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The differences between catering assistants and catering coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a catering coordinator has an average salary of $34,576, which is higher than the $32,101 average annual salary of a catering assistant.
The top three skills for a catering assistant include patients, food service and customer service. The most important skills for a catering coordinator are food service, customer service, and food preparation.
| Catering Assistant | Catering Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $32,101 | $34,576 |
| Hourly rate | $15.43 | $16.62 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 10,042 | 19,607 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| 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 catering coordinator's role is to oversee and manage food services in gatherings for special events, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities revolve around planning and meeting with clients to learn their preferences, liaising with suppliers, managing schedules and inventory, and providing cost estimates. On the actual event, a catering coordinator is also responsible for welcoming guests, responding to any inquiries and concerns, resolving issues and urgent matters, and ensuring that everything is running smoothly. Furthermore, it is essential to lead and encourage the catering team while implementing all food and health policies and standards.
Catering assistants and catering coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Catering Assistant | Catering Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $32,101 | $34,576 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $38,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Bay Shore, NY |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New York |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a catering assistant and a catering coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Catering Assistant | Catering Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between catering assistants' and catering coordinators' demographics:
| Catering Assistant | Catering Coordinator | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 23.9% Female, 76.1% |
| 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, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 10% |