How To Become A Deli Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a deli assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The primary role of a deli assistant is preparing made-to-order food and drinks. This includes sandwiches, soups, and dip selections. They are responsible for keeping the workspaces and cutlery set clean every time. They also process cash and credit payments, and move, unpack, and store fresh deliveries appropriately. This can be in cupboards, refrigerated units, or at the deli counter. Also, they may assist with cleaning or removing dirt at the end of the shift. Additionally, they adhere to all food safety and sanitation procedures created by the company and other regulatory agencies.

Employers require a minimum of a high school diploma or its equivalent. Applicants must have experience preparing food or working in a deli. They must be able to lift heavy items and operate work equipment like scales, cash registers, etc. Deli assistants need communication, maths, and customer service skills. They earn about $30,800 yearly. However, the range is from $27,400 to $35,100.

ScoreDeli AssistantUS Average

Salary

2.3

Avg. Salary $29,481

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.8

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.00%

Asian 8.30%

Black or African American 11.14%

Hispanic or Latino 16.11%

Unknown 5.02%

White 58.43%

Gender

female 59.70%

male 40.30%

Age - 34

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 34

Stress level

4.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.2

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a deli assistant

Explore deli assistant education requirements

Most common deli assistant degrees

High School Diploma

37.1 %

Bachelor's

30.0 %

Associate

20.9 %

Start to develop specific deli assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Party Trays	31.05%
Cleanliness	21.14%
Customer Service	7.96%
Inventory Control	7.26%
Customer Orders	6.26%

Complete relevant deli assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New deli assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a deli assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real deli assistant resumes.

Research deli assistant duties and responsibilities

Open and close deli; schedule work hour coverage; manage and monitor deli cleanliness code; customer service.
Cut and chop food items and cook in fryers.
Handle multiple transactions for groceries via debit card, credit card, and cash.
Execute POS displays in store to generate impulse shopping purchases along with points of interruption.

Prepare your deli assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your deli assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a deli assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable deli assistant resume templates

Build a professional deli assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your deli assistant resume.