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Deli clerk vs food prep/dishwasher

The differences between deli clerks and food prep/dishwashers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a deli clerk has an average salary of $32,240, which is higher than the $29,964 average annual salary of a food prep/dishwasher.

The top three skills for a deli clerk include help support, basic math and excellent guest. The most important skills for a food prep/dishwasher are food preparation equipment, work ethic, and wash dishes.

Deli clerk vs food prep/dishwasher overview

Deli ClerkFood Prep/Dishwasher
Yearly salary$32,240$29,964
Hourly rate$15.50$14.41
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs69,311113,200
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%High School Diploma, 58%
Average age3737
Years of experience--

What does a deli clerk do?

A deli clerk is responsible for providing healthy food recommendations to the customers, assisting them with their inquiries, and providing special offers. Deli clerks' duties include maintaining the highest sanitation procedures within the working area, updating the customers with the products' promotions, updating displays regularly, researching the latest market trends for product recommendations, and adhering to the company's safety standards and regulations. A deli clerk must have impeccable customer service and communication skills to ensure customer satisfaction while meeting the company's objectives and sales goals.

What does a food prep/dishwasher do?

A food prep/dishwasher's role is to perform food preparation and cleaning duties in a kitchen, under the supervision and directives of a chef or manager. One of their primary responsibilities is washing dishes, sanitizing utensils, and preparing ingredients by washing, peeling, and cutting them according to size. They may also participate in organizing, sorting, and putting them in proper storage. There are also instances when they have to perform basic cooking tasks ranging from boiling and frying to baking. Furthermore, a food prep/dishwasher may have the duty of maintaining the kitchen's cleanliness and other areas.

Deli clerk vs food prep/dishwasher salary

Deli clerks and food prep/dishwashers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Deli ClerkFood Prep/Dishwasher
Average salary$32,240$29,964
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $43,000Between $24,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyUnited Natural FoodsUniversity of Wisconsin System
Best paying industryRetailProfessional

Differences between deli clerk and food prep/dishwasher education

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

Deli ClerkFood Prep/Dishwasher
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%High School Diploma, 58%
Most common majorBusinessGeneral Studies
Most common college--

Deli clerk vs food prep/dishwasher demographics

Here are the differences between deli clerks' and food prep/dishwashers' demographics:

Deli ClerkFood Prep/Dishwasher
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 39.6% Female, 60.4%Male, 79.9% Female, 20.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 6.5% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between deli clerk and food prep/dishwasher duties and responsibilities

Deli clerk example responsibilities.

  • Open and close deli; schedule work hour coverage; manage and monitor deli cleanliness code; customer service.
  • Break down pallets in freeze and take seafood orders from customers to be either season or weight up.
  • Handle equipment such as fryers and slicers as well as used store intercoms to announce weekly / daily specials and promotions.
  • Operate automatic and manual meat/cheese slicers to customer request.
  • Break down heavy pallets of cases, boxes and bags.
  • Work with equipment such as balers, pallet jacks, slicers, ovens.
  • Show more

Food prep/dishwasher example responsibilities.

  • Prep food items and refrigerate appropriately, maintain cleanliness of restaurant, wash all dishes associate with the daily operations
  • Operate industrial dishwasher ensuring sanitation of all dishes.
  • Operate dishwasher keep kitchen clean organize and sanitize.
  • Take proper care of ranges, ovens, broilers, fryers, griddles, utensils and other equipment.
  • Gain knowledge of how to use kitchen tools such as blenders, fryers, coffee maker, and food processor.
  • Make smoothies, clean up after every smoothie, clean whole store, prep fruits and juices
  • Show more

Deli clerk vs food prep/dishwasher skills

Common deli clerk skills
  • Help Support, 24%
  • Basic Math, 22%
  • Excellent Guest, 9%
  • Slicers, 7%
  • Hot Food, 4%
  • Deli Meats, 4%
Common food prep/dishwasher skills
  • Food Preparation Equipment, 17%
  • Work Ethic, 17%
  • Wash Dishes, 14%
  • Cleanliness, 10%
  • Food Service, 9%
  • Dishwashers, 8%

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