Career Explorer Management
Human edge, growing
Food service managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 87% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +5.8% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and ethical judgement.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $69,390
- Job growth to 2035
- +5.8%
- Openings a year
- 38,800
- People doing it (2025)
- 344,000
- Usual route in
- High school diploma, then short on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Respond to customer problems or inquiries
- Determine resource needs of projects or operations
- Provide information to guests, clients, or customers
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures
- Evaluate production inputs or outputs
- Maintain operational records
What the work looks like
- Monitor employee and patron activities to ensure liquor regulations are obeyed.
- Greet guests, escort them to their seats, and present them with menus and wine lists.
- Count money and make bank deposits.
- Establish standards for personnel performance and customer service.
- Keep records required by government agencies regarding sanitation or food subsidies.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- More of these jobs, as movie theaters continue to expand food and beverage offerings and the number of luxury or boutique movie theaters continues to increase.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Medical assistantsHuman edge, growing, Index 89, +12.9%
- Home health and personal care aidesHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +18.1%
- Occupational health and safety techniciansHuman edge, growing, Index 92, +19.4%
- Hearing aid specialistsHuman edge, growing, Index 89, +19.4%
Also known as: F and B Manager (Food and Beverage Manager), Food Service Director, Food Service Manager, Restaurant Manager, Banquet Manager, Catering Manager, CDM (Certified Dietary Manager), Dining Service Director.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.