How to hire a food and beverage manager

How to hire a food and beverage manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step food and beverage manager hiring guide:

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

What does a food and beverage manager do?

Post a food and beverage manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the food and beverage manager you need to hire. Certain food and beverage manager 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?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a food and beverage manager 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 food and beverage manager that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of food and beverage managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Food And Beverage Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Food And Beverage Manager	Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants and other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages. They direct staff to ensure that customers are satisfied with their dining experience, and they manage the business to ensure that it is profitable.	$18-34
   Shift Manager	Shift managers are employees assigned to oversee the operations of the business during a specific time or work shift. They manage the employees assigned in a particular shift and ensure that the employees are working on their specific tasks... Show more	$11-20
   Kitchen Manager	A kitchen manager is responsible for supervising overall kitchen operations duties, checking food storage, and distributing appropriate kitchen staff tasks. Kitchen managers' jobs also include monitoring food preparation, ensuring that all orders and serving portions are correct, organizing menu prices, researching current market trends of the food industry, and maintaining the highest sanitation procedures... Show more	$17-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Wine
   • POS
   • Guest Satisfaction
   • Food Service
   • Guest Service
   • Payroll
   • Banquet Events
   • Culinary
   • Room Service
   • Cleanliness
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Professional Work
   • Beverage Operations

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Coordinate weekly schedules and manage payroll processing functions including monitoring meal break compliance, labor productivity and attendance.
   • Manage subordinate managers and supervisors, manage various personnel functions including payroll, hiring, disciplinary actions, grievances and promotions.

   More food and beverage manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the food and beverage manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. A food and beverage manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a food and beverage manager in Florida may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level food and beverage manager. Additionally, a food and beverage manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average food and beverage manager salary

   $53,013yearly

   $25.49 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level food and beverage manager salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 29, 2026

   Average food and beverage manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$65,986	$32
   2	New Jersey	$62,124	$30
   3	Connecticut	$61,372	$30
   4	Pennsylvania	$58,409	$28
   5	Maryland	$57,744	$28
   6	Massachusetts	$57,684	$28
   7	California	$57,264	$28
   8	District of Columbia	$56,676	$27
   9	Virginia	$53,474	$26
   10	Arizona	$51,033	$25
   11	Alaska	$50,636	$24
   12	Texas	$48,793	$23
   13	Ohio	$48,175	$23
   14	Colorado	$47,517	$23
   15	Washington	$47,419	$23
   16	Missouri	$46,072	$22
   17	Illinois	$45,940	$22
   18	Louisiana	$45,625	$22
   19	Florida	$44,124	$21
   20	Tennessee	$43,560	$21

   Average food and beverage manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$102,961	$49.50
   2	Boca Grove	$85,905	$41.30
   3	RSM US	$74,648	$35.89
   4	Pine Hollow Country Club	$73,807	$35.48
   5	Redding Country club	$70,908	$34.09
   6	Oracle	$69,690	$33.50
   7	Black Oak Casino Resort	$68,112	$32.75	2
   8	Colusa Casino Resort	$64,369	$30.95
   9	Cahuilla Creek Casino	$64,338	$30.93
   10	Northern Quest Resort & Casino	$63,795	$30.67
   11	Capitol Broadcasting	$63,247	$30.41
   12	Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza	$61,983	$29.80
   13	Chumash Casino Resort	$61,480	$29.56
   14	Sun Communities	$61,442	$29.54	2
   15	Aspen Snowmass	$60,852	$29.26	10
   16	Baltimore Country Club	$60,338	$29.01
   17	Oshkosh	$59,813	$28.76
   18	Hyatt Hotels	$59,796	$28.75	117
   19	Radisson Hotels International Inc	$59,647	$28.68
   20	Drayton Foods	$59,579	$28.64

4. Writing a food and beverage manager job description

   A good food and beverage manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a food and beverage manager job description:

   Food and beverage manager job description example

   About Us

   At the Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Troy we pride ourselves on being the best employer in the area. What sets us apart? Our culture, full benefit plans, including 401k with a company match and our lucrative bonus programs, to name a few. We are looking for talented people who have a genuine passion for service. Our Core Values involve personal development, people, and a desire for wanting them to succeed. We believe each member of our team has a key part to play in our delivery of outstanding service and memorable experiences for each guest. We want a hotel that people want to come to, not through. Find out today what a career with Pyramid Hotel Group at the Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Troy can mean for you!

   Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Troy boasts 114 guest rooms, and 2,700 sq ft of event space.

   Description

   Consider your potential at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy. We're looking for a vibrant, customer-focused Food & Beverage Manager to join our team!

   The Hilton Garden Inn offers:

   Paid time off

   7 paid holidays

   Comprehensive benefit packages

   401k with company match

   Room rate discounts

   All within a culture that cares for its team.

   Responsibilities include:

   • Overseeing all aspects of food and beverage operations, including outlets and banquets.
   • Working closely with Executive Chef to achieve high score of food and service quality.
   • Managing budgets and cost control measures, quality standards, guest satisfaction and associate satisfaction.

   • Must have excellent communication skills and the ability to lead, direct and motivate supervisors and associates.

   • Must be experienced with cost controls, financial controls, profit and loss statements, etc.

   • Direct and participate the functions of the Food & Beverage department to meet the daily needs of the operation.

   • Implement effective controls of food, beverage and labor costs among all departments.

   • Maintain high standards of food & beverage quality, service & marketing to maximize profits through outstanding customer service.

   • Regularly review and evaluate the degree of customer satisfaction of the Food & Beverage operations.

   • Assist in the recruiting of high quality personnel and manage the development, motivation and retention of staff.

   Requirements

   At least two (2) years of prior experience is required.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find food and beverage managers 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 food and beverage manager job on Zippia to find and recruit food and beverage manager 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 food and beverage managers, 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 food and beverage manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the food and beverage manager 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.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a food and beverage manager?