Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.
What does a First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers do?
How much can you earn?
National Salary Distribution
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $34,080 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $35,400 and $50,920
- •Salary spread is 36.9% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 1,187,460 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Current Employment
Top Industries
10-Year Outlook
Employment Projections
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers professionals work across the United States
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
Skills Overview
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Management of Personnel Resources
advancedCustomer and Personal Service
advancedOral Comprehension
advancedSpeaking
advancedAdministration and Management
advancedOral Expression
advancedCoordination
intermediateFood Production
intermediateProblem Sensitivity
intermediateMonitoring
intermediateActive Listening
intermediateEnglish Language
intermediateHighly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
- ✓Management of Personnel Resources
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Coordination
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Customer and Personal Service
- →Instructing
- →Service Orientation
- →Production and Processing
Mid Career
- ✓Management of Personnel Resources
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Coordination
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Customer and Personal Service
Senior Level
- ★Speaking
- ★Customer and Personal Service
- ★Food Production
- ★Oral Comprehension
- ★Oral Expression
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
Key Digital Competencies:
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Dynamics
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Project
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
Compile and balance cash receipts at the end of the day or shift.
🔴Resolve customer complaints regarding food service.
🔴Train workers in food preparation, and in service, sanitation, and safety procedures.
🔴Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas to ensure efficient service and conformance to standards.
🔴Control inventories of food, equipment, smallware, and liquor, and report shortages to designated personnel.
🔴Assign duties, responsibilities, and work stations to employees in accordance with work requirements.
🔴Estimate ingredients and supplies required to prepare a recipe.
🔴Analyze operational problems, such as theft and wastage, and establish procedures to alleviate these problems.
🔴Specify food portions and courses, production and time sequences, and workstation and equipment arrangements.
🟡Recommend measures for improving work procedures and worker performance to increase service quality and enhance job safety.
🟡💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers professionals typically have a ECR Holland code and highly value relationships
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Stress Tolerance
Very ImportantStress Tolerance
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Social Orientation
Very ImportantSocial Orientation
Self-Control
Very ImportantSelf-Control
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Complete Work Styles Profile
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Preparation Level
Experience Needed
📚 Education Requirement
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Explore educational programs that can help you become a First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers.
Browse Training Programs →Trade Colleges That Train for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Top trade colleges by completions in fields that prepare students for this career.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder
Boulder, CO
3.5k program completions/year
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington
Covington, LA
1.9k program completions/year
Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett
Everett, WA
994 program completions/year
Douglas J Aveda Institute
East Lansing, MI
832 program completions/year
Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup
New York, NY
786 program completions/year
Aveda Institute-South Florida
Davie, FL
746 program completions/year
Crescent City Bartending School
New Orleans, LA
590 program completions/year
Celebrity School of Beauty
Miami, FL
582 program completions/year
Institute of Culinary Education
New York, NY
582 program completions/year
Institute of Culinary Education
New York, NY
582 program completions/year
Aveda Institute-Tallahassee
Clearwater, FL
557 program completions/year
Asian-American International Beauty College
Westminster, CA
548 program completions/year
From the Blog

MIG vs TIG vs Stick: Which Welding Process to Learn First
A practical comparison of the three core arc-welding processes — MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), and Stick (SMAW) — covering difficulty, industry use, equipment cost, BLS pay implications, and what welding programs actually teach first so you can match the process you learn first to the job you actually want.

Trade Careers You Can Start After 50: A Realistic, Data-Driven Guide
A practical guide for adults 50 and older considering a career in the skilled trades — covering which trades suit mature workers, the financial calculus of a shorter career runway, health insurance during training, and how life experience becomes a genuine advantage on the job site.