First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $42,010 in the US and is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.48 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Management of Personnel Resources, Coordination, Monitoring, Speaking, Instructing.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £24,228 a year for Cooks (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £20,334 to £27,831 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5435). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
No official India pay figure for this career: it falls in more than one occupation group, and the Government of India's labour survey (PLFS) publishes pay only by occupation group.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Food Production
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Sales and Marketing
- Education and Training
- Personnel and Human Resources
A day in the life
You start the morning in the restaurant kitchen checking deliveries, stock levels and cleanliness before staff arrive. At a short briefing you assign stations for the cooks and give each server a section of the dining room. You remind everyone about hygiene and safety rules. During the lunch rush you work alongside your team, helping plate food, checking quality and keeping orders moving. When a customer complains about a slow meal, you apologise, fix the problem and offer something to make it right. After lunch you train a new employee on safe food handling and how to use the dishwasher. Later you count cash, prepare the bank deposit and record hours worked for payroll. At closing time you supervise cleaning of the kitchen and dining area. The pace is hectic and the hours long, but leading a team that serves great food is very rewarding.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Resolve customer complaints regarding food service.
- Train workers in food preparation, and in service, sanitation, and safety procedures.
- Assign duties, responsibilities, and work stations to employees in accordance with work requirements.
- Present bills and accept payments.
- Perform various financial activities, such as cash handling, deposit preparation, and payroll.
- Supervise and participate in kitchen and dining area cleaning activities.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers do?
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.
What does a typical day look like in First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers?
You start the morning in the restaurant kitchen checking deliveries, stock levels and cleanliness before staff arrive. At a short briefing you assign stations for the cooks and give each server a section of the dining room. You remind everyone about hygiene and safety rules. During the lunch rush you work alongside your team, helping plate food, checking quality and keeping orders moving.
How much does First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers earn?
The median annual salary for First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers in the US is $42,010.
What is the job outlook for First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers?
The role is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 1,215,000 workers.
How do I become first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Management of Personnel Resources, Coordination, Monitoring, Speaking, Instructing, Active Listening. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers?
Our AI-durability model gives First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers a score of 0.48 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.