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Diet clerk vs food service assistant

The differences between diet clerks and food service assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a diet clerk has an average salary of $31,802, which is higher than the $29,354 average annual salary of a food service assistant.

The top three skills for a diet clerk include patients, allergies and tube feedings. The most important skills for a food service assistant are patients, customer service, and food handling.

Diet clerk vs food service assistant overview

Diet ClerkFood Service Assistant
Yearly salary$31,802$29,354
Hourly rate$15.29$14.11
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs68,546149,665
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age3737
Years of experience--

What does a diet clerk do?

A diet clerk is an assistant who serves meals to patients as well as assists in various processes that are related to the preparation and delivery of meals. Diet clerks must create cafeteria menu items while analyzing the nutritional values of the food that is served. They are required to check food production and food service to ensure proper procedures are always followed and maintained. Diet clerks must also supervise food service workers as well as provide training for them.

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.

Diet clerk vs food service assistant salary

Diet clerks and food service assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Diet ClerkFood Service Assistant
Average salary$31,802$29,354
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $38,000Between $23,000 And $36,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandMassachusetts
Best paying companyUniversity of WashingtonFremont Public Schools
Best paying industryHospitalityRetail

Differences between diet clerk and food service assistant education

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

Diet ClerkFood Service Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorDieteticsBusiness
Most common college--

Diet clerk vs food service assistant demographics

Here are the differences between diet clerks' and food service assistants' demographics:

Diet ClerkFood Service Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 13.0% Female, 87.0%Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 55.9% 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 diet clerk and food service assistant duties and responsibilities

Diet clerk example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
  • Assist patients with making menu choices in an informative and helpful fashion and keep track of patient's allergies and diet changes
  • Demonstrate ability to adjust patient menus base on food preferences, allergies, disease/condition according to physician specifications.
  • Develop and apply creative problem-solving methods for patients challenge with specialize diet regiments.
  • Experience hospital representative directly responsible for counseling and assisting patients on nutritional care and management.
  • Prepare confidential reports, PowerPoint presentations, correspondence, organizational charts and other documents as required.
  • Show more

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

Diet clerk vs food service assistant skills

Common diet clerk skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Allergies, 10%
  • Tube Feedings, 9%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Menu Selections, 8%
  • Food Service, 8%
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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