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The differences between catering assistants and caterers 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 $28,891 average annual salary of a caterer.
The top three skills for a catering assistant include patients, food service and customer service. The most important skills for a caterer are food service, kitchen equipment, and food delivery.
| Catering Assistant | Caterer | |
| Yearly salary | $32,101 | $28,891 |
| Hourly rate | $15.43 | $13.89 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 10,042 | 1,648 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A caterer is responsible for monitoring food preparation and presentation, ensuring the adequacy and accuracy of food stock based on the clients' specifications and guest count. Caterers often work with clients for special occasions and events, identify their needs, including the menu and nutritional requirements. They arrange food services from the dinnerware to choosing the appropriate staff to help with assisting the food preparation in the event's location. A caterer should maintain the highest sanitary standards at all times to guarantee the foods' safety, as well as showcase communication skills when responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns.
Catering assistants and caterers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Catering Assistant | Caterer | |
| Average salary | $32,101 | $28,891 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $38,000 | Between $22,000 And $36,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Beverly, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New York |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | The College of St. Scholastica |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a catering assistant and a caterer in terms of educational background:
| Catering Assistant | Caterer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between catering assistants' and caterers' demographics:
| Catering Assistant | Caterer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 43.0% Female, 57.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 10% |