Post job

Deli associate vs food clerk

The differences between deli associates and food clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food clerk has an average salary of $29,967, which is higher than the $28,360 average annual salary of a deli associate.

The top three skills for a deli associate include food handling, basic math and customer service. The most important skills for a food clerk are wine, basic math, and customer service.

Deli associate vs food clerk overview

Deli AssociateFood Clerk
Yearly salary$28,360$29,967
Hourly rate$13.63$14.41
Growth rate14%2%
Number of jobs117,130113,838
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 46%High School Diploma, 40%
Average age2337
Years of experience--

What does a deli associate do?

A deli associate is personnel who works in grocery and deli stores and assists shoppers by responding to their inquiries and requests. He/She updates his/her product displays to ensure that new items and promotions are showcased and follow all food safety and sanitation. Aside from engaging with customers, deli associates must possess the ability to lift heavy objects and operates equipment such as cash registers and meat slicers. Also, deli associates' minimum educational requirement is a high school diploma, but experience in deli counter work is a plus.

What does a food clerk do?

Food clerks are skilled employees who work either in grocery stores or supermarkets to assist customers with their food needs. In grocery stores, food clerks are required to scan food items for their customers and process their purchases as well as ensure that they have found everything they needed. They must assist in the store's inventory management by organizing and storing food merchandise in the backroom. Food clerks must also use their product knowledge to assist customers with questions and maintain customer satisfaction.

Deli associate vs food clerk salary

Deli associates and food clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

Deli AssociateFood Clerk
Average salary$28,360$29,967
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $39,000Between $14,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-Rhode Island
Best paying company-ShopRite
Best paying industry-Retail

Differences between deli associate and food clerk education

There are a few differences between a deli associate and a food clerk in terms of educational background:

Deli AssociateFood Clerk
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 46%High School Diploma, 40%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Deli associate vs food clerk demographics

Here are the differences between deli associates' and food clerks' demographics:

Deli AssociateFood Clerk
Average age2337
Gender ratioMale, 37.2% Female, 62.8%Male, 52.6% Female, 47.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 7.7% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between deli associate and food clerk duties and responsibilities

Deli associate example responsibilities.

  • Open and close deli; schedule work hour coverage; manage and monitor deli cleanliness code; customer service.
  • Serve customers, stock shelves, cook food in fryers, slice deli meat, prepare food trays, close/open department
  • Bag groceries, and help customers out to their vehicles.
  • Pick and pack chosen items and ring them up in the POS system.
  • Train and assist employees in the use of proprietary POS software and hardware.
  • Season help pack groceries and work in the deli department packaging and prepare food for floor.
  • Show more

Food clerk example responsibilities.

  • Exemplify a model of excellent customer service in keeping with Publix's orientation towards ensuring customer satisfaction.
  • Open the new Goshen Kroger and assist in recruiting and training new staff.

Deli associate vs food clerk skills

Common deli associate skills
  • Food Handling, 24%
  • Basic Math, 17%
  • Customer Service, 17%
  • Math, 10%
  • Food Safety, 7%
  • Slicers, 4%
Common food clerk skills
  • Wine, 24%
  • Basic Math, 22%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Taking Care, 11%
  • Stock Shelves, 4%
  • Store Shelves, 3%

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs