Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between dietary assistants and catering assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a catering assistant has an average salary of $32,101, which is higher than the $28,234 average annual salary of a dietary assistant.
The top three skills for a dietary assistant include patients, food service and meal trays. The most important skills for a catering assistant are patients, food service, and customer service.
| Dietary Assistant | Catering Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $28,234 | $32,101 |
| Hourly rate | $13.57 | $15.43 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 12,812 | 10,042 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A dietary assistant is in charge of the food preparation of individuals in various settings. Dietary aides, dietary assistants cook food, check the compliance of proper procedure in safety and health measures, and maintain a clean environment in the kitchen. The assistants may work part-time or full-time, and during holidays, weekends, or evenings to accommodate customers. People in this position are expected to have experience in food preparation, strong teamwork, and customer-oriented approaches.
A catering assistant is responsible for supporting catering operations, especially on outdoor gatherings and social events. Catering assistants prepare the buffet area and ensure the adequacy of foods and beverages, and provide the best customer service for the guests' satisfaction. Catering assistants must have excellent communication skills, responding to the guests' inquiries and concerns about the dish, and resolving immediate complaints. They maintain the cleanliness of the buffet station, strictly adhering to the sanitary standards and hygienic regulations.
Dietary assistants and catering assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dietary Assistant | Catering Assistant | |
| Average salary | $28,234 | $32,101 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $35,000 | Between $26,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, WA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Lifespan | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a dietary assistant and a catering assistant in terms of educational background:
| Dietary Assistant | Catering Assistant | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dietary assistants' and catering assistants' demographics:
| Dietary Assistant | Catering Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 7.4% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.2% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |