Food Service Managers
SOC code 11-9051 · O*NET-SOC 11-9051.00 · Little to some preparation needed
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Food Service Managers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$69,390
a year
Hourly
$33.36
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$74,880
$36.00 per hour
Middle 50%
$56,870 – $86,800
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$45,960 – $107,640
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
238,430
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $45,960
- $22.09/hr
- 25th percentile
- $56,870
- $27.34/hr
- Median percentile
- $69,390
- $33.36/hr
- 75th percentile
- $86,800
- $41.73/hr
- 90th percentile
- $107,640
- $51.75/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+6%
Growing faster than average
352,800
jobs in 2024
375,300
projected for 2034
About 22,500 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a food service manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Monitor employee and patron activities to ensure liquor regulations are obeyed.
- Greet guests, escort them to their seats, and present them with menus and wine lists.
- 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.
How to become a food service manager
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 30% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)30%
- Post-Secondary Certificate21%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree19%
- Less than a High School Diploma16%
Common questions
How much does a food service manager earn?
The national median is $69,390 a year. The full range runs from $45,960 at the 10th percentile to $107,640 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a food service manager without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is food service manager in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 6% between 2024 and 2034 — growing faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.6/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.5/5
- Administration and Management4.1/5
- Food Production4.0/5
- English Language3.5/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.5/5
- Sales and Marketing3.4/5
- Mathematics3.4/5
- Administrative3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Coordination, Management of Personnel Resources, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management.