Cafe or Restaurant Manager

A Café or Restaurant Manager oversees daily operations at a dining venue. You’ll supervise other staff and make sure the dining area is well presented. A Café or Restaurant Manager, or Fast Food Manager, manages budgets and finances and ensures supplies are ordered. You might ensure all compliance issues are adhered to and deal with any problems that arise during a shift.

Café or Restaurant Managers should be good at customer service and be able to communicate well with a range of customers. You’ll need good leadership skills and must be able to work well with a team. Café or Restaurant Managers should be good at multitasking and may have to draw on their problem solving abilities when required. You may have to work irregular hours including nights and weekends.

Future demand High
Average yearly income $78,000
Skill level Advanced

How do I become a cafe or restaurant manager?

All skill levels Beginner Experienced
Recommended
SIT50422

Diploma of Hospitality Management
On Campus, Online
24 months
$12,000
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Motel Manager Gaming Manager Hotel Manager
Restaurant Supervisor Gaming Supervisor Front Office Supervisor Cafe or Restaurant Manager Duty Manager Shift Manager Bar Manager Night Auditor Kitchen Manager Demi Chef Chef de Partie Venue Manager Event Planner Cellar Door Manager Food Safety Supervisor Club Manager Cooks Assistant Conference Manager Event Director Exhibition Manager Tour Operations Manager Reservations Manager Bakery Manager Executive Housekeeper
+ 24 more
SIT40422

Certificate IV in Hospitality
On Campus, Online
10 - 12 months
$0 - $4,000
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Gaming Supervisor Gaming Manager Restaurant Supervisor
Front Office Supervisor Hotel Manager Motel Manager Cafe or Restaurant Manager Duty Manager Shift Manager Bar Manager Retail Team Leader Venue Manager Event Planner Cellar Door Manager Food Safety Supervisor Bartender Tour Guide Tour Driver Cooks Assistant Sandwich Hand Conference Manager Fast Food Assistant Reservations Manager Bakery Manager
+ 21 more

Bachelor of Business (Hospitality Management)
Blended, On Campus
3 years
$0 - $55,680
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Cafe or Restaurant Manager Food and Beverage Manager Hotel Manager
Event Manager Club Manager
+ 2 more
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Cafe or Restaurant Manager Food and Beverage Manager Hotel Manager Event Manager Club Manager + 2 more
SIT60322

Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management
Blended, On Campus, Online, Traineeship
3 - 36 months
$0 - $59,455
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Front Office Supervisor Hotel Manager Motel Manager
Cafe or Restaurant Manager Gaming Manager Gaming Supervisor Duty Manager Shift Manager Bar Manager Rooms Division Manager Kitchen Manager
+ 8 more
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Front Office Supervisor Hotel Manager Motel Manager Cafe or Restaurant Manager Gaming Manager Gaming Supervisor Duty Manager Shift Manager Bar Manager Rooms Division Manager Kitchen Manager + 8 more
SIT60322

Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management (Food and Beverage)
On Campus
12 - 22 months
$0 - $11,000
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Bar Manager Cafe or Restaurant Manager Duty Manager
Gaming Supervisor Gaming Manager Restaurant Supervisor Shift Manager
+ 4 more
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Bar Manager Cafe or Restaurant Manager Duty Manager Gaming Supervisor Gaming Manager Restaurant Supervisor Shift Manager + 4 more
SIT60322

Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management (Commercial Cookery)
Blended, On Campus
12 - 22 months
$0 - $19,740
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Cafe or Restaurant Manager Kitchen Manager Commis Chef
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Cafe or Restaurant Manager Kitchen Manager Commis Chef
SIT50422

Diploma of Hospitality Management (Food and Beverage)
Blended, On Campus
9 - 24 months
$0 - $6,600
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Bar Manager Cafe or Restaurant Manager Duty Manager
Gaming Manager Gaming Supervisor Restaurant Supervisor Shift Manager
+ 4 more
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Bar Manager Cafe or Restaurant Manager Duty Manager Gaming Manager Gaming Supervisor Restaurant Supervisor Shift Manager + 4 more

Bachelor of Hospitality Management
On Campus
3 years
$0 - $48,817
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Duty Manager Food and Beverage Manager Hotel Manager
Cafe or Restaurant Manager Health and Safety Manager Bus Driver
+ 3 more
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Duty Manager Food and Beverage Manager Hotel Manager Cafe or Restaurant Manager Health and Safety Manager Bus Driver + 3 more
SIT50422

Diploma of Hospitality Management (Commercial Cookery and Catering)
Blended
12 months
$10,000
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Sous Chef Catering Manager Cafe or Restaurant Manager
Food and Beverage Manager Kitchen Manager
+ 2 more
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Sous Chef Catering Manager Cafe or Restaurant Manager Food and Beverage Manager Kitchen Manager + 2 more
SIT50422

Diploma of Hospitality Management (Culinary)
On Campus
9 months
$7,700
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Cafe or Restaurant Manager Executive Chef Food and Beverage Manager
Catering Manager Chef de Partie
+ 2 more
  • There are no mandated entry requirements.
Additional requirements may apply.
Cafe or Restaurant Manager Executive Chef Food and Beverage Manager Catering Manager Chef de Partie + 2 more
*Showing course fees for all providers. Some providers may not be available in your area.

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Common questions

How much does a Café or Restaurant Manager earn?

In Australia, a full time Café or Restaurant Manager generally earns $1,500 per week ($78,000 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.

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Courses.com.au Team Industry expert

What are the job opportunities for a Café or Restaurant Manager?

There has been a strong increase in employment numbers in this industry over the last five years. There are currently 69,400 people working as a Café or Restaurant Manager in Australia, compared to 60,900 five years ago. Café and Restaurant Managers may find work across all regions of Australia.

Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights

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Courses.com.au Team Industry expert

How do I become a Café or Restaurant Manager?

If you’re planning a career as a Café or Restaurant Manager, consider enrolling in an Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management. You’ll learn to develop a business and customer service plan for your venue and learn skills in recruitment, leadership and marketing. You could also specialise your skills with an Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management (Commercial Cookery) or an Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management (Food and Beverage).

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Courses.com.au Team Industry expert

Further reading

What can you do with a Certificate III in Hospitality?

14th December 2020)

Career spotlight: Hospitality professionals

17th September 2019)

How do I become a sales manager?

22nd December 2022)

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