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Deli associate vs food runner

The differences between deli associates and food runners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a deli associate has an average salary of $28,360, which is higher than the $25,536 average annual salary of a food runner.

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

Deli associate vs food runner overview

Deli AssociateFood Runner
Yearly salary$28,360$25,536
Hourly rate$13.63$12.28
Growth rate14%14%
Number of jobs117,130240,853
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 46%High School Diploma, 38%
Average age2323
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 runner do?

Food Runners are responsible for assisting waitstaff on serving customers at a restaurant or similar establishment. Among their duties include maintaining cleanliness in particular areas, setting tables, refilling drinks, assisting customers with everything that they need, and coordinating with the workforce in and out of the kitchen. Furthermore, Food Runners need to ensure that all deliveries are accurate according to what is ordered by a customer. It is essential to stay presentable and helpful at all times as the main priority is customer satisfaction.

Deli associate vs food runner salary

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

Deli AssociateFood Runner
Average salary$28,360$25,536
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $39,000Between $18,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Vermont
Best paying company-University of Massachusetts Boston
Best paying industry-Hospitality

Differences between deli associate and food runner education

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

Deli AssociateFood Runner
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 46%High School Diploma, 38%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Deli associate vs food runner demographics

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

Deli AssociateFood Runner
Average age2323
Gender ratioMale, 37.2% Female, 62.8%Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0%
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, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between deli associate and food runner 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.
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Food runner example responsibilities.

  • Manage labor and design of numerous weddings, banquets, buffets, and the restaurant floor.
  • Manage event reservations and party requests, inform customers about upcoming events and specials.
  • Provide excellent customer service to guests by describing and suggesting culinary options
  • Greet customers and prepare drinks (tea, smoothies).
  • Expedite the kitchen to ensure food leaves fast and accurately.
  • Demonstrate strong computational skills for tendering receipt of payments from clients.
  • Show more

Deli associate vs food runner skills

Common deli associate skills
  • Food Handling, 24%
  • Basic Math, 17%
  • Customer Service, 17%
  • Math, 10%
  • Food Safety, 7%
  • Slicers, 4%
Common food runner skills
  • Cleanliness, 20%
  • Wine, 9%
  • Culinary, 7%
  • Food Orders, 6%
  • Fine Dining, 5%
  • Food Handling, 5%

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