How to hire a hospital tray aide

How to hire a hospital tray aide, step by step

Here's a step-by-step hospital tray aide hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your hospital tray aide job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a hospital tray aide for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A hospital tray aide's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, hospital tray aides 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.

   Here's a comparison of hospital tray aide salaries for various roles:

   Type of Hospital Tray Aide	Description	Hourly rate
   Hospital Tray Aide	Food preparation workers perform many routine tasks under the direction of cooks, chefs, or food service managers. Food preparation workers prepare cold foods, slice meat, peel and cut vegetables, brew coffee or tea, and perform many other food service tasks.	$10-15
   Kitchen Staff	The kitchen staff consists of preparation workers who execute several routine tasks as directed by chefs, food service managers, and cooks. These works should have the ability to follow cooking instructions and deliver well-prepared meals... Show more	$11-17
   Deli Worker	A deli worker specializes in handling deli products and providing customer service in retail stores. They are primarily responsible for packaging and labeling products according to their weight and type, assigning prices, sorting out quality, and arranging them on display, all while following food safety and health guidelines... Show more	$10-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Handling
   • Food Service
   • Patients
   • Tray Line
   • Meal Orders
   • Food Carts
   • Cold Food
   • Safety Procedures

   Responsibilities:

   • Devise meal plans in line with patients' age, gender, diagnosis, cultural background and religious practices.
   • Take meal trays up to patients' rooms and ensure that they have everything they need to enjoy their meal.
   • Work collaboratively with WIC center nutritionist to conduct/obtain require nutritional measures for WIC participants.
   • Follow all proper laws and guide lines within the hospital, OSHA, HIPPA.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, hospital tray aides' average salary in louisiana is 48% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level hospital tray aides earn 33% less than senior-level hospital tray aides.
   • Certifications. A hospital tray aide 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 hospital tray aide's salary.

   Average hospital tray aide salary

   $13.32hourly

   $27,697 yearly

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   Entry-level hospital tray aide salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 12, 2026

4. Writing a hospital tray aide job description

   A job description for a hospital tray aide role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a hospital tray aide job description:

   Hospital tray aide job description example

   UNIT DESCRIPTION
   
   Sodexo is currently hiring 1 Full-Time Food Service Workers at OU hospital in Oklahoma City, OK.
   
   Schedule: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM w /rotating weekends
   
   We offer:
   
   * Competitive Pay Starting at $15.25/hr.
   * Daily $6 meal allowance to be used towards most things in the cafeteria - Approximately $1,500 a year in free meals
   * Weekday and Weekend shift differential.
   
   Company Benefits for Full-Time employees include:
   
   * Health & Welfare Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life/Accident Insurance)
   * 401 (k) Retirement Saving Plan
   * Paid Time Off (Holiday, Vacation, Sick, and Bereavement Leave)
   
   Location
   
   OU Medical Center
   
   700 NE 13th Street
   
   Oklahoma City, OK 73104
   
   * This account requires COVID vaccination.
   
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
   
   * Distribute patient trays in a friendly & courteous manner. Follow proper isolation procedures including, but not limited to verifying two patient identifiers
   * Talk with patients & families to ensure necessary room service ordering support.
   * Completes daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks.
   * Help coworkers as needed to maintain quality & efficiency of department
   * Assist Supervisor to stock refrigerators, bases and lids for patient trays, and paper goods and other supplies as needed Completes daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks.
   * Utilizes the Tray Monitor System ensuring all meal delivery times are logged and that patient meals are delivered in a timely manner.
   * Communicate with Diet Office and/or management when additional service recovery is needed or a safety concern occurs.
   
   Position Summary
   
   The Food Service Worker may work anywhere on property where food is prepared. This person will assist in setup and serving of food from counters and steamtables. Duties will include cleaning and sanitizing equipment and work stations. The general responsibilities of the position include those listed below, but Sodexo may identify other responsibilities of the position. These responsibilities may differ among accounts, depending on business necessities and client requirements.
   
