How to hire a food service attendant

How to hire a food service attendant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step food service attendant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a food service attendant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new food service attendant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a food service attendant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a food service attendant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A food service attendant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, food service attendants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of food service attendants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Food Service Attendant	Description	Hourly rate
   Food Service Attendant	Food and beverage serving and related workers perform a variety of customer service, food preparation, and cleaning duties in restaurants, cafeterias, and other eating and drinking establishments.	$9-15
   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... Show more	$9-16
   Food Preparer	A food preparer or food preparation worker is the person who executes routine tasks under the supervision of chefs, food service managers, and cooks. Food preparation workers slice meat, cut vegetables, and prepare cold foods... Show more	$9-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Handling
   • Patients
   • Customer Service
   • Cash Handling
   • Basic Math
   • Guest Service
   • HACCP
   • Cleanliness
   • Math
   • Food Safety Procedures
   • Food Products
   • Tray Line
   • Food Carts
   • Kitchen Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Process payment transactions on a POS system.
   • Wait on customers, take orders, run cash register, help prepare food on grill and deep fryer.
   • Follow established procedures and standards for cleanliness to ensure a healthy and safe environment
   • Learned to cook and pre pare pizza, learned to make drinks associate with Starbucks
   • Create Facebook and other social media accounts for athletes and business owners to promote their upcoming activities or increase sales.

   More food service attendant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your food service attendant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A food service attendant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, food service attendants' average salary in louisiana is 32% less than in utah.
   • Seniority. Entry-level food service attendants earn 42% less than senior-level food service attendants.
   • Certifications. A food service attendant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a food service attendant's salary.

   Average food service attendant salary

   $12.31hourly

   $25,604 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level food service attendant salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average food service attendant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$30,940	$15
   2	Washington	$30,886	$15
   3	New York	$30,463	$15
   4	California	$29,527	$14
   5	Massachusetts	$28,285	$14
   6	Colorado	$27,931	$13
   7	Arizona	$27,736	$13
   8	Pennsylvania	$27,035	$13
   9	Ohio	$26,333	$13
   10	Missouri	$25,894	$12
   11	Kansas	$25,719	$12
   12	Nevada	$25,298	$12
   13	Indiana	$23,724	$11
   14	Michigan	$23,579	$11
   15	South Carolina	$23,295	$11
   16	Alaska	$23,192	$11
   17	Georgia	$23,042	$11
   18	Texas	$22,930	$11
   19	Florida	$22,271	$11

   Average food service attendant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$32,308	$15.53	20
   2	Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES	$31,255	$15.03
   3	Hyatt Hotels	$30,305	$14.57	329
   4	Compass Group USA	$30,278	$14.56	5,533
   5	St. Charles Health System	$29,837	$14.34	12
   6	Piedmont Healthcare	$29,648	$14.25	14
   7	St. Joseph Mantua	$29,648	$14.25
   8	Great Wolf Resorts	$29,234	$14.05	63
   9	AVI Foodsystems	$29,174	$14.03	371
   10	Brooks-TLC Hospital System	$29,105	$13.99
   11	New London Hospital	$28,905	$13.90
   12	Tenet Healthcare	$28,771	$13.83	12
   13	Providence Health & Services	$28,535	$13.72	15
   14	St. Jude Children's Research Hospital	$28,468	$13.69	1
   15	Delaware North	$28,120	$13.52	106
   16	Caliper Family of Companies	$28,007	$13.46
   17	Sage Hospitality Group	$27,891	$13.41	94
   18	Marriott International	$27,889	$13.41	862
   19	Amphi Public Schools	$27,881	$13.40	3
   20	University of Richmond	$27,752	$13.34

4. Writing a food service attendant job description

   A good food service attendant job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a food service attendant job description:

   Food service attendant job description example

   NOW HIRING Fast Food Attendant for $15.82/hour! The position is EXTRA BOARD .

   HMSHost is hiring Fast Food Attendants at Harry Reid International Airport.

   Check out these amazing benefits : Discounted meals, free airport parking, Culinary Union Wages and Benefits, holiday/vacation time and so much more!

   We’re looking for Fast Food Attendants who:

   • Connect with each customer so they feel welcome

   • Provide outstanding service that exceeds their expectations

   • Send our customers off on their journey so they feel appreciated for their business

   • Is committed to quality work

   • Is reliable, dependable and a team player

   • Is open to new ideas and suggests ideas of their own

   • Treats everyone with respect and shows appreciation for a job well done

   • Uses the tools and training we provide to get the job done right

   Requirements:

   Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment: •Demonstrates the ability to interact with the public and coworkers in a friendly, enthusiastic and outgoing manner •Requires the ability to bend, twist, and stand to perform normal job functions •Requires the ability to lift/push objects weighing over 40 lbs •Requires the ability to speak, read and comprehend instructions, short correspondence and policy documents, as well as converse comfortably with customers •Cash handling and customer service experience preferred

   Safety is our priority – our COVID-19 protocols keep our associates and guests safe!

   At HMSHost, we know our success is based on great people, strong teams and a fun environment . If you have positive energy , a passion for serving others , enjoy a fast-paced environment , are a team player and like to have fun at work – apply now!

   Ready to feel great at work? Apply today to join the HMSHost family of restaurants at Harry Reid International Airport

   Harry Reid International Airport, we help travelers feel good on the move!

   You must be 21+ to apply .

   Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) - Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran (M/F/D/V) - Drug Free Workplace (DFW)

   Protect your personal information! HMSHost will NEVER ask you to send personal information through email or text. This includes your SSN, driver’s license, banking or credit card information, passport, birthdate, etc. You should NOT respond to any request that you send personal information over email or text. If a position with HMSHost is offered by us and accepted by you, only then will you receive an email request to submit onboarding information through our secure PeopleMatter applicant tracking system (the same system in which you applied for the position). If you have a question about the legitimacy of any request for your personal information, please contact your recruiter, HR or the hiring manager to verify the request is authentic.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find food service attendants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your food service attendant job on Zippia to find and recruit food service attendant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit food service attendants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new food service attendant

   Once you've selected the best food service attendant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new food service attendant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a food service attendant?