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Kitchen assistant vs catering assistant

The differences between kitchen assistants and catering assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a catering assistant has an average salary of $32,101, which is higher than the $27,455 average annual salary of a kitchen assistant.

The top three skills for a kitchen assistant include wine, kitchen equipment and POS. The most important skills for a catering assistant are patients, food service, and customer service.

Kitchen assistant vs catering assistant overview

Kitchen AssistantCatering Assistant
Yearly salary$27,455$32,101
Hourly rate$13.20$15.43
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs78,12010,042
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age3737
Years of experience--

What does a kitchen assistant do?

A kitchen assistant is responsible for assisting chefs, cooks, or managers. Most of the duties are given by supervising officers, and it will revolve around preparing ingredients, cutting or washing meat and vegetables, and performing basic cooking tasks such as boiling and frying. A kitchen assistant is also responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the kitchen, washing used materials, sanitizing utensils, organizing food inventory. Other tasks include unloading deliveries of food supplies and sorting the ingredients accordingly.

What does a catering assistant do?

A catering assistant is responsible for supporting catering operations, especially on outdoor gatherings and social events. Catering assistants prepare the buffet area and ensure the adequacy of foods and beverages, and provide the best customer service for the guests' satisfaction. Catering assistants must have excellent communication skills, responding to the guests' inquiries and concerns about the dish, and resolving immediate complaints. They maintain the cleanliness of the buffet station, strictly adhering to the sanitary standards and hygienic regulations.

Kitchen assistant vs catering assistant salary

Kitchen assistants and catering assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Kitchen AssistantCatering Assistant
Average salary$27,455$32,101
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $35,000Between $26,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CityMinneapolis, MNWashington, DC
Highest paying stateAlaskaHawaii
Best paying companyUniversity of Massachusetts BostonMassachusetts General Hospital
Best paying industryConstructionManufacturing

Differences between kitchen assistant and catering assistant education

There are a few differences between a kitchen assistant and a catering assistant in terms of educational background:

Kitchen AssistantCatering Assistant
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Kitchen assistant vs catering assistant demographics

Here are the differences between kitchen assistants' and catering assistants' demographics:

Kitchen AssistantCatering Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 51.2% Female, 48.8%Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 8.0% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.2% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between kitchen assistant and catering assistant duties and responsibilities

Kitchen assistant example responsibilities.

  • Assist the catering manager to manage, prepare, cook and deliver each day s caterings.
  • Prepare and store vegetables; maintain cleanliness and organization of kitchen; observe food safety and health regulations
  • Mix water with detergents and acids to prepare cleaning solutions according to specifications, general cleanliness according to safety and company guidelines
  • Operate dishwasher and train volunteers.
  • Maintain the dishwasher and efficiently clean kitchenware.
  • Skil in grilling, roasting, steaming, platting individual and buffet style.
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Catering assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage and prioritize restaurant reservations.
  • Monitor patients who cannot receive anything by mouth (NPO) or on liquid diets.
  • Assist dieticians with monitoring of patients who are NPO, on liquid diets or need to have intake record.
  • Run POS for student payments, including meal cards and cash.
  • Comply with regulator agency standards, including federal, state and JCAHO.
  • Adhere to HIPAA guidelines while processing menu orders with the patient information.
  • Show more

Kitchen assistant vs catering assistant skills

Common kitchen assistant skills
  • Wine, 17%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 15%
  • POS, 15%
  • Culinary, 11%
  • Kitchen Operations, 8%
  • Cooking Equipment, 8%
Common catering assistant skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Food Service, 21%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Food Safety, 7%
  • Food Delivery, 6%
  • Beverage Service, 4%

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