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Restaurant Manager: Occupations in Alberta - alis
Do you like hosting people? Are you good with schedules, staffing, and inventory? Do you have the stamina to work long hours when necessary? Then a career as a restaurant manager may be food for thought.
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Occupations in Alberta
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Restaurant Manager

Restaurant managers plan, organize, direct and control the operation of establishments in which food and beverages are served.

Contents View Full Profile
NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

  • 2006 NOC: Restaurant and Food Service Managers (0631) 
  • 2006 NOC-S: Restaurant and Food Service Managers (A221) 
  • 2011 NOC: Restaurant and food service managers (0631) 
  • 2016 NOC: Restaurant and food service managers (0631) 
Interests & Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Restaurant and Food Service Managers

2006 NOC: 0631

Interest Codes

Interest Codes for This NOC Group
DIRECTIVE

Interest in co-ordinating information to direct, control and evaluate the operation of food and beverage service establishments, to implement and modify operational procedures, to assign staff duties and to oversee staff training

METHODICAL

Interest in setting work schedules, monitoring staff performance, controlling inventory and ensuring that health and safety regulations are followed

SOCIAL

Interest in negotiating arrangements with suppliers for food and other materials, and with clients for catering and use of facilities for banquets and receptions

Your Interest Codes

To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. 

It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn About Interests

Abilities

Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Mental Abilities

General Learning Ability

Verbal Ability

Numerical Ability

Visual Abilities

Spatial Perception

Form Perception

Clerical Perception

Physical Abilities

Motor Coordination

Finger Dexterity

Manual Dexterity

Understanding Abilities

A Quick Guide

You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Learn About Abilities

Duties
Updated May 20, 2021

The specific duties performed by restaurant managers depend on the nature of the establishments they manage. In general, restaurant managers:

  • Consult with chefs to select menu items that will appeal to customers and make efficient use of food supplies
  • Assign prices to menu items
  • Develop wine and liquor lists appropriate to menus
  • Estimate supplies needed, order supplies and deal with food, beverage and equipment suppliers and their representatives
  • Recruit and train new employees, schedule work hours and keep employment records
  • Oversee the daily operations of the restaurant to ensure health and safety regulations and policies are met
  • Ensure that maintenance and decor standards are met
  • Supervise restaurant staff
  • Maintain friendly contact with customers and resolve customer complaints
  • Develop marketing strategies and supervise advertising campaigns
  • Track the overall profitability of the restaurant and forecast revenues
  • Prepare budgets and manage finances, including maintaining records of costs and payments made to suppliers, balancing daily cash received with records of sales, and depositing daily income for safekeeping

In large restaurants or hotel chains, restaurant managers may delegate many tasks to other employees, such as assistant managers or executive chefs. Smaller restaurants may combine the positions of executive chef and restaurant manager. In fast food restaurants and other food service facilities, restaurant managers may have several assistant managers, each of whom supervises a different shift.

Working Conditions
Updated May 20, 2021
  • Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg

The working conditions for restaurant managers vary as much as the establishments they operate. Evening and weekend work is common. The work can be hectic during peak dining hours. Dealing with customer complaints or problem employees can be stressful.

Traits & Skills
Updated May 20, 2021

Restaurant managers need:

  • Interpersonal skills to deal effectively with employees and customers
  • Stamina and self-discipline to work long hours when necessary
  • Communication skills (oral and written)
  • Organizational skills
  • The ability to remain calm and solve unexpected problems
  • The ability to develop marketing ideas for attracting and retaining customers

They should enjoy:

  • Coordinating information and the activities of others
  • Setting work schedules, monitoring staff and controlling inventory
  • Dealing with suppliers and customers

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2011 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Restaurant and food service managers

2011 NOC: 0631

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 100 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Sep 26, 2022 and Oct 04, 2022.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Address customers' complaints or concerns
Tasks: Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate daily operations
Tasks: Recruit, train and supervise staff
Tasks: Set staff work schedules and monitor staff performance
Tasks: Ensure health and safety regulations are followed
Tasks: Provide customer service
Tasks: Determine type of services to be offered and implement operational procedures
Tasks: Monitor revenues and modify procedures and prices
Construction Specialization: Team player
Tasks: Organize and maintain inventory
Tasks: Address customers' complaints or concerns 96
Tasks: Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate daily operations 96
Tasks: Recruit, train and supervise staff 89
Tasks: Set staff work schedules and monitor staff performance 89
Tasks: Ensure health and safety regulations are followed 85
Tasks: Provide customer service 76
Tasks: Determine type of services to be offered and implement operational procedures 73
Tasks: Monitor revenues and modify procedures and prices 72
Construction Specialization: Team player 67
Tasks: Organize and maintain inventory 67
Educational Requirements
Updated May 20, 2021
  • Minimum Education Varies

The best background for restaurant managers is a combination of experience, education and certification in the field. Computer skills (for working with point-of-sale systems) and the ability to speak a second language are definite assets.

