What does a Food Service Aide do?

Food service aids, although often overlooked, is indispensable in large dining facilities. They manage all activities that involve the serving of food to clients. These include taking customer orders, serving both foods and beverages, making out customer checks, and accepting payments. In a place with a shortage of staff, a food service aid may also be responsible for cleaning kitchen and service areas.
Food service aide responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real food service aide resumes:
- Maintain kitchen cleanliness, perform inventory control and assist in delivery services
- Prepare and serve patients' meals -monitore cleanliness of cafeteria and run cafeteria cash register -Stock room inventory
- Wash dishes by loading them in dishwashers and let them dry properly.
- Be knowledgeable about residents' special diets, allergies, likes and dislikes.
- Prepare meal trays/snack carts and take them out to residential halls, dishes and cleaning, roll silverware
- Remove used dishes and assist in the cleaning of counters, tables, and furnishings in the dining area.
- Provide culinary and kitchen maintenance skills for both non-profit organization and private residence.
- Engage in patient interaction to understand and accommodate to patients nutritional and dietary requests and requirements.
- Monitor temperature of all refrigerators and freezers, keep appropriate logs detailing cleanliness and temperature settings.
- Facilitate global relationships between USAID and USDA with all levels of the Olam organization for international sustainable agriculture development programs.
- Follow all proper laws and guide lines within the hospital, OSHA, HIPPA.
Food service aide skills and personality traits
We calculated that 36% of Food Service Aides are proficient in Patients, Food Handling, and Kitchen Equipment. They’re also known for soft skills such as Dexterity, Listening skills, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Food Service Aides that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 36%
Prepared and served patients' meals -Monitored cleanliness of cafeteria and ran cafeteria cash register -Stock room inventory
- Food Handling, 11%
Participated in keeping a clean and sanitized work area, and followed procedures for safe food handling and sanitation.
- Kitchen Equipment, 10%
Operated a variety of standard kitchen equipment such as a cash register, dishwasher, grills, and ovens.
- Cleanliness, 6%
Maintained kitchen cleanliness, performed inventory control and assisted in delivery services
- Dishwashers, 4%
Washed dishes by loading them in dishwashers and let them dry properly.
- Tray Line, 4%
Followed Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point guidelines when handing food when cleaning workstations and breaking down patient tray line.
Common skills that a food service aide uses to do their job include "patients," "food handling," and "kitchen equipment." You can find details on the most important food service aide responsibilities below.
The three companies that hire the most food service aides are:
- The SOS Group
183 food service aides jobs
- Select Medical47 food service aides jobs
- Ethica Health & Retirement Communities36 food service aides jobs
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Food service aide 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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between food service aides and kitchen staff. For instance, food service aide responsibilities require skills such as "patients," "tray line," "meal service," and "patient meals." Whereas a kitchen staff is skilled in "sanitation standards," "quality food," "food products," and "meal preparation." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Kitchen staff tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $30,914. In contrast, food service aides make the biggest average salary, $31,667, in the hospitality industry.kitchen staff tend to reach similar levels of education than food service aides. In fact, kitchen staff are 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Food service aide vs. Bakery clerk
A bakery clerk is an employee who is responsible for running the bakery department of supermarkets, boutique bakeries, or baking facilities. Bakery clerks are usually tasked to manage the bakery's cash register, bagging baked goods and then taking customers' payments. They ensure that the display cases inside the bakery are fully stocked with fresh bread and other baked goods. They also assist bakers with baking tasks such as measuring ingredients, mixing dough, or pouring batter.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real food service aide resumes. While food service aide responsibilities can utilize skills like "patients," "dishwashers," "tray line," and "meal service," bakery clerks use skills like "basic math," "bakery products," "math," and "food safety."
On average, bakery clerks earn a lower salary than food service aides. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, bakery clerks earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $30,395. Whereas food service aides have higher pay in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $31,667.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Bakery clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than food service aides. In fact, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Food service aide vs. Deli worker
A deli worker specializes in handling deli products and providing customer service in retail stores. They are primarily responsible for packaging and labeling products according to their weight and type, assigning prices, sorting out quality, and arranging them on display, all while following food safety and health guidelines. They must also respond to inquiries, suggest products, resolve any issues or concerns, handle special orders, and maintain cleanliness and sanitation. Furthermore, it is crucial to implement all policies and regulations, maintaining a safe and healthy environment for everyone.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from food service aide resumes include skills like "patients," "food handling," "cleanliness," and "dishwashers," whereas a deli worker is more likely to list skills in "premier customer service," "food safety," "deli meats," and "customer orders. "
Deli workers earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $29,969. Comparatively, food service aides have the highest earning potential in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $31,667.When it comes to education, deli workers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to food service aides. In fact, they're 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Food service aide vs. Deli clerk
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.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between food service aides and deli clerks, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a food service aide might have more use for skills like "patients," "food handling," "kitchen equipment," and "cleanliness." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of deli clerks require skills like "help support," "basic math," "excellent guest," and "deli meats. "
Deli clerks enjoy the best pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $31,678. For comparison, food service aides earn the highest salary in the hospitality industry.deli clerks reach similar levels of education compared to food service aides, in general. The difference is that they're 0.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of food service aide
Updated January 8, 2025