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Deli/bakery clerk vs food service assistant

The differences between deli/bakery clerks and food service assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a deli/bakery clerk has an average salary of $31,612, which is higher than the $29,354 average annual salary of a food service assistant.

The top three skills for a deli/bakery clerk include food preparation, food safety and product knowledge. The most important skills for a food service assistant are patients, customer service, and food handling.

Deli/bakery clerk vs food service assistant overview

Deli/Bakery ClerkFood Service Assistant
Yearly salary$31,612$29,354
Hourly rate$15.20$14.11
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs105,572149,665
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age3737
Years of experience--

What does a deli/bakery clerk do?

A deli/bakery clerk assists customers by taking and preparing orders, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction. They may also help customers by answering inquiries, accepting requests, offering other products and services, processing payments, and handling issues and concerns efficiently and professionally. They are also in charge of maintaining product displays, removing lesser quality or expired goods from the shelves, monitoring inventories, unloading supplies from delivery trucks, and maintaining the cleanliness of different areas, complying with the company's policies and industry health standards.

What does a food service assistant do?

A food service assistant helps in food and beverage preparation and serving customers. Foodservice assistants make sure that great customer service is provided to clients. Their duties include answering phone calls for inquiries, providing information, selling products, and solving problems. They may function as cashiers in restaurants or any other food service institution. Upon receiving customer complaints, they escalate them to top management. This job requires people skills, communication skills, and food service knowledge.

Deli/bakery clerk vs food service assistant salary

Deli/bakery clerks and food service assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Deli/Bakery ClerkFood Service Assistant
Average salary$31,612$29,354
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $38,000Between $23,000 And $36,000
Highest paying City-Springfield, MA
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Fremont Public Schools
Best paying industry-Retail

Differences between deli/bakery clerk and food service assistant education

There are a few differences between a deli/bakery clerk and a food service assistant in terms of educational background:

Deli/Bakery ClerkFood Service Assistant
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Deli/bakery clerk vs food service assistant demographics

Here are the differences between deli/bakery clerks' and food service assistants' demographics:

Deli/Bakery ClerkFood Service Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 20.5% Female, 79.5%Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 6.4% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 8.7% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between deli/bakery clerk and food service assistant duties and responsibilities

Deli/bakery clerk example responsibilities.

  • Aid in daily bakery operations by conducting opening procedures, and preparing products utilizing deli slicers, ovens and other equipment.
  • Front cashier, stocking shelves, unloading truck, and bagging groceries.
  • Use all equipment in deli such as the refrigerators, freezers, slicers, and ovens according to company guidelines.
  • Clean the store, operate the cash register, answer the phones, bag groceries, and prepare packaged meals.
  • 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.

Food service assistant example responsibilities.

  • Sanitize rooms per OSHA requirements.
  • Perform regular station audits in accordance to OSHA guidelines.
  • Experience includes bag room, mail/cargo, ramp, and De-icing.
  • Maintain cleanliness of kitchenware and food preparation areas in a fast-pace restaurant kitchen.
  • Streamline kitchen processes for this fast-pace environment, maintaining cleanliness and safe equipment operation.
  • Monitor radio and delivery system by annotating order tickets resulting in satisfy and hunger free patients.
  • Show more

Deli/bakery clerk vs food service assistant skills

Common deli/bakery clerk skills
  • Food Preparation, 21%
  • Food Safety, 20%
  • Product Knowledge, 18%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 18%
  • Basic Math, 5%
  • Customer Service, 3%
Common food service assistant skills
  • Patients, 12%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Food Handling, 9%
  • Basic Math, 8%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 7%
  • Safety Standards, 6%

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