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Food service manager vs dairy manager

The differences between food service managers and dairy 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 service manager and a dairy manager. Additionally, a food service manager has an average salary of $43,564, which is higher than the $32,417 average annual salary of a dairy manager.

The top three skills for a food service manager include customer service, sanitation standards and cleanliness. The most important skills for a dairy manager are food safety, customer service, and pallet jack.

Food service manager vs dairy manager overview

Food Service ManagerDairy Manager
Yearly salary$43,564$32,417
Hourly rate$20.94$15.59
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs160,74089,317
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%High School Diploma, 36%
Average age3939
Years of experience44

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.

What does a dairy manager do?

A dairy manager usually works at grocery establishments where they are primarily in charge of managing the dairy and frozen products department. They monitor shelves to ensure all products are of good quality, remove expired items, monitor inventories, and re-stock supplies as necessary. They are also responsible for managing staff operations, delegating responsibilities, assisting staff, and solving issues and concerns to maintain a smooth workflow. Moreover, a dairy manager participates in loading and unloading stocks, maintaining the cleanliness of the facility, and engaging with customers.

Food service manager vs dairy manager salary

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

Food Service ManagerDairy Manager
Average salary$43,564$32,417
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $66,000Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYVancouver, WA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandHawaii
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictPCC Community Markets
Best paying industryGovernmentRetail

Differences between food service manager and dairy manager education

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

Food Service ManagerDairy Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%High School Diploma, 36%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Food service manager vs dairy manager demographics

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

Food Service ManagerDairy Manager
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 45.8% Female, 54.2%Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between food service manager and dairy manager duties and responsibilities

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

Dairy manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage departments including: frozen, dairy, grocery, bulk, beer and wine.
  • Manage budgets and payroll records, review financial transactions to assure expenditures are authorize and budget.
  • Order the beer and wine for the store.
  • Order and stock the produce and dairy departments while bagging and carrying out groceries.
  • Stock products and maintain department cleanliness.
  • Ensure cleanliness and sanitation of entire department daily.
  • Show more

Food service manager vs dairy manager skills

Common food service manager skills
  • Customer Service, 27%
  • Sanitation Standards, 10%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 5%
  • Food Handling, 4%
Common dairy manager skills
  • Food Safety, 11%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Pallet Jack, 8%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Sales Floor, 7%
  • Product Knowledge, 6%

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