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What is a food and beverage manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
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A food and beverage manager oversees the operations of food service establishments, such as restaurants, cafes, and hotels. They manage staff, budgets, inventory, and customer service to ensure a high-quality dining experience. A food and beverage manager also develops menus, sets prices, and maintains relationships with suppliers. They work with chefs, servers, and restaurant staff to ensure smooth operations and satisfaction. The role requires communication skills, leadership abilities, and passion for the food industry.

ScoreFood And Beverage ManagerUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $53,013

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.1

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
7.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.59%

Asian 8.41%

Black or African American 10.70%

Hispanic or Latino 18.45%

Unknown 5.57%

White 56.27%

Gender

female 40.19%

male 59.81%

Age - 38
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38
Stress level
9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.3

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a food and beverage manager?

Pros

  • High earning potential, with opportunities for bonuses and tips.

  • Opportunities for career advancement

  • Opportunity to develop creative and innovative ideas for food and beverage offerings

  • Opportunity to interact with guests and establish relationships with regulars

  • Ability to work flexible hours

Cons

  • High levels of stress and pressure

  • Managing inventory and budgets can be challenging

  • High levels of competition from other establishments

  • Risk of burnout due to long hours and high stress levels

  • Limited personal time due to work demands

Food and beverage manager career paths

Key steps to become a food and beverage manager

  1. Explore food and beverage manager education requirements

    Most common food and beverage manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    55.4 %

    Associate

    24.8 %

    High School Diploma

    9.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific food and beverage manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service10.45%
    Wine6.14%
    POS5.95%
    Guest Satisfaction4.79%
    Food Service4.40%
  3. Complete relevant food and beverage manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New food and beverage managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a food and beverage manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real food and beverage manager resumes.
  4. Gain additional food and beverage manager certifications

    Food and beverage manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific food and beverage manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for food and beverage managers include Food Safety Manager Certification and Certified Food Manager (CFM).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research food and beverage manager duties and responsibilities

    • Schedule, plan, organize and manage events.- Assist with staff scheduling and bartending service.
    • Manage a small team of people in the caf /gift shop area to improve sales and minimize costs.
    • Manage daily operations of restaurant, in-room dining, lounge, pool, cater events and all bar venues.
    • Manage all FOH positions, including scheduling, developing and coaching employees, motivating the team and continuing to drive sales.
  6. Prepare your food and beverage manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your food and beverage manager resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a food and beverage manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable food and beverage manager resume templates

    Build a professional food and beverage manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your food and beverage manager resume.
    Food And Beverage Manager Resume
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    Food And Beverage Manager Resume
    Food And Beverage Manager Resume
  7. Apply for food and beverage manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a food and beverage manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first food and beverage manager job

Zippi

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Average food and beverage manager salary

The average food and beverage manager salary in the United States is $53,013 per year or $25 per hour. Food and beverage manager salaries range between $38,000 and $72,000 per year.

Average food and beverage manager salary
$53,013 Yearly
$25.49 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do food and beverage managers rate their job?

4/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Food and beverage manager reviews

profile
4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

The guest and the employees, being able to interact with Customers

Cons

some long hours, also working mostly Holidays


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

Sometimes, free food but sometimes cooks are not that good so I'd rather paid for better food

Cons

Everything else, of course! What's to be liked when you work shifts, nights, always on holidays and go to the gym at 1am?


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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