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Food safety director vs food service manager

The differences between food safety directors and food service 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 safety director and a food service manager. Additionally, a food safety director has an average salary of $69,299, which is higher than the $43,564 average annual salary of a food service manager.

The top three skills for a food safety director include food service, FDA and HACCP. The most important skills for a food service manager are customer service, sanitation standards, and cleanliness.

Food safety director vs food service manager overview

Food Safety DirectorFood Service Manager
Yearly salary$69,299$43,564
Hourly rate$33.32$20.94
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs141,051160,740
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age3939
Years of experience44

What does a food safety director do?

Food safety directors implement regulations and standards in various facilities. As a food safety director, you are responsible for training other inspectors who help inspect the facility and make detailed reports from which you determine how best to maintain safety standards. You will maintain documentation of day-to-day activities, making sure products meet the outlined criteria, educate suppliers, conduct regular safety audits, and promote smooth workflow.

What does a food service manager do?

A food service manager's role is to oversee and supervise all operations in a restaurant or a similar setting. They are primarily responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction through optimal foodservice, an efficient workforce, and a safe and healthy environment. A food service manager must also greet customers, escort them to their tables, handle any issues and concerns, manage the employees, train new hires, manage the payroll and budget, and coordinate with all restaurant personnel. Furthermore, a food service manager must delegate tasks among employees and assign their schedules accordingly.

Food safety director vs food service manager salary

Food safety directors and food service managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Food Safety DirectorFood Service Manager
Average salary$69,299$43,564
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $137,000Between $28,000 And $66,000
Highest paying CityConcord, NHNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew HampshireRhode Island
Best paying companyCyberCodersKern Community College District
Best paying industryMediaGovernment

Differences between food safety director and food service manager education

There are a few differences between a food safety director and a food service manager in terms of educational background:

Food Safety DirectorFood Service Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Food safety director vs food service manager demographics

Here are the differences between food safety directors' and food service managers' demographics:

Food Safety DirectorFood Service Manager
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 58.9% Female, 41.1%Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 9.1% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 8.5% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between food safety director and food service manager duties and responsibilities

Food safety director example responsibilities.

  • Manage operations and provide support to a team of 245 union employees at various elementary, middle and high school cafeterias.
  • Prepare HACCP analysis report and provide reports for the areas not meeting the quality standards.
  • Supervise culinary selection, catering, event planning, and baking/cooking functions and oversee menu development.
  • Assist with the development and execution of HACCP plans specific to projects and special events.
  • Ensure collaboration between interdisciplinary teams including the clinical, culinary, and patient food service management staff to improve department efficiency.
  • Assist in directing total food service operation in accordance with USDA policies and procedures.
  • Show more

Food service manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage all aspects of the human resources task, including hiring, training, payroll, and the negotiated contract.
  • Manage operations and provide support to a team of 245 union employees at various elementary, middle and high school cafeterias.
  • Manage inventory, ordering and delivery of groceries.
  • Train food & nutrition team in SERVSAFE, HACCP, knife skills and environmental safety.
  • Maintain all Intel, Aramark and ServSafe safety, sanitation and security guidelines.
  • Review and complete adequate weekly sales projections, with mastery of using POS system
  • Show more

Food safety director vs food service manager skills

Common food safety director skills
  • Food Service, 10%
  • FDA, 7%
  • HACCP, 7%
  • Continuous Improvement, 6%
  • Culinary, 6%
  • Fsma, 5%
Common food service manager skills
  • Customer Service, 27%
  • Sanitation Standards, 10%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 5%
  • Food Handling, 4%

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