Jobs Similar to Food Service Managers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to food service managers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Chefs and Head Cooks and First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers.
Food Service Managers: $69,390 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
84% similar · $44,080 (−36%) · High school
- 2Chefs and Head Cooks
83% similar · $62,470 (−10%) · Training or associate
- 3First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
80% similar · $48,520 (−30%) · High school
- 4First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
79% similar · $49,100 (−29%) · High school
- 5Gambling Managers
78% similar · $93,220 (+34%) · High school · Same group
- 6Lodging Managers
77% similar · $69,250 (0%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
76% similar · $48,590 (−30%) · Training or associate
- 8First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
76% similar · $87,520 (+26%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
76% similar · $69,500 (0%) · Training or associate
- 10Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
76% similar · $79,520 (+15%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers
75% similar · $63,820 (−8%) · High school
- 12Bartenders
75% similar · $34,340 (−51%) · High school
- 13Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
75% similar · $96,660 (+39%) · High school · Same group
- 14General and Operations Managers
75% similar · $105,770 (+52%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Spa Managers
74% similar · $69,770 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 16First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services
74% similar · $48,560 (−30%) · High school
- 17Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
74% similar · $107,230 (+55%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Administrative Services Managers
74% similar · $114,130 (+64%) · Training or associate
- 19Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners
73% similar · $34,980 (−50%) · High school
- 20Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
73% similar · $69,990 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than food service managers.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for food service managers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where food service managers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Chefs and Head Cooks (90)
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (88)
- Bartenders (82)
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers (80)
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers (79)
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (78)
- Waiters and Waitresses (77)
- Fast Food and Counter Workers (76)
- Butchers and Meat Cutters (75)
- Cooks, Fast Food (75)
Questions about jobs like food service managers
What jobs are most similar to food service managers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (84% similar), Chefs and Head Cooks (83% similar), First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers (80% similar), First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers (79% similar) and Gambling Managers (78% similar).
Which jobs like food service managers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Administrative Services Managers ($114,130, +64%; usually training or an associate degree), Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers ($107,230, +55%; usually a bachelor's degree) and General and Operations Managers ($105,770, +52%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with food service managers ($69,390). Without more preparation than food service managers usually need: Postmasters and Mail Superintendents and Gambling Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.