Food Service Managers Career, Salary and Skills
Food Service Managers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $69,390 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 238,430. Wage data is published for 426 locations.
Occupation description
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
O*NET code
11-9051.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$69,390
Hourly median
$33.36
Employment
238,430
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 3.50 |
| Coordination | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Service Orientation | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Time Management | 3.50 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Count money and make bank deposits.
Technology
- Aestiva Employee Time Clock
- Apache Groovy
- Army Food Management Information System
- Aurora FoodPro
- ChefDesk Chef's Calculators
- ClubSoft Food & Beverage Point of Sale
- Culinary Software Services ChefTec
- Database software
- DataTeam Lunch Express
- Delphi Technology
- Dinerware Intuitive Restaurant
- espSoftware Employee Schedule Partner
- Evernote
Food Service Managers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Food Service Managers Salary in CAMedian $78,260 · Employment 33,180
- Food Service Managers Salary in TXMedian $60,770 · Employment 25,990
- Food Service Managers Salary in FLMedian $72,790 · Employment 18,500
- Food Service Managers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $77,850 · Employment 11,330
- Food Service Managers Salary in ILMedian $63,930 · Employment 11,270
- Food Service Managers Salary in PAMedian $64,750 · Employment 10,530
- Food Service Managers Salary in New York, NYMedian $82,970 · Employment 10,000
- Food Service Managers Salary in NCMedian $74,080 · Employment 9,420
- Food Service Managers Salary in MIMedian $60,790 · Employment 9,240
- Food Service Managers Salary in GAMedian $65,280 · Employment 9,230
- Food Service Managers Salary in OHMedian $62,980 · Employment 8,570
- Food Service Managers Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $65,620 · Employment 8,530
Related careers
- Cooks, Fast FoodNational median $30,890
- Waiters and WaitressesNational median $35,230
- Food Scientists and TechnologistsNational median $88,720
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersNational median $49,100
- BakersNational median $37,160
- Dietetic TechniciansNational median $37,640
- Butchers and Meat CuttersNational median $40,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNational median $33,980
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.