How to hire a counter helper

How to hire a counter helper, step by step

Here's a step-by-step counter helper hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a counter helper job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new counter helper
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The counter helper hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a counter helper to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a counter helper that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of counter helpers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Counter Helper	Description	Hourly rate
   Counter Helper	Food and beverage serving and related workers perform a variety of customer service, food preparation, and cleaning duties in restaurants, cafeterias, and other eating and drinking establishments.	$11-19
   Concession Worker	A concession worker is responsible for selling foods, beverages, and other concession items in various public events. Concession workers' duties include promoting products to guests, preparing their food orders, operating cash the register and processing payments, and maintaining the sanitary standards on the concession area... Show more	$9-16
   Food Service/Cashier	Foodservice/cashiers are often employed at food restaurants and played various roles. Their duties include recording orders from customers and making sure their payments are collected... Show more	$10-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • POS
   • Customer Service
   • Food Orders
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Customer Complaints
   • Steam Tables
   • Food Preparation
   • Computer System
   • Ice Cream
   • Guest Inquiries
   • Phone Orders
   • Bank Deposits
   • Clean Environment
   • Guest Complaints

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Require to use mental math when counting back change to the customer.
   • Assist customers, serve drinks and food, run the cash register and clean.
   • Communicate clearly and positively with co-workers and management.
   • Monitor guest for intoxication and immediately report concerns to management.
   • Replace or attach bar code labels on every ammunition containers for identification and location.
   • Develop leadership skills by mentoring new employees, prioritizing and delegating tasks.

   More counter helper duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your counter helper job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A counter helper salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, counter helpers' average salary in florida is 39% less than in maine.
   • Seniority. Entry-level counter helpers earn 43% less than senior-level counter helpers.
   • Certifications. A counter helper with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a counter helper's salary.

   Average counter helper salary

   $14.92hourly

   $31,028 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level counter helper salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average counter helper salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$37,839	$18
   2	Washington	$37,630	$18
   3	Washington	$37,571	$18
   4	New Hampshire	$37,304	$18
   5	New Hampshire	$37,286	$18
   6	New York	$37,127	$18
   7	New York	$37,021	$18
   8	New York	$36,885	$18
   9	New York	$36,850	$18
   10	New York	$36,835	$18
   11	California	$36,242	$17
   12	Washington	$36,228	$17
   13	California	$36,145	$17
   14	California	$36,069	$17
   15	New Jersey	$35,093	$17
   16	New Jersey	$35,047	$17
   17	New Jersey	$35,034	$17
   18	New Jersey	$34,906	$17
   19	New Jersey	$34,900	$17
   20	New Jersey	$34,887	$17

   Average counter helper salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The George Washington University	$35,840	$17.23
   2	Island Way Grill	$32,682	$15.71
   3	Hy-Vee	$31,806	$15.29
   4	Workbox Staffing	$31,021	$14.91	1
   5	PCC Community Markets	$30,972	$14.89	2
   6	Overhead Door Company of Atlanta	$30,452	$14.64
   7	Mr z's	$30,437	$14.63
   8	Clayton	$30,437	$14.63
   9	Gaia	$30,265	$14.55
   10	Advance Auto Parts	$30,082	$14.46	16
   11	Verona	$29,358	$14.11
   12	Baker's Crust	$29,104	$13.99	1
   13	Aramark	$28,842	$13.87	31
   14	Express Employment Professionals International HQ	$28,752	$13.82
   15	Area Temps	$28,530	$13.72	3
   16	Panda Express	$27,633	$13.29	4
   17	Wayback Burgers	$26,339	$12.66
   18	Dairy Queen	$25,278	$12.15	318

4. Writing a counter helper job description

   A counter helper job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a counter helper job description:

   Counter helper job description example

   Full Job Description
   Our Panda Service Team associates are important members of our team and are responsible for bringing Panda's mission alive in our restaurants by creating food with passion, service with heart and ambiance with pride.
   
   Service Team:
   
   As a Panda Service Team member, you are responsible for creating a warm and welcoming environment for our guests, making them feel like part of the Panda family. With a keen eye for details and the ability to create moments of happiness and optimism, you ensure our guests receive the best level of service in any interaction.
   
   View detail service team job description here
   
   It will be the hardest job you will ever love.
   
   We offer all Full-Time Associates:
   Progressive Compensation Package and Bonus Opportunity.
   Paid Training to prepare you for success.
   On-Going Career & Leadership Development.
   Medical and Dental Insurance.
   401 K with Company Match.
   Paid Time Off Associate Discounts and free meals when you work.
   Opportunities for growth into Management positions.
   Service and Kitchen Team Qualifications
   
   Education and Experience:
   Some high school
   Prefer some Operations experience
   
   Food Safety:
   Local/municipal requirements, such as Food Handler certification, acquired at applicant's own expense
   
   About us:
   
   Panda Express is part of Panda Restaurant Group, the world leader in Asian dining experiences that also includes Panda Inn and Hibachi-San. At Panda, we all share a common mission: "Deliver exceptional Asian dining experiences by building an organization where people are inspired to better their lives." Guided by this mission, we are a family dedicated to creating an organization that inspires better lives for our people and our communities in which we serve. Whether through sharing good food with guests or providing opportunities for professional and personal growth with associates, all are embraced in our genuine family environment that is uniquely Panda.
   
   Panda was founded in 1983 in Glendale, California Panda Express is the largest family-owned American Chinese Restaurant concept in America. As America's favorite Chinese restaurant, Panda Express has close to 2,000 locations globally and continues to grow over 100 restaurants annually.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find counter helpers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your counter helper job on Zippia to find and recruit counter helper candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit counter helpers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new counter helper

   Once you've found the counter helper candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new counter helper. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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