How to hire a deli/bakery associate

How to hire a deli/bakery associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step deli/bakery associate hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your deli/bakery associate job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a deli/bakery associate for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

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   A deli/bakery associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, deli/bakery associates from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of deli/bakery associates.

   Type of Deli/Bakery Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Deli/Bakery Associate	Food preparation workers perform many routine tasks under the direction of cooks, chefs, or food service managers. Food preparation workers prepare cold foods, slice meat, peel and cut vegetables, brew coffee or tea, and perform many other food service tasks.	$10-20
   Kitchen Staff	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... Show more	$11-17
   Food Clerk	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... Show more	$6-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Handling
   • Food Safety
   • Quality Customer Service
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Sanitation Procedures
   • Food Preparation
   • Slicers
   • Sales Floor
   • Cake Orders
   • Customer Orders
   • Food Products
   • Bakery Products
   • Deli Meats
   • Hot Food

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Open and close deli; schedule work hour coverage; manage and monitor deli cleanliness code; customer service.
   • Skil in operation of kitchen equipment including slicers, rotisserie oven, mixers, grills, fryers, steamers and warmers.
   • Follow safety guideline for slicers.
   • Exemplify a model of excellent customer service in keeping with Publix's orientation towards ensuring customer satisfaction.
   • Control freshness by rotating and coding all products legibly according to Walmart policies and procedures.

   More deli/bakery associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your deli/bakery associate job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A deli/bakery associate salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a deli/bakery associate in Arkansas may be lower than in Oregon, and an entry-level deli/bakery associate usually earns less than a senior-level deli/bakery associate. Additionally, a deli/bakery associate with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average deli/bakery associate salary

   $14.66hourly

   $30,498 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level deli/bakery associate salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average deli/bakery associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$38,168	$18
   2	Arizona	$35,476	$17
   3	Colorado	$33,815	$16
   4	Minnesota	$32,866	$16
   5	Alaska	$32,719	$16
   6	Texas	$28,443	$14
   7	Michigan	$26,717	$13
   8	Virginia	$25,781	$12
   9	North Carolina	$24,981	$12
   10	New Mexico	$24,565	$12
   11	Alabama	$21,014	$10

   Average deli/bakery associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Target	$32,234	$15.50	31
   2	Sodexo Management, Inc.	$30,263	$14.55	12
   3	Meijer	$29,774	$14.31	52
   4	Walmart	$29,207	$14.04	901
   5	Busch's Fresh Food Market	$28,771	$13.83	29
   6	Harris Teeter	$26,670	$12.82	83

4. Writing a deli/bakery associate job description

   A deli/bakery associate 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. Below, you can find an example of a deli/bakery associate job description:

   Deli/bakery associate job description example

   Starting wage up to:$16.50/hr/ with exp.

   Calling all Foodies! Don’t romaine calm, Busch’s is HIRING! Do you love food, fun and people? Are you looking for growth, development and excellent wages? We could make the perfect pear!

   Our industry is ever changing and we are looking for individuals who are passionate about food and people. We are a family-owned, Michigan based company that is heavily rooted in the communities we serve. Busch’s offers its employees benefits such as employee discounts, medical benefits including dental and optical, 401K with company match (restrictions apply) and even tuition reimbursement for qualifying students!

   • Provide hospitality and exceptional service to guests by making product recommendations, answering questions, assisting with purchases and suggestive selling.
   • Set and maintain and service and self service cases.
   • Promote various products by preparing and offering samples.
   • Rotate and cull product to ensure freshness and reduce shrink.
   • Scan all waste to ensure accurate shrink recording.
   • Clean and sanitize department including equipment, work areas, service areas, containers and utensils.
   • Follow safe food handling and personal hygiene practices.
   • Follow all safety practices, including lockout/tagout of equipment.
   • Receive, verify, price and store department deliveries.
   • Ensure products, sandwiches, salads and special orders are prepared to specifications.
   • Stay current on food trends and new items relevant to department and building sales.
   • Adhere to all Busch’s policies, practices and procedures.
   • Build strong working relationships with guests, vendors and associates.
     

   ?Requirements:

   • High school diploma
   • Proficient communication and interpersonal skills, including written, verbal and listening skills
   • Proficient selling skills, including the ability to ask questions, listen, and make product recommendations
   • Proficient merchandising skills including fresh and appealing displays in service, self-service and bakery areas and effective cross merchandising throughout the store
   • Proficient cleaning abilities to meet sanitation and visual standards

   Busch’s is a family owned premier grocery retailer with multiple stores in Southeast Michigan. We are consistently recognized by our guests as an industry leader when it comes to service, product selection, store design and overall atmosphere. You can take pride in being a member of the Busch’s family and working in an environment where we truly care about our guests and the products we serve. We also take great care of the associates that take care of our guests. At Busch’s, we realize that without caring, motivated and personable associates, there would be no guests to serve.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find deli/bakery associates for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any deli/bakery associates they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level deli/bakery associates with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your deli/bakery associate job on Zippia to find and recruit deli/bakery associate candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit deli/bakery associates, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 deli/bakery associate

   Once you've selected the best deli/bakery associate candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   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.

   To prepare for the new deli/bakery associate first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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