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What is a food service assistant and how to become one
A food service assistant performs various tasks in the food service industry. They typically work in restaurants, cafeterias, and hospitals. Their primary duties include preparing ingredients, cooking meals, serving customers, cleaning kitchens, and adhering to food safety regulations. They may also handle cash registers, take orders, and stock inventory. Food service assistants need good communication skills and the ability to work well with a team and remain calm under pressure.
Avg. Salary $29,354
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 2%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.97%
Asian 8.66%
Black or African American 12.05%
Hispanic or Latino 18.02%
Unknown 4.93%
White 55.37%
Genderfemale 64.07%
male 35.93%
Age - 34American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 34Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a food service assistant?
Pros
Opportunity for entry-level employment with no prior experience
Often flexible hours to fit around other commitments
Possibility of tips or bonuses from satisfied customers
Access to discounted or free meals during shifts
Often relatively stable employment with reliable hours
Cons
Can be physically demanding work, requiring long periods of standing and heavy lifting
Often low pay, especially in entry-level roles
May require early morning or late-night shifts
May require working holidays or weekends when others have time off
Risk of injury from slips, falls, or burns in the kitchen environment
Food service assistant career paths
Key steps to become a food service assistant
Explore food service assistant education requirements
Start to develop specific food service assistant skills
Skills Percentages Patients 12.49% Customer Service 11.64% Food Handling 9.11% Basic Math 7.80% Kitchen Equipment 6.63% Complete relevant food service assistant training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New food service assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a food service assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real food service assistant resumes.Research food service assistant duties and 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.
Prepare your food service assistant resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your food service assistant resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a food service assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable food service assistant resume templates
Build a professional food service assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your food service assistant resume.
Apply for food service assistant jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a food service assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first food service assistant job
Are you a food service assistant?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average food service assistant salary
The average food service assistant salary in the United States is $29,354 per year or $14 per hour. Food service assistant salaries range between $23,000 and $36,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do food service assistants rate their job?
Food service assistant reviews
Not sedentary, moving around. Creativity.
Repetitive tasks. Or obviously, working with people who are highly critical.
Rude customers walk outs non tippers who don't clean up after their children just being disrespectful
Being an expeditor is an easy job
Servers stand around talking instead of getting their orders and I have to run their food instead of doing my own job, manager sends dishwasher home early and expects me to wash dishes, and cooks play around until I just cook what I need myself😡
Updated January 8, 2025
