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What does a deli clerk do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
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.

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Deli clerk responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real deli clerk resumes:

  • 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.
  • Operate a POS system to itemize and complete an average of <number> customer purchases.
  • Conduct proper bagging of groceries and escort customers to their vehicles and load their purchases into their cars.
  • Operate the POS system and complete customer cash, card and EBT transactions, resolve customer issues and returns.
  • Used a variety of kitchen tools, including electric mixers, pans, rolling pins, and cutting tools.
  • Learned kitchen operations through different types of machinery (i.e food mixers, ovens, scales, etc . )
  • Handle all equipment such as fryers, slicing machines, and use store intercoms to announce special promotions and weekly specials.
  • Complete transactions using cash register, give and receive correct monies, scan and bag groceries, and clean work areas.
  • Operate various machinery including slicers and scales.
  • Maintain inventory of deli and seafood departments.

Deli clerk skills and personality traits

We calculated that 24% of Deli Clerks are proficient in Help Support, Basic Math, and Excellent Guest. They’re also known for soft skills such as Physical strength, Listening skills, and Communication skills.

We break down the percentage of Deli Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Help Support, 24%

    Worked through High School and College to help support and pay my expenses.

  • Basic Math, 22%

    Cash handling, taking orders and basic math skills were a part of my job.

  • Excellent Guest, 9%

    Provided excellent guest service by greeting customers pleasantly.

  • Slicers, 7%

    Operated automatic and manual meat/cheese slicers to customer request.

  • Hot Food, 4%

    Assisted customers by preparing requested orders; cooked hot foods, sliced deli meats and cheeses, and completed deli platters.

  • Deli Meats, 4%

    Sliced deli meats and cheese to customer specifications maintained a sanitary environment to food service standards

Most deli clerks use their skills in "help support," "basic math," and "excellent guest" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential deli clerk responsibilities here:

All deli clerk skills

The three companies that hire the most deli clerks are:

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Compare different deli clerks

Deli clerk vs. Kitchen assistant

A kitchen assistant is responsible for assisting chefs, cooks, or managers. Most of the duties are given by supervising officers, and it will revolve around preparing ingredients, cutting or washing meat and vegetables, and performing basic cooking tasks such as boiling and frying. A kitchen assistant is also responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the kitchen, washing used materials, sanitizing utensils, organizing food inventory. Other tasks include unloading deliveries of food supplies and sorting the ingredients accordingly.

If we compare the average deli clerk annual salary with that of a kitchen assistant, we find that kitchen assistants typically earn a $4,785 lower salary than deli clerks make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between deli clerks and kitchen assistants are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like slicers, customer service, and customer orders.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between deli clerks and kitchen assistant. For instance, deli clerk responsibilities require skills such as "help support," "basic math," "excellent guest," and "hot food." Whereas a kitchen assistant is skilled in "wine," "kitchen equipment," "pos," and "ladders." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Kitchen assistants really shine in the construction industry with an average salary of $29,019. Comparatively, deli clerks tend to make the most money in the retail industry with an average salary of $31,678.kitchen assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than deli clerks. In fact, kitchen assistants are 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Deli clerk vs. Bakery associate

A bakery associate is responsible for assisting bakery chefs in producing baked goods and pastries, organizing the stock, maintaining the cleanliness of the storage area, and processing customers' orders and payments. Bakery associates monitor the inventory and request bakery ingredients and supplies from trusted suppliers and third-party vendors. They also pitch on recommending promotional campaigns and research on current bakery trends to update the menu, meeting public demands to increase sales and revenues. A bakery associate should have excellent communication and analytical skills to respond to customers' inquiries and operate the cash register.

A career as a bakery associate brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a deli clerk. In fact, bakery associates salary is $3,277 lower than the salary of deli clerks per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both deli clerks and bakery associates have skills such as "slicers," "customer service," and "food products. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that deli clerk responsibilities requires skills like "help support," "basic math," "excellent guest," and "hot food." But a bakery associate might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "donuts," "food preparation," "bakery products," and "safety regulations."

On average, bakery associates earn a lower salary than deli clerks. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, bakery associates earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $30,578. Whereas deli clerks have higher pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $31,678.In general, bakery associates achieve similar levels of education than deli clerks. They're 0.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Deli clerk vs. 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. Their responsibilities include the cleanup of dishes, cooking equipment, and the working stations. They also take charge of food safety regulations, storing and sorting of ingredients, and preparing foodstuff.

An average kitchen staff eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of deli clerks. The difference in salaries amounts to kitchen staff earning a $2,424 lower average salary than deli clerks.By looking over several deli clerks and kitchen staff resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "slicers," "hot food," and "customer service." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from deli clerk resumes include skills like "help support," "basic math," "excellent guest," and "deli meats," whereas a kitchen staff is more likely to list skills in "food handling," "cleanliness," "sanitation standards," and "quality food. "

Kitchen staff earn the best pay in the education industry, where they command an average salary of $30,914. Deli clerks earn the highest pay from the retail industry, with an average salary of $31,678.Most kitchen staff achieve a similar degree level compared to deli clerks. For example, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Deli clerk vs. Food service associate

A food service associate performs fundamental functions in the food industry. Food service associates prepare and serve food items. They cater to special events, which involve facility preparation, food presentation maintenance, and setting up tables. Their duties include cleaning preparation and service equipment. They restock the work stations for the essential supplies. The skills they need to perform their job include customer service, teamwork, work with diverse cultural, ethnic, and academic backgrounds, and learn safety and health regulations.

Food service associates tend to earn a lower pay than deli clerks by an average of $598 per year.While both deli clerks and food service associates complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like basic math, excellent guest, and slicers, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A deli clerk uses "help support," "deli meats," "sales floor," and "premier customer service." Food service associates are more likely to have duties that require skills in "patients," "food handling," "excellent interpersonal," and "cleanliness. "In general, food service associates earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $33,477. The highest-paying industry for a deli clerk is the retail industry.The average resume of food service associates showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to deli clerks. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of deli clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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