Food Service Manager
Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants or other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages.
What the job is
- The work
- Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants or other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages.
BLS
Food Service Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Food service managers work in restaurants, hotels, school cafeterias, and other establishments where food is prepared and served. They often work evenings, weekends, and holidays. The work is often hectic, and dealing with dissatisfied customers may be stressful.
BLS
Food Service Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Calm organizers who like people and can handle busy evenings, weekends and unhappy customers.
- Career cluster
- Hospitality, Events, & Tourism
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (food service managers).
- Median pay
- $69,390 a year ($33.36 an hour)
BLS
Food Service Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 344,300
- Typical entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- Training after hire
- Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +6%, which BLS calls "faster than average"
BLS
Food Service Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +19,900 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- 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.
BLS
Food Service Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- In short
- Food service managers typically need a high school diploma and several years of experience as a cook, waiter or waitress, or supervisor. Upscale restaurants and hotels may prefer a postsecondary degree, and some chains recruit management trainees from college hospitality programs.
- License
- Not required
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
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Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Food service manager: years in restaurant jobs, or a hospitality or culinary management degree
See the roadmap
Route 1: Work up from cook, server or supervisor · Route 2: Associate's or bachelor's in restaurant and hospitality management · Route 3: Registered Apprenticeship
More careers in Hospitality, Events, & Tourism
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 21 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.