The following article discusses the career path of Catering Manager. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Catering Managers.
Sponsored School(s)
Job Duties
Catering managers ensure that food services are operating appropriately. They must make sure that food is ordered and delivered on time and that it meets all the relevant standards. They also supervise chefs and waiters, making sure that clients can be served properly. To do this, they must be very patient, handle stressful situations the right way, and understand problem solving and logistics.
They are usually employed in hotels or restaurants, although some of them have their own catering business. They often have a manager above them who is responsible for other elements of operations.
Other duties of the catering manager are:
- To be responsible for the various catering operations such as special events, equipment, budget, and inventory
- To ensure that excellent customer service is maintained and complaints about cooking or inventory are resolved
- To work together with cooks and chefs for the development of menus, ensure timeliness, and order supplies
- To develop positive relationships with staff, vendors, and customers
Where We Work
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 308,700 food service managers in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals are:
- Restaurants and other eating places: 47%
- Self-employed workers: 34%
- Special food services: 4%
- Accommodation: 3%
How to Become
In order to become catering managers, they usually need to have practical experience in catering. Management experience may also be beneficial. However, experience is usually more important as it ensures that they know how to deal with the unpredictability that is common in the service environment. They must also be well adapted to the fast paced environment they will be working in.
Education Requirements
In order to take on a managerial position, it is becoming increasingly expected for people to hold a bachelor’s degree as a minimum, as well as have significant work experience. Some of this experience will be obtained during degree internships. Common subjects studied at the bachelor’s level include hospitality management, restaurant management, and institutional food service.
These degree programs teach students about food preparation, sanitation, and nutrition, but they also look at the business element, such as business law, accounting, and management. Additional training in areas such as record keeping, personnel management, company policies, security, sanitation, and food preparation may also be required.
There are a number of certifications that can be helpful, including the Food Protection Manager Certification (FPMC), accredited by the American National Standards Institute. The Foodservice Management Professional (FMP) designation can be obtained through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation as well.
Traits & Qualities
The most effective catering managers have the following traits to some degree or other:
– Excellent business acumen
– Strong communication skills, both oral and written
– Excellent customer service skills
– Detail oriented
– Strong leadership and motivational skills
– Great organizational skills
– Physical stamina
– Problem solving skills
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s Degree
- .
- Most Reported
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
$14,000
$117,000
The following section lists Catering Manager salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Massachusetts had the largest quoted salary of $62,624 while Utah had the smallest quoted salary of $20,832.
According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Catering Manager. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.
| Employer Name | Location | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Sodexo Catering Manager | Massachusetts | $282,020 |
| AppleOne Catering Manager | DC | $150,000 |
| Aramark Catering Manager | Pennsylvania | $120,331 |
| kale nyc Catering Manager | New York | $100,000 |
| MIST Catering Manager | New York | $75,000 |
| Asian Box Catering Manager | California | $74,143 |
| Next Move Hospitality Search Catering Manager | California | $73,304 |
| Beacon Search,Inc. Catering Manager | Massachusetts | $72,457 |
| Patrice & Associates Catering Manager | New York | $70,145 |
| Goodwin Recruiting Catering Manager | Massachusetts | $68,743 |
| Tasty Table Catering Catering Manager | Pennsylvania | $65,373 |
| Metz Culinary Management Catering Manager | Maryland | $65,000 |
| SustainableHire Catering Manager | California | $63,786 |
| The Hunter Group Associates Catering Manager | California | $62,483 |
| Cypress Hospitality Group Catering Manager | California | $62,000 |
| COREcruitment Catering Manager | New York | $61,867 |
| Gecko Hospitality Catering Manager | Minnesota | $60,346 |
Learn More
- Catering Sales Manager Job Description The High Line Hotel
- Food Service Managers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U …
| Career Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Event Manager | $48,434 |
| Research Associate | $46,919 |
| Communications Officer | $45,494 |
| Communication Specialist | $43,213 |
| Communications Coordinator | $42,597 |
| Marketing Coordinator | $42,195 |
| Program Coordinator | $41,738 |
| Human Resources Coordinator | $35,481 |
| Personal Banker | $34,631 |
| Logistics Coordinator | $30,259 |
