Restaurants now take orders through apps and kiosks, forecast busy nights with software and build staff schedules automatically. Restaurant managers still run the floor, lead the team, deal with unhappy guests and keep the kitchen safe and profitable.
The short answer: AI is taking on ordering, forecasting and admin, but the evidence does not point to it replacing restaurant managers. The ILO's 2025 index puts restaurant managers in minimal exposure, with a score of 0.36. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent growth for food service managers from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 38,800 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed restaurant managers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant Managers | Minimal exposure | 0.36 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Food service managers | Grow 6% | About 38,800 |
The BLS expects demand for meals from many kinds of dining venues to lead to new food service establishments, with managers needed as people keep dining out, buying takeout and having food delivered. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Ordering apps, kiosks and online ordering.
- Sales forecasts that guide staffing and food orders.
- Automatic shift scheduling and labor cost tracking.
- Inventory counts, supplier orders and review summaries.
What stays with restaurant managers
- The team: hiring, training, motivating and covering when someone calls out.
- Guests: fixing problems at the table and keeping service steady on a busy night.
- Food safety: hygiene, allergens and health inspections.
- Checking AI help: forecasts and automated schedules can be confidently wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Admin and ordering keep moving to software, and delivery and takeout add a second front of the house that runs on apps. Managers spend more time on people, service and margins.
See also AI in scheduling and shift allocation, will AI replace chefs?, will AI replace fast food workers? and will AI replace hotel managers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for food service managers at $69,390 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace restaurant managers?
Not on current evidence. The ILO puts restaurant managers in minimal exposure, and the BLS projects 6 percent growth for food service managers from 2025 to 2035.
Does the BLS mention AI for restaurant managers?
No. It ties demand to new dining venues and to people dining out, buying takeout and ordering delivery.
How many food service manager openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 38,800 openings a year, on average, over the decade.
What restaurant work stays human?
Leading the team, handling guests, food safety and checking AI forecasts and schedules.