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Food manager vs bar manager

The differences between food managers and bar 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 food manager and a bar manager. Additionally, a bar manager has an average salary of $46,828, which is higher than the $37,654 average annual salary of a food manager.

The top three skills for a food manager include food handling, cleanliness and cash control. The most important skills for a bar manager are customer service, wine, and beverage orders.

Food manager vs bar manager overview

Food ManagerBar Manager
Yearly salary$37,654$46,828
Hourly rate$18.10$22.51
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs276,643165,633
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age3939
Years of experience44

What does a food manager do?

A food manager oversees the operations at various dining establishments, ensuring efficient food services and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities typically include managing the staff, setting schedules and guidelines, establishing objectives and budgets, liaising with vendors and suppliers, delegating tasks, and developing strategies to optimize overall operations. There are also instances where they may assist customers, arrange reservations, process payments, prepare and organize documents, hire and train new members of the workforce, and resolve issues and concerns. Moreover, as a food manager, they must lead and encourage the staff to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

What does a bar manager do?

Bar managers are also called bar owners or supervisors of bar establishments. The managers are in charge of managing customer complaints, ensuring stocks in the bar, and in scheduling the jobs of employees. They oversee the overall operations of the bar, manage its staff, and ensure that the standards of products and services are met. They maintain the licensure of liquor and make sure that their staff follows the local regulations. Also, they see to it that customers are served promptly.

Food manager vs bar manager salary

Food managers and bar managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Food ManagerBar Manager
Average salary$37,654$46,828
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $57,000Between $33,000 And $65,000
Highest paying CityFreehold, NJGreenwich, CT
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNew Jersey
Best paying companySouthern HealthcareGreenwich Country Club
Best paying industryManufacturingGovernment

Differences between food manager and bar manager education

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

Food ManagerBar Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Food manager vs bar manager demographics

Here are the differences between food managers' and bar managers' demographics:

Food ManagerBar Manager
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 51.9% Female, 48.1%Male, 56.0% Female, 44.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 8.6% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 7.9% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between food manager and bar manager duties and responsibilities

Food manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead quarterly training sessions on fire safety mandate by OSHA.
  • Manage all food regulatory documentation ensuring accuracy and compliancy with FDA, CFIA and EFSA agencies.
  • Prepare, analyze reports, staff training and development, prioritization, delegation and manage all aspects of the USDA program.
  • Manage inventory, ordering and delivery of groceries.
  • Prepare and distribute payroll information for management and staff.
  • Conduct math skills during transactions.
  • Show more

Bar manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage liquor and wine inventory and develop cocktail menus taking advantage of fresh ingredients.
  • Inventory and order bar stock and manage FOH staff, as well as ensured food quality and timeliness of service.
  • Manage front-of-house operations for upscale wine bar and restaurant, including assisting in monitoring and management of inventory and finances.
  • Perform typical bartending duties including all aspects of customer service.
  • Direct all bartending operations as well as ordering and inventory management.
  • Help with shift movement according seniority while abiding by the bartender and culinary CBA.
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Food manager vs bar manager skills

Common food manager skills
  • Food Handling, 13%
  • Cleanliness, 11%
  • Cash Control, 10%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 8%
  • Non, 6%
  • Math, 6%
Common bar manager skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Wine, 17%
  • Beverage Orders, 7%
  • Bartending, 5%
  • Payroll, 5%
  • POS, 5%

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