Food Preparation & Serving
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Also called: Cafeteria Manager, Dietary Supervisor, Dining Services Director, Food and Beverage Director
US median pay
$44,080
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5.4%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
171,500
1,236,400 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.
What they do day to day
- Resolve customer complaints regarding food service.
- Train workers in food preparation, and in service, sanitation, and safety procedures.
- Assign duties, responsibilities, and work stations to employees in accordance with work requirements.
- Present bills and accept payments.
- Perform various financial activities, such as cash handling, deposit preparation, and payroll.
- Supervise and participate in kitchen and dining area cleaning activities.
- Recommend measures for improving work procedures and worker performance to increase service quality and enhance job safety.
- Specify food portions and courses, production and time sequences, and workstation and equipment arrangements.
- Control inventories of food, equipment, smallware, and liquor, and report shortages to designated personnel.
- Observe and evaluate workers and work procedures to ensure quality standards and service, and complete disciplinary write-ups.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Management of Personnel Resources4.0/5
- Coordination3.9/5
- Instructing3.8/5
- Service Orientation3.6/5
- Time Management3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Negotiation3.1/5
- Systems Evaluation3.0/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.1/5
- Administration and Management3.6/5
- Food Production3.5/5
- English Language3.5/5
- Production and Processing3.3/5
- Sales and Marketing3.3/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma70%
- Less than high school27%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.