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Occupational Handbook: Food Service Managers
Food Service Managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants or other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages. Food Service Managers typically need a high school diploma and several years of work experience in the food service industry. Some receive additional training at community colleges, technical or vocational schools, culinary schools, or four-year colleges. The average annual wage for food service managers was $67,150 in Missouri and $74,880 nationally in 2024.

Real Time Labor Report: Hospitality
The Hospitality industry includes the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector; travel accommodations such as hotels, motels, and more; and food service sectors like food and drinking outlets. Establishments in this sector can be found in every county in Missouri. During 2025, there were over 51,000 online job postings for the Hospitality industry statewide. The top occupation was Food Service Managers, which made up 11 percent of total industry job postings with an average salary of $67,150. Durable skills, such as Customer Service, Communication, and Leadership, ranked in the top 10 common skills for the Hospitality industry. Customer Service skills were requested in over 40 percent of the job postings.