How To Become An Assistant Deli Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is an assistant deli manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Assistant deli managers work at the deli counter of a supermarket or in a small deli shop. Assistant deli managers perform many of the same tasks that deli clerks do. They slice cold cuts, prepare sandwiches, and take orders from customers. However, assistant deli managers have responsibilities that go beyond ham and turkey. They are often in charge of the administrative tasks that come with running a deli, such as receiving merchandise, tracking inventory, and preparing documentation. They supervise the work of deli clerks and make sure that they are following company standards. Assistant deli managers work closely with deli managers and step in to lead if their boss is absent.

Assistant deli managers earn an average salary of $31,919 a year. However, they usually need to put in several years of work at the deli counter working as a clerk before earning this position.

Although a few assistant deli managers have a bachelor's degree, most do not. After all, few universities teach valuable deli skills such as preparing sandwiches and slicing ham.

ScoreAssistant Deli ManagerUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $32,900

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.1

Growth rate 18%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.85%

Asian 6.48%

Black or African American 10.54%

Hispanic or Latino 15.52%

Unknown 5.07%

White 61.54%

Gender

female 63.62%

male 36.38%

Age - 34

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 34

Stress level

9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.0

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an assistant deli manager

Explore assistant deli manager education requirements

Most common assistant deli manager degrees

High School Diploma

35.8 %

Associate

27.4 %

Bachelor's

24.6 %

Start to develop specific assistant deli manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Food Safety	12.28%
Food Handling	7.85%
Product Quality	7.37%
Food Service	5.98%
Cleanliness	5.41%

Complete relevant assistant deli manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant deli managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant deli manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant deli manager resumes.

Gain additional assistant deli manager certifications

Assistant deli manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific assistant deli manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for assistant deli managers include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS).

More About Certifications

Research assistant deli manager duties and responsibilities

Manage both BOH and FOH operations exceeding company specifications.
Work with slicers, saws, knives, and power cutters for cutting larger pieces of meat.
Facilitate safety training meetings and exercises using Microsoft PowerPoint to help employees understand the potential safety hazards in their work environment.
Used knives, scales, wrappers, garbage compactor, baler, and pallet jacks safely.

Prepare your assistant deli manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant deli manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assistant deli manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable assistant deli manager resume templates

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