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.
Food service assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real food service assistant resumes:
- 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.
- Evaluate procedures and results for accuracy in equipment, de-icing, prioritizing airline safety and luggage quality assurance.
- Interact with patients, family, and staff and communicate pertinent dietary information to the clinical dietitians and supervisor personnel.
- Operate large-volume cooking equipment such as grills and fryers.
- Bag groceries as well as took groceries to car for customers.
- Assist other departments when necessary (box groceries, participate in semi-annual inventory, membership callbacks, etc.
- Stock product according to date, using the FIFO method.
Food service assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Food Service Assistants are proficient in Patients, Customer Service, and Food Handling. They’re also known for soft skills such as Dexterity, Listening skills, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Food Service Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 12%
Managed daily Tray Auditing, ensuring all trays and associated materials were assembled properly according to respective dietary restrictions of patients.
- Customer Service, 12%
Maintained and balanced cash register - Assisted with catered orders - Received and processed customers orders - Exhibited memorable customer service
- Food Handling, 9%
Maintained proper food handling procedures according to food-safety regulations.
- Basic Math, 8%
Maintain knowledge of store inventory and sales activities * Enter transactions in the cash register and request payment using basic math.
- Kitchen Equipment, 7%
Plan special equipment purchases (i.e., warehouse/storage equipment, industrial/commercial kitchen equipment).
- Safety Standards, 6%
Maintained food service prep areas at optimal level of cleanliness and orderliness to meet health and safety standards.
Most food service assistants use their skills in "patients," "customer service," and "food handling" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential food service assistant responsibilities here:
The three companies that hire the most food service assistants are:
- Costco Wholesale516 food service assistants jobs
- Sanford Health125 food service assistants jobs
- Sanford-Good Samaritan Community Health
77 food service assistants jobs
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Food service assistant vs. Line cook
Line cooks are responsible for preparing meals for guests or employers. The term line cook brings to mind an assembly line. This is apt because line cooks are usually assigned to a specific station to work on a specific part of a meal or a preparation process. They are part of a bigger group of cooks in the restaurant. This is done so that meal preparation is more efficient. Line cooks are responsible for preparing ingredients, ensuring that the pantry is well-stocked, and doing their assigned activity in the line. They are expected to be good team players, have experience as a cook, and be able to follow recipes and provide alternatives when necessary.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between food service assistants and line cook. For instance, food service assistant responsibilities require skills such as "patients," "food safety," "wine," and "haccp." Whereas a line cook is skilled in "team work," "quality food," "quality standards," and "dexterity." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Line cooks really shine in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $32,363. Comparatively, food service assistants tend to make the most money in the retail industry with an average salary of $35,561.The education levels that line cooks earn slightly differ from food service assistants. In particular, line cooks are 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a food service assistant. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Food service assistant vs. Cafeteria worker
A cafeteria worker is responsible for taking and processing customer orders, ensuring the correct foods are served, providing them the satisfaction of their dining experience. Cafeteria workers maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities, manage the adequacy of inventory stock supplies, coordinate with suppliers for deliveries, process payments, and help out the customers with their inquiries and concerns. A cafeteria worker should also assist the management in developing marketing techniques to boost revenues and increase profitability.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real food service assistant resumes. While food service assistant responsibilities can utilize skills like "patients," "basic math," "cleanliness," and "food safety," cafeteria workers use skills like "spoons," "food stations," "safety regulations," and "prep food."
On average, cafeteria workers earn a lower salary than food service assistants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, cafeteria workers earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $29,244. Whereas food service assistants have higher pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $35,561.In general, cafeteria workers achieve similar levels of education than food service assistants. They're 1.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Food service assistant vs. Food prep
The primary duty of a food prep is to accomplish various food handling and preparation tasks according to the direction of supervisors, chefs, or cooks. One can work in different establishments or industry where there is food involved. Among the responsibilities will mostly revolve around doing light to moderate chores such as cleaning the kitchen and sanitizing utensils, preparing the required ingredients and ensure its quality and quantity, be in charge of food storage, and assist by performing basic cooking tasks.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, food service assistants are more likely to have skills like "patients," "basic math," "food safety," and "wine." But a food prep is more likely to have skills like "taking care," "good communication," "dexterity," and "manual dexterity."
Food preps earn the highest salary when working in the retail industry, where they receive an average salary of $28,945. Comparatively, food service assistants have the highest earning potential in the retail industry, with an average salary of $35,561.food preps typically earn similar educational levels compared to food service assistants. Specifically, they're 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Food service assistant vs. Associate food scientist
An associate food scientist is primarily responsible for developing new recipes for a company, ensuring quality and marketability. They are also responsible for improving existing recipes, performing support tasks for a head scientist, conducting market research and analysis, monitoring the progress of projects, and maintaining all recipes' data and records, including nutrition value and ingredients. Furthermore, there are instances when an associate food scientist must manage the packaging and storing processes of food, ensuring consumers' health and safety.
Types of food service assistant
Updated January 8, 2025











