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Restaurant owner vs food service manager

The differences between restaurant owners 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 restaurant owner and a food service manager. Additionally, a restaurant owner has an average salary of $48,167, which is higher than the $43,564 average annual salary of a food service manager.

The top three skills for a restaurant owner include customer service, menu planning and food safety. The most important skills for a food service manager are customer service, sanitation standards, and cleanliness.

Restaurant owner vs food service manager overview

Restaurant OwnerFood Service Manager
Yearly salary$48,167$43,564
Hourly rate$23.16$20.94
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs175,102160,740
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age3939
Years of experience44

Restaurant owner vs food service manager salary

Restaurant owners and food service managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Restaurant OwnerFood Service Manager
Average salary$48,167$43,564
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $63,000Between $28,000 And $66,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-Rhode Island
Best paying company-Kern Community College District
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between restaurant owner and food service manager education

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

Restaurant OwnerFood Service Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Restaurant owner vs food service manager demographics

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

Restaurant OwnerFood Service Manager
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 54.5% Female, 45.5%Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 9.5% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 restaurant owner and food service manager duties and responsibilities

Restaurant owner example responsibilities.

  • Manage FOH and BOH for a high volume family casual cafe.
  • License Maryland home improvement contractor managing a small home improvement business that specializes in doors and windows.
  • Implement computerized POS system and oversee all financial reporting, including setting up internal controls over cash and tip reporting.
  • Verify POS inventory versus physical inventory to ensure accuracy and monitor theft or inefficient use of products.
  • Perform market research analysis/comparison/trends/consultation for current and prospective clients /weekly PowerPoint presentations Accomplishments/Rewards.
  • Control both FOH and BOH operations and proactively solve issues.
  • 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

Restaurant owner vs food service manager skills

Common restaurant owner skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Menu Planning, 18%
  • Food Safety, 10%
  • Inventory Control, 4%
  • Restaurant Operations, 3%
  • POS, 2%
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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