Hospitality & Food

How to become a Catering Manager

From restaurant experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

1–3 years

Typical pay

$50k–$72k

Starting from

Restaurant experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from restaurant experience and includes any licence or programme legally required — not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   1–2 years

   Work service or kitchen in a catering operation

   Off-premise catering is a different craft from restaurant service.

   Course that covers thisHotel Management - Foundation Course for Hotel ManagersUdemy · around $19.99 →
2. 2

   1–2 years

   Learn event logistics

   Transport, timing, equipment and the fact that nothing can be re-cooked on site.

3. 3

   6–18 months

   Learn to cost and sell an event

   Proposals, tastings and margins. This is the part that makes you a manager.

4. 4

   1–2 years

   Run events end to end

   Weekends and evenings, permanently. That is the trade.

5. ✓

   Destination

   Catering Manager

   Browse jobs now →

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