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Food Service Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.

Other titles employers use

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

Inside the work

What you would actually do.

6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.

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.

Who it suits

Would this work hold your attention?

This career often appeals to people drawn to persuading, organizing and practical work.

Persuading: Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Organizing: Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Practical: Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors

Skills and strengths

What you would get good at.

Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.

Core skills

Active Listening
Speaking
Monitoring
Coordination
Management of Personnel Resources
Reading Comprehension

Subjects to know

Customer and Personal Service
Administration and Management
Food Production
English Language
Personnel and Human Resources

Useful strengths

Oral Comprehension
Written Comprehension
Oral Expression
Problem Sensitivity
Deductive Reasoning

Working day

Picture yourself doing it.

These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.

How this job scores on four measures of working conditions, out of five
Measure	Out of 5	What that means here
Close to other people	4.2	Arm’s length or closer, most of the day
On your feet	4.5	Standing or moving for most of it
Talking face to face	4.9	Continuous — the job is conversations
Working with your hands	2.8	Little of the day

Preparation

How people prepare for this work.

Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.

High school or less 46%
A certificate or some college 26%
A two-year degree 18%
A four-year degree 10%

Tools of the work

Technology you may use.

Word processing software
Accounting software
Project management software
Web page creation and editing software
Spreadsheet software
Office suite software
Electronic mail software
Presentation software

Opportunity near you

See where this work is growing.

Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.

Choose your state

Selected stateCalifornia

People doing this work: 70,700
Job openings each year: 8,020
Expected hiring change, 2022–2032: 8.1%

Compare every available state

State	People doing it	Job openings each year	Expected change
California	70,700	8,020	8.1%
Florida	29,640	3,380	9.3%
New York	26,040	320	13.9%
Texas	25,350	2,940	15.2%
Ohio	17,200	1,890	—
Illinois	14,340	1,580	—
North Carolina	12,690	1,460	13.1%
Michigan	12,160	1,330	−1.3%
Tennessee	10,740	1,250	16.1%
New Jersey	10,400	1,180	7.2%
Georgia	9,930	1,140	12.0%
Pennsylvania	9,570	1,050	—
Arizona	9,180	1,050	10.9%
Wisconsin	7,790	890	8.2%
South Carolina	6,640	760	9.9%
Nevada	6,340	730	13.0%
Alabama	6,160	700	8.8%
Puerto Rico	6,110	710	15.9%
Virginia	5,980	660	—
Oregon	5,880	680	12.2%
Washington	5,620	770	21.6%
Indiana	5,590	620	1.6%
Arkansas	4,970	560	4.4%
Utah	3,760	450	29.2%
Maryland	3,530	400	5.4%
Oklahoma	3,520	400	6.3%
Connecticut	2,860	330	10.4%
Mississippi	2,780	310	3.3%
New Mexico	2,640	310	14.3%
Nebraska	2,590	290	6.1%
Missouri	2,580	290	1.2%
Maine	2,500	270	−3.5%
Iowa	2,410	270	3.9%
Massachusetts	2,390	270	7.7%
Colorado	2,280	260	9.6%
Louisiana	2,200	240	2.3%
Kentucky	2,170	240	5.9%
Kansas	2,140	240	2.4%
South Dakota	1,950	220	11.4%
Idaho	1,920	220	11.0%
District of Columbia	1,820	220	28.2%
Montana	1,690	190	10.5%
Minnesota	1,670	180	—
West Virginia	1,670	180	—
New Hampshire	1,470	170	6.5%
Vermont	1,320	150	6.5%
Delaware	850	100	7.6%
North Dakota	850	100	4.9%
Wyoming	650	80	10.2%
Alaska	610	70	7.0%
Rhode Island	450	50	9.8%
Guam	170	20	30.8%
Virgin Islands	80	10	14.3%

Career to college

Build a path toward this work.

Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.

CareerFood Service Managers

Most direct field Hospitality Administration/Management Related field Culinary Arts and Related Services Related field Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services

Where to study

Colleges with strong activity in these fields.

Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.

University of Central Florida

Degrees each year: 568
Admit rate: 40%
Annual cost after aid: $10,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college FL

Florida International University

Degrees each year: 499
Admit rate: 59%
Annual cost after aid: $11,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college NV

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Degrees each year: 425
Admit rate: 96%
Annual cost after aid: $11,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college NY

Cornell University

Degrees each year: 290
Admit rate: 8%
Annual cost after aid: $7,000

Program entryFirst-year program admission

Open college FL

Florida State University

Degrees each year: 225
Admit rate: 25%
Annual cost after aid: $10,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college CA

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Degrees each year: 208
Admit rate: 74%
Annual cost after aid: $11,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college TX

University of Houston

Degrees each year: 316
Admit rate: 70%
Annual cost after aid: $13,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college RI

Johnson & Wales University-Providence

Degrees each year: 316
Admit rate: 84%
Annual cost after aid: $28,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college

Compare every college offering hospitality administration/management

Keep exploring

Careers with something in common.

Compare paths that use similar training and strengths.

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