It is still possible to work from the bottom up in restaurant management if on-the-job training is supplemented with further education. Some large restaurant chains sponsor their own management training programs. However, employers may prefer to hire applicants who already have related post-secondary education.

Restaurant managers need good working knowledge of food preparation and wines. The following organizations offer introductory to advanced courses in wines and spirits at various locations across Canada: International Sommelier Guild (ISG) and Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET).

All staff involved in the sale and service of liquor in licensed premises (for example, owners, managers and supervisors, retailers, bartenders and servers, greeters and hosts, and security staff) must have ProServe Liquor Staff Training. This is a provincial training program designed to ensure liquor service and sales activities are conducted with integrity and in a socially responsible manner. ProServe is available online, as a self-directed program of home study using a video and a manual, or by seminar.

In Alberta, food safety courses are offered by:

Visit the Government of Alberta website or contact 780-427-7164 for a listing of approved food safety training options.

The Government of Alberta awards a Food Sanitation and Hygiene Certification to those who complete approved training and achieve at least 70% on a provincial exam. Food facilities generally employ at least 1 person who is certified. Where 6 or more people are working on site, at least one person present must be certified. Where fewer people are working on site, the certified person may be absent.

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

Academy of Learning - Calgary Central
Academy of Learning - Calgary NE
Academy of Learning - Edmonton Downtown
Academy of Learning - Edmonton South
Academy of Learning - Edmonton West
Academy of Learning - Medicine Hat
Academy of Learning - Red Deer
Bay River College
Canadian Health & Business College
CDI College of Business, Technology and Health Care - Calgary City Centre
Cypress College - Culinary Campus
East-West College - Edmonton
ERP College
Glenbow College
Lethbridge College
Medicine Hat College
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Olds College
Portage College
Reeves College - Calgary North
Reeves College - Calgary South
Reeves College - Edmonton
Reeves College - Edmonton North
Reeves College Edmonton South
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Sundance College
University of Alberta

To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated May 20, 2021
  • Certification Not Regulated

Certification is not required, as there is currently no legislation regulating this occupation.

However, Tourism HR Canada (formerly the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council or CTHRC) offers 2 certifications through the emerit website for food and beverage managers on a voluntary basis. These include:

  1. Food and Beverage Manager
  2. Food and Beverage Management International

The Food and Beverage Manager certification leads to the Tourism Certified Manager (TCM) designation, while the Food and Beverage Management International certification leads to the Certified International Foodservice Management (CIFM) designation. Both are accessible from the emerit website.

Employment & Advancement
Updated May 20, 2021

Most restaurant managers are employed in privately owned restaurants, clubs and hotels. Many own their establishments.

Restaurant managers who have related post-secondary education usually advance relatively quickly and may qualify for further advancement to district manager and top executive positions in large organizations. Or, they may move into sales representative positions for food service supply companies or become managers of private clubs.

Restaurant managers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 0631: Restaurant and food service managers. In Alberta, 91% of people employed in this classification work in the Accommodation and Food Services [pdf] industry.

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Accommodation and Food Services industry)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation

In Alberta, the 0631: Restaurant and food service managers occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.1% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 326 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.

Source: Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated May 20, 2021

Salaries for restaurant managers vary a great deal depending on the size, location and volume of business of the restaurant. Incomes for restaurant managers who own their own restaurants vary even more widely.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Restaurant and food service managers

2016 NOC: 0631
Average Wage
$25.13
Per Hour
Average Salary
$51,150.00
Per Year
Average Hours
39.3
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
11.9
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
 2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 0631 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $15.10 $31.25 $20.86 $19.95
Overall $16.50 $39.12 $25.13 $23.80
Top $18.00 $60.10 $32.88 $27.78

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

Educational Services
Public Administration
Health Care & Social Assistance
Information, Culture, Recreation
ALL INDUSTRIES
Accommodation & Food Services
Manufacturing
Educational Services $64,466
Public Administration $63,865
Health Care & Social Assistance $57,054
Information, Culture, Recreation $54,889
ALL INDUSTRIES $51,150
Accommodation & Food Services $50,891
Manufacturing $0.00

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
29%
29%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
43%
43%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
7%
7%
Vacancy Rate
6%
Related High School Subjects
  • English Language Arts
  • Science
  • Business, Administration, Finance and IT
    • Financial Management
    • Management and Marketing
  • Health, Recreation and Human Services
    • Human and Social Services
    • Legal Studies
  • Trades, Manufacturing and Transportation
    • Logistics
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Business, Management and Administrative Studies
  • Personal and Food Services
Other Sources of Information
Updated May 20, 2021

Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals website: cafp.ca

emerit website: emerit.ca

National Restaurant Association [United States] website: www.restaurant.org

ProServe Liquor Staff Training website: proserve.aglc.ca

Restaurants Canada website: www.restaurantscanada.org

Tourism HR Canada website: tourismhr.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2021. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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