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The differences between bakery associates and food prep/dishwashers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food prep/dishwasher has an average salary of $29,964, 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 food prep/dishwasher are food preparation equipment, work ethic, and wash dishes.
| Bakery Associate | Food Prep/Dishwasher | |
| Yearly salary | $28,963 | $29,964 |
| Hourly rate | $13.92 | $14.41 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 52,105 | 113,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 43% | High School Diploma, 58% |
| 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 food prep/dishwasher's role is to perform food preparation and cleaning duties in a kitchen, under the supervision and directives of a chef or manager. One of their primary responsibilities is washing dishes, sanitizing utensils, and preparing ingredients by washing, peeling, and cutting them according to size. They may also participate in organizing, sorting, and putting them in proper storage. There are also instances when they have to perform basic cooking tasks ranging from boiling and frying to baking. Furthermore, a food prep/dishwasher may have the duty of maintaining the kitchen's cleanliness and other areas.
Bakery associates and food prep/dishwashers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bakery Associate | Food Prep/Dishwasher | |
| Average salary | $28,963 | $29,964 |
| Salary range | Between $17,000 And $47,000 | Between $24,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Rich Products | University of Wisconsin System |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Professional |
There are a few differences between a bakery associate and a food prep/dishwasher in terms of educational background:
| Bakery Associate | Food Prep/Dishwasher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 43% | High School Diploma, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | General Studies |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between bakery associates' and food prep/dishwashers' demographics:
| Bakery Associate | Food Prep/Dishwasher | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.5% Female, 77.5% | Male, 79.9% Female, 20.1% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |