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Catering assistant vs kitchen staff

The differences between catering assistants and kitchen staff 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 $29,816 average annual salary of a kitchen staff.

The top three skills for a catering assistant include patients, food service and customer service. The most important skills for a kitchen staff are food handling, cleanliness, and sanitation standards.

Catering assistant vs kitchen staff overview

Catering AssistantKitchen Staff
Yearly salary$32,101$29,816
Hourly rate$15.43$14.33
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs10,042154,513
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%High School Diploma, 43%
Average age3737
Years of experience--

What does a catering assistant do?

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.

What does a kitchen staff do?

The kitchen staff consists of preparation workers who execute several routine tasks as directed by chefs, food service managers, and cooks. These works should have the ability to follow cooking instructions and deliver well-prepared meals. Their responsibilities include the cleanup of dishes, cooking equipment, and the working stations. They also take charge of food safety regulations, storing and sorting of ingredients, and preparing foodstuff.

Catering assistant vs kitchen staff salary

Catering assistants and kitchen staff have different pay scales, as shown below.

Catering AssistantKitchen Staff
Average salary$32,101$29,816
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $38,000Between $23,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCRedwood City, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiWashington
Best paying companyMassachusetts General HospitalThe Road Home
Best paying industryManufacturingEducation

Differences between catering assistant and kitchen staff education

There are a few differences between a catering assistant and a kitchen staff in terms of educational background:

Catering AssistantKitchen Staff
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%High School Diploma, 43%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Catering assistant vs kitchen staff demographics

Here are the differences between catering assistants' and kitchen staff' demographics:

Catering AssistantKitchen Staff
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 32.2% Female, 67.8%Male, 56.5% Female, 43.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 11.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 7.0% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between catering assistant and kitchen staff duties and responsibilities

Catering assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage and prioritize restaurant reservations.
  • Monitor patients who cannot receive anything by mouth (NPO) or on liquid diets.
  • Assist dieticians with monitoring of patients who are NPO, on liquid diets or need to have intake record.
  • Run POS for student payments, including meal cards and cash.
  • Comply with regulator agency standards, including federal, state and JCAHO.
  • Adhere to HIPAA guidelines while processing menu orders with the patient information.
  • Show more

Kitchen staff example responsibilities.

  • Assist the catering manager to manage, prepare, cook and deliver each day s caterings.
  • Present an enjoyable and positive atmosphere while preparing an outstanding product, manage inventory, and maintain cleanliness
  • Conduct daily inspections for overall cleanliness of all areas and proper sanitizing of food preparation surfaces.
  • Increase sales by upselling and signing customers up for discount cards
  • Prep food for dinner dishes, bar back, work on fryers, and wash dishes.
  • Cook, wash dishes, serve customers, prepare food for caterings, and stock shelves.
  • Show more

Catering assistant vs kitchen staff skills

Common catering assistant skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Food Service, 21%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Food Safety, 7%
  • Food Delivery, 6%
  • Beverage Service, 4%
Common kitchen staff skills
  • Food Handling, 25%
  • Cleanliness, 21%
  • Sanitation Standards, 13%
  • Quality Food, 9%
  • Food Products, 7%
  • Meal Preparation, 5%

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