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Cafeteria manager vs food service manager

The differences between cafeteria managers and food service managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a cafeteria manager and a food service manager. Additionally, a food service manager has an average salary of $43,564, which is higher than the $32,485 average annual salary of a cafeteria manager.

The top three skills for a cafeteria manager include kitchen equipment, food safety and bank deposits. The most important skills for a food service manager are customer service, sanitation standards, and cleanliness.

Cafeteria manager vs food service manager overview

Cafeteria ManagerFood Service Manager
Yearly salary$32,485$43,564
Hourly rate$15.62$20.94
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs66,736160,740
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 31%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age3939
Years of experience44

Cafeteria manager vs food service manager salary

Cafeteria managers and food service managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Cafeteria ManagerFood Service Manager
Average salary$32,485$43,564
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $48,000Between $28,000 And $66,000
Highest paying CityWaterbury, CTNew York, NY
Highest paying stateRhode IslandRhode Island
Best paying companyBoston Public SchoolsKern Community College District
Best paying industryHospitalityGovernment

Differences between cafeteria manager and food service manager education

There are a few differences between a cafeteria manager and a food service manager in terms of educational background:

Cafeteria ManagerFood Service Manager
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 31%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Cafeteria manager vs food service manager demographics

Here are the differences between cafeteria managers' and food service managers' demographics:

Cafeteria ManagerFood Service Manager
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 23.7% Female, 76.3%Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 8.3% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 8.5% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between cafeteria manager and food service manager duties and responsibilities

Cafeteria manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage three main cafeterias and multiple internal plant cafeteria sites.
  • Manage cafeteria as well as ordering groceries and other supplies and making sure all paper work is done.
  • Manage festival concessions, including product selection, vendor management and volunteer training.
  • Train staff as it relates to food preparation procedures and safety regulations and POS system.
  • Order supplies and groceries from approve vendors.
  • Monitor students' allergies and arrange for substitution if necessary.
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Food service manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage all aspects of the human resources task, including hiring, training, payroll, and the negotiated contract.
  • Manage operations and provide support to a team of 245 union employees at various elementary, middle and high school cafeterias.
  • Manage inventory, ordering and delivery of groceries.
  • Train food & nutrition team in SERVSAFE, HACCP, knife skills and environmental safety.
  • Maintain all Intel, Aramark and ServSafe safety, sanitation and security guidelines.
  • Review and complete adequate weekly sales projections, with mastery of using POS system
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Cafeteria manager vs food service manager skills

Common cafeteria manager skills
  • Kitchen Equipment, 18%
  • Food Safety, 15%
  • Bank Deposits, 9%
  • Payroll, 8%
  • ServSafe, 6%
  • Plan Menus, 5%
Common food service manager skills
  • Customer Service, 27%
  • Sanitation Standards, 10%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 5%
  • Food Handling, 4%

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