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Food service technician vs service technician

The differences between food service technicians and service technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a service technician has an average salary of $40,379, which is higher than the $33,791 average annual salary of a food service technician.

The top three skills for a food service technician include patients, tray line and food handling. The most important skills for a service technician are plumbing, customer service, and preventative maintenance.

Food service technician vs service technician overview

Food Service TechnicianService Technician
Yearly salary$33,791$40,379
Hourly rate$16.25$19.41
Growth rate14%8%
Number of jobs120,800254,533
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 35%Associate Degree, 29%
Average age2344
Years of experience-12

What does a food service technician do?

A food technician monitors what goes in and out of a kitchen. The role entails ensuring that whatever food leaves the kitchen meets the company's standard. The role also requires them to work closely with the food service team to ensure adequate preparation, cleaning, and sanitizing of cooking equipment and work area. Food technicians are employed at hotels, restaurants, hospitals, or schools.

What does a service technician do?

Service technicians are assigned in the field to address the concerns of their clients. Service technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance, or repair of different units or items related to their company's products or services. They should be familiar with their company's products so that they can properly install, maintain, or repair them. They conduct diagnostics and analysis to assess the condition of the unit they are servicing and properly address problems. They also do routine maintenance check-ups. Service technicians are expected to be trustworthy, have good analytical skills, and have good decision-making skills.

Food service technician vs service technician salary

Food service technicians and service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Food Service TechnicianService Technician
Average salary$33,791$40,379
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $45,000Between $28,000 And $57,000
Highest paying CitySanta Clara, CARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyGilletteIBM
Best paying industryHealth CareTechnology

Differences between food service technician and service technician education

There are a few differences between a food service technician and a service technician in terms of educational background:

Food Service TechnicianService Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 35%Associate Degree, 29%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Food service technician vs service technician demographics

Here are the differences between food service technicians' and service technicians' demographics:

Food Service TechnicianService Technician
Average age2344
Gender ratioMale, 42.7% Female, 57.3%Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%1%

Differences between food service technician and service technician duties and responsibilities

Food service technician example responsibilities.

  • Operate institutional slicers, shredders, food processors, and sealer machines.
  • Follow and maintain high sanitation standards and guidelines as per NFS, and HACCP.
  • Ensure proper hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) and ServSave protocols are adhered to.
  • Maintain facility cleanliness and security.
  • Maintain the professional and cleanliness outlook of the facility
  • Assist patients one-on-one in making menu selections according to their therapeutic diets.
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Service technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and perform the installation of HVAC equipment, air handlers, condensers, thermostats, ducts and piping.
  • Perform routine maintenance work on loaders, conveyors, trucks, and trailers.
  • Cable installation as a COMCAST subcontractor
  • Ensure ISO compliance and perform QC.
  • Service damaged smartphones, tablets, and peripherals.
  • Remove and launch boats from water using heavy equipment.
  • Show more

Food service technician vs service technician skills

Common food service technician skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Tray Line, 7%
  • Food Handling, 7%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 6%
  • Meal Service, 6%
  • Food Carts, 5%
Common service technician skills
  • Plumbing, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 6%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • CDL, 6%
  • Patients, 6%

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