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What does a food service assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
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.

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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:

See the full list of food service assistant skills

The three companies that hire the most food service assistants are:

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Compare different food service assistants

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.

The annual salary of line cooks is $3,540 higher than the average salary of food service assistants.Even though food service assistants and line cooks are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require customer service, food handling, and basic math in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

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.

Cafeteria worker positions earn lower pay than food service assistant roles. They earn a $4,889 lower salary than food service assistants per year.A few skills overlap for food service assistants and cafeteria workers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "customer service," "food handling," and "kitchen equipment. "

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.

On average scale, food preps bring in lower salaries than food service assistants. In fact, they earn a $3,514 lower salary per year.food service assistants and food preps both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "customer service," "food handling," and "kitchen equipment," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

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.

Associate food scientists average a higher salary than the annual salary of food service assistants. The difference is about $14,511 per year.While both food service assistants and associate food scientists complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like patients, customer service, and food handling, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "basic math," "safety standards," "math," and "wine" are skills that commonly show up on food service assistant resumes. On the other hand, associate food scientists use skills like quality food, quality customer service, quality standards, and ice cream on their resumes.In general, associate food scientists earn the most working in the health care industry, with an average salary of $47,462. The highest-paying industry for a food service assistant is the retail industry.The average resume of associate food scientists showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to food service assistants. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.3%.

Types of food service assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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