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The differences between dietary assistants and food prep/dishwashers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food prep/dishwasher has an average salary of $29,964, 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 food prep/dishwasher are food preparation equipment, work ethic, and wash dishes.
| Dietary Assistant | Food Prep/Dishwasher | |
| Yearly salary | $28,234 | $29,964 |
| Hourly rate | $13.57 | $14.41 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 12,812 | 113,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 58% |
| 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 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.
Dietary assistants and food prep/dishwashers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dietary Assistant | Food Prep/Dishwasher | |
| Average salary | $28,234 | $29,964 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $35,000 | Between $24,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Lifespan | University of Wisconsin System |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Professional |
There are a few differences between a dietary assistant and a food prep/dishwasher in terms of educational background:
| Dietary Assistant | Food Prep/Dishwasher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | General Studies |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dietary assistants' and food prep/dishwashers' demographics:
| Dietary Assistant | Food Prep/Dishwasher | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% | Male, 79.9% Female, 20.1% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |