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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