First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

People in this career directly oversee employees in restaurants, cafeterias, and bars. Daily activities center around guiding, directing, and motivating subordinates, as well as training and teaching staff members. Supervisors spend significant time performing for or working directly with the public, resolving conflicts, and establishing interpersonal relationships. They must evaluate information to determine compliance with health and safety standards, organize and plan daily work, and identify key operational events.

Success in this role requires strong skills in personnel management, coordination, active listening, and speaking. Supervisors need a solid understanding of customer and personal service, food production, administration, and personnel resources. Because they work in fast-paced environments, they must demonstrate dependability, leadership, stress tolerance, self-control, and cooperation. This occupation strongly appeals to individuals with enterprising interests who enjoy leading people and making business decisions.

To enter this career, workers typically need a high school diploma. Most preparation involves some on-the-job training or prior experience in the food service industry. Students interested in this management path often major in culinary arts and related services, or foods, nutrition, and related services.

While not always mandatory, several professional certifications can help candidates advance. These include the AMSA Culinary Meat Selection & Cookery Certification, Certified In Customer Service, Certified Professional - Food Safety, and ServSafe Allergens. Additionally, some states list licensing requirements for individuals performing this type of work.

The median annual pay for these supervisors is $44,080. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $29,940 and the highest 10% earning more than $65,570. There are 1,223,240 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 5.4%, which is faster than average. This growth, combined with normal staff turnover, is expected to generate 171,500 job openings each year.