   General Responsibilities:
   
   * Reads recipes and/or product directions.
   * Estimates food requirements.
   * Operates a variety of kitchen utensils to weigh, measure, mix, wash, peel, cut, grind, stir, strain, season and knead foodstuffs for cooking, serving and storing.
   * Assists in the preparation of hot and/or cold foods, and properly stores food, utilizing knowledge of temperature requirements and spoilage.
   * Inspects workstations for compliance with service standards.
   * Keeps records and requisition for supplies/equipment as needed.
   * Cleans and sanitizes workstations and equipment following all Sodexo, client and regulatory rules and procedures.
   * May taste test products.
   * Sets up stations with entrées, soups, salads, breads, condiments, other food products and utensils.
   * Provides general stocking duties in service area.
   * Serves and replenishes food from counters and steam tables (sometimes using a conveyor food belt), and breaks down stations at the end of meal periods.
   * Brews coffee and tea.
   * May be required to restock other beverage areas.
   * Interacts with customers in the serving, retail and dining areas.
   * Assists customers with opening containers and cutting food when requested.
   * Attends all allergy and foodborne illness in-service training.
   * Complies with all company safety and risk management policies and procedures.
   * Reports all accidents and injuries in a timely manner.
   * Participates in regular safety meetings, safety training and hazard assessments.
   * Complies with all Sodexo HACCP policies and procedures.
   * Attends training programs (classroom and virtual) as designated.
   * May work on a trayline to distribute food.
   * May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
   
   Qualifications & Requirements
   
   * Willingness to be open to learning and growing.
   * Maturity of judgment and behavior.
   * Maintains high standards for work areas and appearance.
   * Maintains a positive attitude.
   * Ability to work a flexible schedule helpful.
   * Must comply with any dress code requirements.
   * Must be able to work nights, weekends and some holidays.
   * Attends work and shows up for scheduled shift on time with satisfactory regularity.
   
   Experience/Knowledge:
   
   * High School diploma, GED, or equivalent experience.
   * No previous work experience required.
   
   Skills/Aptitude:
   
   * Presents self in a highly professional manner to others and understands that honesty and ethics are essential.
   * Ability to maintain a positive attitude.
   * Ability to communicate with co-workers and other departments with professionalism and respect.
   * Maintains a professional relationship with all coworkers, vendor representatives, supervisors, managers, customers, and client representatives.
   * Ability to use a computer.
   * Ability to provide clear directions and respond to employees.
   * Basic food-handling skills.
   
   Physical Requirements:
   
   * Close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus, with or without corrective lenses.
   * Significant walking or other means of mobility.
   * Ability to work in a standing position for long periods of time (up to 8 hours).
   * Ability to reach, bend, stoop, push and/or pull, and frequently lift up to 35 pounds and occasionally lift/move 40 pounds.
   
   Working Conditions (may add additional conditions specific to defined work location):
   
   * Generally in an indoor setting; however, may supervise outside activities and events.
   * Varying schedule to include evenings, holidays, weekends and extended hours as business dictates.
   * While performing the duties of this job, the employee is primarily in a controlled, temperate environment; however, may be exposed to heat/cold during support of outside activities.
   * The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
   
   Sodexo is an EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran employer
   
   Benefits Eligibility
   
   Full Time Benefits: At Sodexo, we believe every employee should have the resources to be their best. As part of our overall rewards, we offer benefits programs designed to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle including health, dental and vision insurance. Eligible employees can enroll in their benefits, which will be effective beginning on their first day with Sodexo. We also offer other benefits like paid time off, financial and savings programs and access to our employee assistance program and other discounts (eligibility varies by unit and may not be available to all employees).

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right hospital tray aide for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your hospital tray aide job on Zippia to find and recruit hospital tray aide candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit hospital tray aides, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 hospital tray aide

   Once you have selected a candidate for the hospital tray aide position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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