A first-line supervisor of food preparation and serving workers leads and manages kitchen and dining staff. You oversee daily operations, train employees, ensure quality standards, and keep service running smoothly. You can start with a high school diploma and move into this role through experience.
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You manage food preparation and serving teams in restaurants, cafeterias, catering operations, and other food service settings. Your day involves training and teaching staff, monitoring their work, evaluating whether they meet food safety and quality standards, and guiding them to perform well. You handle scheduling, resolve conflicts, and work directly with customers to address concerns. You also gather information about operations, maintain records, and communicate with management about performance and needs. Strong interpersonal skills matter because you spend your time motivating people and building relationships with both staff and the public.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers earn a median of $44,080 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is strong. Employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than average for all occupations, with about 183,900 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most positions require a high school diploma or equivalent. You typically start in food service roles like cook, server, or kitchen assistant and move into supervision as you gain experience and demonstrate leadership ability. Some employers offer on-the-job training in food safety, customer service, and management practices. You may pursue additional training in food service management or hospitality to strengthen your qualifications. The path emphasizes learning through work experience and taking on increasing responsibility over time.
Most supervisors come up through food service roles, learning the work from the ground up. If you are deciding whether to jump into a job first or get some formal training beforehand, Pathly can map the first-line supervisor of food preparation and serving workers path that fits you and work through it with your counselor to find the right starting point for you.
You do not need a license to work as a first-line supervisor of food preparation and serving workers, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You like leading people and making things happen. You are comfortable with responsibility, persuading others, and working in fast-paced environments where results matter.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).