Post job

What is a food service/cashier and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
introduction image

As a Food Service/Cashier, you will ensure that customers receive the food and beverage they order. You may be working in restaurants, bars, coffee shops, cafeterias, and other similar establishments. You will need to greet customers and provide them with excellent customer service.

You can earn around $22,258 per year. This job has a growth rate of 14%, which is a good thing. After gaining more experience, you can be a Hostess, a Teacher, a Consultant, and a General Manager, depending on the path you plan to take.

As a Food Service/Cashier, you will record customer orders and collect their payments. You also need to have special skills and traits to do your job well. You need to have great physical strength, excellent communication and customer service skills. You will be working and dealing with different people, so you should know how to approach each one of them.

ScoreFood Service/CashierUS Average
Salary
2.2

Avg. Salary $28,481

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.0

Growth rate 14%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.85%

Asian 6.49%

Black or African American 9.64%

Hispanic or Latino 18.63%

Unknown 6.92%

White 57.47%

Gender

female 71.72%

male 28.28%

Age - 21
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 21
Stress level
7.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.8

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
9.7

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Food service/cashier career paths

Key steps to become a food service/cashier

  1. Explore food service/cashier education requirements

    Most common food service/cashier degrees

    High School Diploma

    48.0 %

    Bachelor's

    20.4 %

    Associate

    15.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific food service/cashier skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Food Service17.40%
    POS12.68%
    Cleanliness9.08%
    Basic Math7.89%
    Math7.44%
  3. Complete relevant food service/cashier training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New food service/cashiers 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/cashier based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real food service/cashier resumes.
  4. Research food service/cashier duties and responsibilities

    • Cashier, serve food, manage calls, drawer counting, heavy lifting, heavy use of POS system and filing.
    • Greet guests, take food and drink orders, prepare and assemble food items, maintain the cash drawer and POS system
    • Time management while delivering patients orders and providing exceptional customer service in a fast pace environment.
    • Order and receive supplies for culinary needs of the fleet.
  5. Prepare your food service/cashier resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your food service/cashier 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/cashier 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/cashier resume templates

    Build a professional food service/cashier 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/cashier resume.
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
    Food Service/Cashier Resume
  6. Apply for food service/cashier jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a food service/cashier job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first food service/cashier job

Zippi

Are you a food service/cashier?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average food service/cashier salary

The average food service/cashier salary in the United States is $28,481 per year or $14 per hour. Food service/cashier salaries range between $22,000 and $35,000 per year.

Average food service/cashier salary
$28,481 Yearly
$13.69 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do food service/cashiers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Food service/cashier reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Pros

A cashier I get to count, hold conversations, clean my area,stock my area

Cons

Only thing I dislike doing is being the bad guy when someone is shoplifting


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021
Pros

A total time you spend knowing and communicate and get attachment to the clients

Cons

Leaving work when it's time to leave


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Handling well cash and serving customers fast and smiling at them

Cons

Unable to assist the customers in good time.


Working as a food service/cashier? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Food service/cashier jobs by state

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.

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs