demanding Work-Life Balance About This Role Food service managers oversee the daily operations of restaurants, cafeterias, hotel dining rooms, and other establishments that serve food. They are responsible for making sure that food is prepared safely, staff are scheduled and trained, supplies are ordered on time, and customers leave satisfied. A large part of the day is spent on the floor during meal service, moving between the kitchen and the dining area to keep everything running smoothly, whether that means resolving a customer complaint, covering for an absent server, or adjusting portion sizes when an ingredient is running low. A Day in the Life 6:00 AM Opening and inventory Inspect incoming deliveries for quality and quantity, stock the kitchen, and note any items that need to be reordered. 7:30 AM Prep supervision Assign prep tasks to kitchen staff based on the day's expected volume and menu. 10:00 AM Staff briefing Hold a quick team meeting to cover the day's specials, any schedule changes, and food safety reminders. 12:30 PM Lunch rush Oversee the dining room and kitchen during the busiest period, stepping in wherever bottlenecks form. 2:00 PM Administrative work Process payroll, review supplier invoices, and place orders for ingredients running low. 4:00 PM Dinner preparation Reset the dining room for evening service, train a new hire on table procedures, and confirm any catering or event details. 8:00 PM Close-out Reconcile the day's receipts, review food and labor costs, and debrief the team on what went well and what to improve. Tools & Technologies Word Processing Google Docs Microsoft Word Evernote Office Suites Microsoft Office Accounting QuickBooks Food Services Solutions DayCap Project Management Microsoft Project ReServe Interactive Web & Social Media Facebook Spreadsheets Microsoft Excel Salary Details Salary Distribution Salary distribution for Food Service Manager: 10th percentile $42K, 25th $53K, median $65K, 75th $82K, 90th $105K Salary distribution for Food Service Manager: 10th percentile $42K, 25th $53K, median $65K, 75th $82K, 90th $105K Median $42K $53K $65K $82K $105K Most professionals earn between $53K and $82K Food Service Manager salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $42K 25th $53K 50th (Median) $65K 75th $82K 90th $105K Food Service Manager salary by state map Food Service Manager salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range Washington $92K $64K - $131K Massachusetts $86K $57K - $124K Hawaii $82K $54K - $130K Alaska $82K $46K - $109K Rhode Island $82K $51K - $114K Colorado $82K $63K - $117K New York $80K $56K - $145K District of Columbia $80K $66K - $133K New Jersey $79K $59K - $128K Connecticut $77K $50K - $113K Minnesota $77K $57K - $109K Delaware $76K $57K - $110K New Hampshire $75K $58K - $106K California $75K $45K - $118K Vermont $73K $50K - $122K Virginia $68K $46K - $106K Maryland $67K $51K - $102K North Carolina $66K $47K - $102K Iowa $66K $47K - $101K Illinois $65K $39K - $110K North Dakota $65K $36K - $97K Maine $64K $51K - $90K Georgia $64K $40K - $105K Oklahoma $64K $48K - $110K Florida $64K $37K - $107K Oregon $64K $47K - $92K Montana $63K $45K - $83K Arizona $63K $47K - $101K South Carolina $63K $45K - $114K New Mexico $63K $47K - $144K Texas $63K $38K - $101K Kansas $62K $44K - $92K Idaho $62K $50K - $90K Pennsylvania $62K $37K - $93K Louisiana $62K $40K - $99K Indiana $62K $41K - $98K Michigan $61K $39K - $90K Missouri $61K $47K - $94K Tennessee $61K $38K - $95K Nevada $61K $45K - $107K Ohio $61K $35K - $96K Nebraska $61K $45K - $93K South Dakota $61K $49K - $77K Wyoming $61K $35K - $93K Kentucky $60K $28K - $92K Alabama $60K $40K - $87K Utah $57K $43K - $86K Wisconsin $57K $36K - $92K Arkansas $54K $34K - $77K Mississippi $51K $34K - $94K West Virginia $51K $37K - $69K Food Service Manager salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range Washington $92K $64K - $131K Massachusetts $86K $57K - $124K Hawaii $82K $54K - $130K Alaska $82K $46K - $109K Rhode Island $82K $51K - $114K Colorado $82K $63K - $117K New York $80K $56K - $145K District of Columbia $80K $66K - $133K New Jersey $79K $59K - $128K Connecticut $77K $50K - $113K Minnesota $77K $57K - $109K Delaware $76K $57K - $110K New Hampshire $75K $58K - $106K California $75K $45K - $118K Vermont $73K $50K - $122K Virginia $68K $46K - $106K Maryland $67K $51K - $102K North Carolina $66K $47K - $102K Iowa $66K $47K - $101K Illinois $65K $39K - $110K North Dakota $65K $36K - $97K Maine $64K $51K - $90K Georgia $64K $40K - $105K Oklahoma $64K $48K - $110K Florida $64K $37K - $107K Oregon $64K $47K - $92K Montana $63K $45K - $83K Arizona $63K $47K - $101K South Carolina $63K $45K - $114K New Mexico $63K $47K - $144K Texas $63K $38K - $101K Kansas $62K $44K - $92K Idaho $62K $50K - $90K Pennsylvania $62K $37K - $93K Louisiana $62K $40K - $99K Indiana $62K $41K - $98K Michigan $61K $39K - $90K Missouri $61K $47K - $94K Tennessee $61K $38K - $95Q Nevada $61K $45K - $107K Ohio $61K $35K - $96K Nebraska $61K $45K - $93K South Dakota $61K $49K - $77K Wyoming $61K $35K - $93K Kentucky $60K $28K - $92K Alabama $60K $40K - $87K Utah $57K $43K - $86K Wisconsin $57K $36K - $92K Arkansas $54K $34K - $77K Mississippi $51K $34K - $94K West Virginia $51K $37K - $69K Lower ($51K-$72K)Middle (~$72K)Higher ($72K-$92K) Highest Paying States 1.Washington$92K 2.Massachusetts$86K 3.Hawaii$82K 4.Alaska$82K 5.Rhode Island$82K Lowest Paying States 1.West Virginia$51K 2.Mississippi$51K 3.Arkansas$54K 4.Wisconsin$57K 5.Utah$57K Certifications, Training & Memberships Essential ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification National Restaurant Association Certification Essential food safety credential covering hazard analysis, sanitation, and regulatory compliance. Recommended Certified Food and Beverage Manager (CFBM) National Restaurant Association Certification Demonstrates expertise in operations, cost control, and customer service for managers. Helpful ServSafe Alcohol Certification National Restaurant Association Certification Trains in responsible alcohol service, ID checks, and intoxication recognition. Professional Memberships American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Membership American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Membership Provides industry resources, training discounts, and networking for hospitality pros. Work Environment Remote Work On-site Only Work Setting Traditional office / indoor Physical Activity Physically active — significant time on your feet Social Interaction Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction Schedule Extended hours common Your Skills & Attributes Skills & Competencies Matches (44) Active Listening Speaking Monitoring Coordination Management of Personnel Resources Frequently Asked Questions Is Food Service Manager a good career? Food Service Manager can be a rewarding career choice. Based on current data, the median salary is $65K and job outlook is growing (10% projected growth). Whether it's a good fit depends on your skills, interests, and values — take our quiz to find out how well you match. What degree do you need to become a Food Service Manager? The typical education requirement for a Food Service Manager is a High School Diploma. However, requirements can vary by employer and specialization. Some professionals enter the field with alternative credentials or relevant work experience. How long does it take to become a Food Service Manager? Becoming a Food Service Manager typically requires about 4 years of high school education. Additional time may be needed for certifications, internships, or on-the-job training depending on the specific role and employer requirements. What is the work-life balance like for a Food Service Manager? The work-life balance for a Food Service Manager is demanding, often requiring long hours, irregular schedules, or high-pressure situations. Individual experiences vary based on employer, specialization, seniority level, and geographic location. What is the job outlook for Food Service Manager? The job outlook for Food Service Manager is growing. Employment is projected to grow by 10% over the coming decade. Labor market conditions can vary by region and specialization. Find Food Service Manager Jobs Google Jobs Aggregated listings from across the web Search Food Service Manager jobs Indeed Professional network job listings Search Food Service Manager jobs Related Careers Hospitality Chef / Head Cook Directs and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. Plans and prices menu items, orders supplies, and supervises kitchen staff. Hospitality Fast Food Worker Takes and fills customer orders at food counters and fast‑food restaurants, operates registers, prepares simple food items, and maintains cleanliness of serving and dining areas. Hospitality Hairdresser / Cosmetologist Provides hair care services including cutting, coloring, styling, and chemical treatments, and may also offer skin care and nail services, consulting with clients on styles that suit their features and preferences. 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