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The differences between conference services managers and catering 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 conference services manager and a catering manager. Additionally, a catering manager has an average salary of $51,962, which is higher than the $50,711 average annual salary of a conference services manager.
The top three skills for a conference services manager include reservations, conference services and booking. The most important skills for a catering manager are customer service, culinary, and food service.
| Conference Services Manager | Catering Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $50,711 | $51,962 |
| Hourly rate | $24.38 | $24.98 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 121,578 | 88,658 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Conference Services Manager organizes and oversees conferences from planning to execution, ensuring efficiency and smooth operations. They meet with clients and representatives to learn about their event needs and budgets. From there, a Conference Services Manager develops plans and guidelines with staff, books caterers and venues according to the clients' preferences, arrange programs, and coordinates other services. They lead and encourage staff to reach goals, maintaining an active communication line to promptly and efficiently resolve any issues.
Catering managers are responsible for managing the daily catering operations and services in hotels, restaurants, and resorts. They monitor the quality of food and service provided by their outlets as well as make sure they are presented well. Their goals include achieving high customer satisfaction, producing excellent quality food, and maintaining that sanitary protocols are strictly followed. A degree is not a standard requirement for this job; however, employers do value those who have relevant qualifications with food, home, hotel, and hospitality management.
Conference services managers and catering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Conference Services Manager | Catering Manager | |
| Average salary | $50,711 | $51,962 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $67,000 | Between $37,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Santa Clara, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Apple | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a conference services manager and a catering manager in terms of educational background:
| Conference Services Manager | Catering Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Hospitality Management | Business |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between conference services managers' and catering managers' demographics:
| Conference Services Manager | Catering Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.8% Female, 72.2% | Male, 36.7% Female, 63.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 8.4% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |