by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Foodservice Systems Administration/Management explores Foodservice Systems Administration/management. A Program That Focuses On The Principles And Practices Relating To The Administration Of Food Service Systems In Institutional Settings, And That Prepares Individuals To Manage Such Operations In Public And Private Facilities. Includes Instruction In Human Nutrition, Food Safety, The Design And Organization Of Food Service Systems, Purchasing, Personnel Management, And Related Business Practices. Read on to learn the key facts every foodservice systems administration/management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering foodservice systems administration/management programs.
Across the country, foodservice systems administration/management is a popular field of study, with 373 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Foodservice Systems Administration/Management Schools ranking analyzes these 34 schools to determine the best overall colleges for foodservice systems administration/management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of foodservice systems administration/management programs later in this article.
Studies in Foodservice Systems Administration/Management emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations foodservice systems administration/management graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a foodservice systems administration/management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a foodservice systems administration/management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several foodservice systems administration/management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 20 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 189 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 155 |
People currently working in careers related to foodservice systems administration/management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 29.5% |
| Master’s degree | 25.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 16.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 4.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.9% |
| Some college courses | 1.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in foodservice systems administration/management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying foodservice systems administration/management can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to foodservice systems administration/management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to foodservice systems administration/management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 3,155,854 | 1.4% |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,267,153 | 0.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 863,163 | 5.6% |
| Food Service Managers | 397,799 | 7.7% |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 395,624 | 0.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of foodservice systems administration/management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,066 |
| 4 years | $41,526 |
| 5 years | $47,346 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for foodservice systems administration/management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers foodservice systems administration/management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $125,305 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,604 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,104 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,453 |
With 34 different foodservice systems administration/management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased foodservice systems administration/management school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in foodservice systems administration/management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General | 2,264 |
| Human Nutrition | 1,095 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other | 135 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
