Wages.... Indiana used as current example
	Total Employed	Average Hourly Wage	Average Annual Wage
Indiana	6,510	$14.02	$29,150
Gary	610	$16.78	$34,900
Indianapolis	1,180	$17.60	$36,620
Evansville	480	$11.53	$23,980
National	287,940	$14.92	$31,020

Nationally, half of all people employed in this group earn between $24,180 and $39,820 each year.

  Employment

Nationally, about 594,600 food service and lodging managers work in this medium-sized occupation. Nearly half of these work in eating and drinking places. Many work in institutional settings such as schools or nursing homes. Separate figures for restaurant managers are not available. However, restaurant managers are part of this larger occupational group. Major employers: Eating and drinking places Hotels and other lodging places About 35 percent of all food service and lodging managers are self-employed.

Outlook

National

Nationally, the number of jobs for food service and lodging managers is expected to increase about as fast as the average through the year 2008. Eating and drinking places will provide the most new jobs. The number of restaurants will increase along with the population. In addition, people will have more money and time to go out for meals. Job opportunities will be best for people with two- or four-year college degrees in food service management. Opportunities will also be better for those in salaried jobs than for self-employed managers. This is because new restaurants are often part of larger chains rather than independently owned. Employment in eating and drinking places is not very affected by changes in the economy. Therefore, restaurant managers are rarely laid off during a slow economy.


Getting Hired

Restaurant chains and food service management companies often recruit manager trainees from two and four-year college programs. Most employers prefer managers with degrees in restaurant and food service management. However, they sometimes hire graduates with degrees in related fields who show interest and ability. Sometimes managers are promoted from within the company without previous training. Food preparers and servers with solid experience can sometimes move into manager jobs, especially in small or fast-food facilities. Most employers seek certain personal qualities when hiring managers. For example, self-discipline and leadership are very important. Managers must be able to solve problems and pay attention to details. They need good communication skills in order to deal with customers, suppliers, and staff. In addition, a neat and clean appearance is a must because they work in close contact with the public.

Job Advancement

Advancement for restaurant managers may depend on their willingness to move to another location. Managers usually advance to larger facilities or higher levels of management within restaurant chains. Some managers open their own restaurants. Others transfer to jobs managing food and beverage operations in large hotels or resorts