Food supervisor vs chef/kitchen manager

The differences between food supervisors and chef/kitchen managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chef/kitchen manager has an average salary of $49,415, which is higher than the $33,414 average annual salary of a food supervisor.

The top three skills for a food supervisor include HACCP, problem resolution and safety training. The most important skills for a chef/kitchen manager are kitchen operations, culinary, and wine.

Food supervisor vs chef/kitchen manager overview

	Food Supervisor	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Yearly salary	$33,414	$49,415
Hourly rate	$16.06	$23.76
Growth rate	10%	15%
Number of jobs	82,884	38,242
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	Associate Degree, 46%
Average age	37	37
Years of experience	-	-

What does a food supervisor do?

A food supervisor directs workers who prepare, apportion, and serve food to clients and staff. Their major responsibility is to ensure compliance with the food safety standards set by relevant authorities. They are also tasked with updating the food safety program and training all staff to understand and adhere to the instructions contained therein.

What does a chef/kitchen manager do?

A kitchen manager or chef is someone who oversees the overall operations in the kitchen as well as the food operations. Kitchen managers make certain that food and related products are well prepared, cooked, and served to customers. They maintain a fully-stocked kitchen inventory and comply with the cleanliness and safety standards. It is their responsibility to manage the kitchen staff and aid them in delivering quality food at the right time. They need to possess management skills, leadership skills, and attention to detail.

Food supervisor vs chef/kitchen manager salary

Food supervisors and chef/kitchen managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Food Supervisor	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Average salary	$33,414	$49,415
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $41,000	Between $34,000 And $70,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Washington	New York
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	Castilleja School
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Hospitality

Differences between food supervisor and chef/kitchen manager education

There are a few differences between a food supervisor and a chef/kitchen manager in terms of educational background:

	Food Supervisor	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	Associate Degree, 46%
Most common major	Business	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Food supervisor vs chef/kitchen manager demographics

Here are the differences between food supervisors' and chef/kitchen managers' demographics:

	Food Supervisor	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Average age	37	37
Gender ratio	Male, 54.3% Female, 45.7%	Male, 79.9% Female, 20.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between food supervisor and chef/kitchen manager duties and responsibilities

Food supervisor example responsibilities.

Lead shifts while personally preparing bakery items and executing requests base on require specifications.
Maintain all food and beverage storerooms in proper condition to ensure cleanliness, freshness, and organization.
Inspect all storage and food services preparation areas daily to ensure proper handling and cleanliness standards are met.
Travel to find better products that utilize the companies finances better while still providing the best culinary experience for the customer.
Examine food and beverage quality and presentation and provide corrective training where necessary, involving the culinary management team when need.
Develop and organize BOH through cleaning, maintenance, equipment care, and ordering and receiving.

Chef/kitchen manager example responsibilities.

Manage operations, orderings, and inventorying using POS & software programs.
Train and manage all kitchen personnel and supervise as well as coordinated all relate culinary activities.
Practice excellent food safety and sanitation practices and comply with HACCP standards.
Work both saut and roasting stations.
Clean and maintain kitchen, cooking line and appliances according to ServSafe standards.
Coordinate and plan seasonal menu s, recipes, and functions within the hotel using POS and software programs

Food supervisor vs chef/kitchen manager skills

Common food supervisor skills

HACCP, 18%
Problem Resolution, 18%
Safety Training, 16%
Safety Regulations, 7%
Customer Service, 7%
FDA, 6%

Common chef/kitchen manager skills

Kitchen Operations, 23%
Culinary, 20%
Wine, 8%
Quality Standards, 5%
Guest Satisfaction, 4%
ServSafe, 3%

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Food Supervisor vs Chef/Kitchen Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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