Catering manager: Salary and conditions

Salaries for catering manager roles range from £13,400 to £40,000+ at the most senior levels, with variations largely due to qualifications, organisation and region (salary data collected Mar 09).
Salaries also vary according to responsibilities, job sector and size of the organisation with higher salaries more often available in London and the South East.
Working in the hospitality industry often involves shift work with long and unsocial hours. In hospitality service operations within business, industry and institutions, managers are more likely to work normal office hours.
In larger organisations, the work tends to be office based, though catering managers may be expected to spend some time working within busy restaurants and kitchens.
Catering managers may be responsible for the catering of one site only. Others may have overall responsibility for a number of sites (that have to be visited on a regular basis) and a number of assistant managers working under them.
Men and women are employed in approximately equal numbers in the profession, with women now taking on more senior management roles.
The role is physically demanding and the pressures of providing a consistently good service can cause stress. Catering for events can be particularly stressful.
Travel within a working day can be a regular feature, but absence from home at night or overseas work/travel is rare.

AGCAS

Written by Caren Nelson, Middlesex University

Last updated:

March 2009