Food production manager vs catering manager

The differences between food production 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 food production manager and a catering manager. Additionally, a catering manager has an average salary of $51,962, which is higher than the $40,595 average annual salary of a food production manager.

The top three skills for a food production manager include culinary, inventory management and food quality. The most important skills for a catering manager are customer service, culinary, and food service.

Food production manager vs catering manager overview

	Food Production Manager	Catering Manager
Yearly salary	$40,595	$51,962
Hourly rate	$19.52	$24.98
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	181,569	88,658
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	4	4

Food production manager vs catering manager salary

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

	Food Production Manager	Catering Manager
Average salary	$40,595	$51,962
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $62,000	Between $37,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Santa Clara, CA
Highest paying state	New York	Nevada
Best paying company	GPAC	Brigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industry	Media	Hospitality

Differences between food production manager and catering manager education

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

	Food Production Manager	Catering Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Business
Most common college	Cornell University	Cornell University

Food production manager vs catering manager demographics

Here are the differences between food production managers' and catering managers' demographics:

	Food Production Manager	Catering Manager
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 76.4% Female, 23.6%	Male, 36.7% Female, 63.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.7% 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%

Differences between food production manager and catering manager duties and responsibilities

Food production manager example responsibilities.

Integrate and manage new network POS system in both sides of the operation; retail and board plan.
Manage inventory, ordering and delivery of groceries.
Help oversee the proper receiving and storage of all food items according to ServSafe and HACCP regulations.
Maintain cleanliness of kitchen, coolers, freezers and dry goods areas.
Create HACCP and programs for other food items in testing trials at facility.
Ensure the product coming out of department meets the USDA and the customer/company specifications.

Catering manager example responsibilities.

Prepare and manage BEOs to client specifications including auto-visual requirements.
Assist patients by test tasting food for allergies and accuracy.
Design and consult members on d cor, menu and wine selection for private events.
Ensure that those with food allergies or restrict diets have appropriate safe dishes to consume at meal times.
Work closely with culinary, stewarding and banquet department on specialty menus and customize events.
Full responsibility for all operations of several bars during service time including reporting and finance management.

Food production manager vs catering manager skills

Common food production manager skills

Culinary, 18%
Inventory Management, 9%
Food Quality, 8%
HACCP, 7%
Patients, 7%
Cleanliness, 5%

Common catering manager skills

Customer Service, 25%
Culinary, 10%
Food Service, 10%
Excellent Client, 6%
Booking, 4%
Customer Satisfaction, 4%

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Food Production Manager
Food Production Manager vs Catering Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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