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How to hire a catering supervisor

Catering supervisor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring catering supervisors in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a catering supervisor is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per catering supervisor on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 14,067 catering supervisors in the US and 8,658 job openings.
  • Los Angeles, CA, has the highest demand for catering supervisors, with 8 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of catering supervisors.

How to hire a catering supervisor, step by step

To hire a catering supervisor, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a catering supervisor:

Here's a step-by-step catering supervisor hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a catering supervisor job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new catering supervisor
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a catering supervisor do?

A catering supervisor oversees and spearheads the daily operations of a catering business, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. They primarily meet with clients or representatives to identify their catering needs and develop menus according to their budget and preferences. From there, a catering supervisor coordinates with staff, develops plans, sets goals and guidelines, delegates responsibilities among teams, and secures the necessary supplies. They also maintain an open communication line with clients, updating them regularly. Moreover, they lead and encourage employees to reach goals, supervising all procedures to ensure they comply with the industry standards and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a catering supervisor does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the catering supervisor you need to hire. Certain catering supervisor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a catering supervisor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a catering supervisor that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of catering supervisor salaries for various roles:

    Type of Catering SupervisorDescriptionHourly rate
    Catering Supervisor$13-22
    Front Of House ManagerA front of house manager coordinates and supervises the front house team. Front of house managers make sure that every client receives a warm welcome... Show more$12-29
    Shift LeaderShift leaders are tenured or experienced employees who are assigned to oversee employees in specific work shifts. They manage team members who are assigned in their shift... Show more$12-20
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Food Service
    • HACCP
    • Cleanliness
    • Food Preparation
    • Culinary
    • POS
    • Allergies
    • Quality Service
    • Food Handling
    • Food Safety
    • Excellent Guest
    • Safety Standards
    • Banquet Event Orders
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage servers and dishwashers on a daily basis making sure everything are always maintain accordingly.
    • Train employees on company policy, POS systems.
    • Take catering orders over the phone and enter them into POS.
    • Cater to the guest of event as wait staff also bartending for private gatherings.
    • Experience includes bar management, bartending, meetings, banquets, dinners, green room and V.I.P.
    • Perform all inventory and payroll relate functions.
    More catering supervisor duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your catering supervisor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A catering supervisor salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, catering supervisors' average salary in kansas is 43% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level catering supervisors earn 40% less than senior-level catering supervisors.
    • Certifications. A catering supervisor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a catering supervisor's salary.

    Average catering supervisor salary

    $36,455yearly

    $17.53 hourly rate

    Entry-level catering supervisor salary
    $28,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 28, 2026

    Average catering supervisor salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$50,087$24
    2District of Columbia$46,346$22
    3Massachusetts$42,948$21
    4New York$41,089$20
    5Arizona$40,515$19
    6Colorado$40,213$19
    7Maryland$39,540$19
    8Minnesota$38,424$18
    9Florida$37,732$18
    10Pennsylvania$37,146$18
    11Texas$36,977$18
    12Vermont$36,960$18
    13New Hampshire$36,692$18
    14Indiana$36,422$18
    15Utah$34,794$17
    16North Carolina$33,117$16
    17Illinois$32,992$16
    18Georgia$31,967$15
    19Wisconsin$31,758$15
    20Kansas$28,266$14

    Average catering supervisor salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Massachusetts General Hospital$55,907$26.88
    2University of California-Berkeley$48,831$23.48
    3Legends Hospitality$43,503$20.91
    4UMass Lowell$42,888$20.62
    5Soboba Casino Resort$42,261$20.322
    6University of St. Thomas$41,075$19.75
    7Gustavus Adolphus College$40,497$19.47
    8Eat'n Park$40,273$19.36
    9Goodwin Recruiting$39,663$19.07
    10Guest Services$39,467$18.974
    11Partners Healthcare Solutions Inc$39,299$18.89
    12ISS A/S$39,130$18.81
    13Aztec Shops$39,128$18.813
    14LSG Sky Chefs$38,135$18.33
    15Compass Group USA$37,769$18.16372
    16Legend Holdings$37,769$18.1647
    17AVI Foodsystems$37,523$18.0440
    18Alterra Mountain$37,376$17.97
    19Delaware North$37,264$17.9244
    20Sodexo Management, Inc.$37,225$17.90237
  4. Writing a catering supervisor job description

    A catering supervisor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a catering supervisor job description:

    Catering supervisor job description example


    Pay rate for the Catering Supervisor position is $20 / hour.

    Full-Time positions are offered a comprehensive benefits package including:

    • Medical, dental and vision plans.
    • 401k with matching contributions.
    • Other optional benefits upon meeting eligibility requirements.

    Some location may implement a vaccination requirement in the future if required by federal, state, local law.

    Responsibilities
    • Train and supervise catering associates and observe job performance.
    • Ensure catering associates properly prepare catered events for guests; conduct walk-throughs to check for any issues.
    • Ensure all food presentations and displays meet company standards.
    • Ensure responsible alcohol service and reports any violations.
    • Answer guest questions regarding food preparation or ingredients, service, or billing.
    • Resolve guest complaints, with the assistance of the department manager.
    • Ensure that all workstations, pantries, and storerooms remain clean and sufficiently stocked; ensures replacement stock is ordered.
    • Ensure all sanitation practices are used and Department of Health guidelines are followed.
    Qualifications
    • Must be 21 years old and have a minimum of 6 months to 1 year of service experience in a hotel, full-service restaurant, catering facility, or club environment required.
    • Excellent guest service skills.
    • Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and able to follow job procedures and manager instructions.
    • Ability to work accurately, efficiently, and courteously in a high-pressure environment.
    • Good leadership and training skills; ability to teach others as well as delegate tasks.
    • Good communication skills; ability to effectively communicate with guests, and retain and communicate menu information and service preferences.
    • Basic math skills; ability to accurately account for cash and inventory.
    Physical Requirements
    • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds for set-up, service, and clean up.
    • Ability to stand and walk for the entire length of shift, including walking up and down stairs and lifting as the work duties demand.
    • Ability to work in variable outdoor temperatures required.
    Shift Details

    1st Shift
    2nd Shift
    3rd Shift
    Holidays
    Weekends

    Who We Are

    The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is the visitor center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. We offer our associates discounted meals, wellness rewards programs, and 4-week on-the-job training program. Friends and family perks include up to 12 complimentary tickets with 4 parking passes per year to share. Additionally, associates receive 5 visits per year with up to 3 guests for visits at discounted rates to other popular Florida attractions.

    At Delaware North, you'll love where you work, who you work with, and how your day unfolds. Whether it's in sporting venues, casinos, airports, national parks, iconic hotels, or premier restaurants, there's no telling where your career can ultimately take you. We empower you to do great work in a company with 100 years of success, stability and growth. If you have drive and enjoy the thrill of making things happen - share our vision and grow with us.

    Delaware North Companies, Incorporated and its subsidiaries consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. Delaware North is an equal opportunity employer.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find catering supervisors for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your catering supervisor job on Zippia to find and recruit catering supervisor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit catering supervisors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new catering supervisor

    Once you have selected a candidate for the catering supervisor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new catering supervisor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a catering supervisor?

Recruiting catering supervisors involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

Catering supervisors earn a median yearly salary is $36,455 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find catering supervisors for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $13 and $22.

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