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The differences between bakery associates and catering assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a catering assistant has an average salary of $32,101, which is higher than the $28,963 average annual salary of a bakery associate.
The top three skills for a bakery associate include customer service, donuts and food preparation. The most important skills for a catering assistant are patients, food service, and customer service.
| Bakery Associate | Catering Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $28,963 | $32,101 |
| Hourly rate | $13.92 | $15.43 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 52,105 | 10,042 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A bakery associate is responsible for assisting bakery chefs in producing baked goods and pastries, organizing the stock, maintaining the cleanliness of the storage area, and processing customers' orders and payments. Bakery associates monitor the inventory and request bakery ingredients and supplies from trusted suppliers and third-party vendors. They also pitch on recommending promotional campaigns and research on current bakery trends to update the menu, meeting public demands to increase sales and revenues. A bakery associate should have excellent communication and analytical skills to respond to customers' inquiries and operate the cash register.
A catering assistant is responsible for supporting catering operations, especially on outdoor gatherings and social events. Catering assistants prepare the buffet area and ensure the adequacy of foods and beverages, and provide the best customer service for the guests' satisfaction. Catering assistants must have excellent communication skills, responding to the guests' inquiries and concerns about the dish, and resolving immediate complaints. They maintain the cleanliness of the buffet station, strictly adhering to the sanitary standards and hygienic regulations.
Bakery associates and catering assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bakery Associate | Catering Assistant | |
| Average salary | $28,963 | $32,101 |
| Salary range | Between $17,000 And $47,000 | Between $26,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Rich Products | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a bakery associate and a catering assistant in terms of educational background:
| Bakery Associate | Catering Assistant | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between bakery associates' and catering assistants' demographics:
| Bakery Associate | Catering Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.5% Female, 77.5% | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 6.6% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.2% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |