How to become a first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving worker

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers do

• Perform various financial activities, such as cash handling, deposit preparation, and payroll.
• Control inventories of food, equipment, smallware, and liquor, and report shortages to designated personnel.
• Resolve customer complaints regarding food service.
• Train workers in food preparation, and in service, sanitation, and safety procedures.
• Analyze operational problems, such as theft and wastage, and establish procedures to alleviate these problems.
• Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas to ensure efficient service and conformance to standards.

Skills that matter most

• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Active Listening
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Learning Strategies
• Writing
• Mathematics

Is first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving worker a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 14% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Washington $59,400
• District of Columbia $57,170
• Connecticut $52,940
• Colorado $50,550
• Vermont $49,820

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.