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Kitchen assistant vs food service assistant

The differences between kitchen assistants and food service assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food service assistant has an average salary of $29,354, 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 food service assistant are patients, customer service, and food handling.

Kitchen assistant vs food service assistant overview

Kitchen AssistantFood Service Assistant
Yearly salary$27,455$29,354
Hourly rate$13.20$14.11
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs78,120149,665
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
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 food service assistant do?

A food service assistant helps in food and beverage preparation and serving customers. Foodservice assistants make sure that great customer service is provided to clients. Their duties include answering phone calls for inquiries, providing information, selling products, and solving problems. They may function as cashiers in restaurants or any other food service institution. Upon receiving customer complaints, they escalate them to top management. This job requires people skills, communication skills, and food service knowledge.

Kitchen assistant vs food service assistant salary

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

Kitchen AssistantFood Service Assistant
Average salary$27,455$29,354
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $35,000Between $23,000 And $36,000
Highest paying CityMinneapolis, MNSpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateAlaskaMassachusetts
Best paying companyUniversity of Massachusetts BostonFremont Public Schools
Best paying industryConstructionRetail

Differences between kitchen assistant and food service assistant education

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

Kitchen AssistantFood Service Assistant
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Kitchen assistant vs food service assistant demographics

Here are the differences between kitchen assistants' and food service assistants' demographics:

Kitchen AssistantFood Service Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 51.2% Female, 48.8%Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1%
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, 12.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 8.7% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between kitchen assistant and food service 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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Food service assistant example responsibilities.

  • Sanitize rooms per OSHA requirements.
  • Perform regular station audits in accordance to OSHA guidelines.
  • Experience includes bag room, mail/cargo, ramp, and De-icing.
  • Maintain cleanliness of kitchenware and food preparation areas in a fast-pace restaurant kitchen.
  • Streamline kitchen processes for this fast-pace environment, maintaining cleanliness and safe equipment operation.
  • Monitor radio and delivery system by annotating order tickets resulting in satisfy and hunger free patients.
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Kitchen assistant vs food service assistant skills

Common kitchen assistant skills
  • Wine, 17%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 15%
  • POS, 15%
  • Culinary, 11%
  • Kitchen Operations, 8%
  • Cooking Equipment, 8%
Common food service assistant skills
  • Patients, 12%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Food Handling, 9%
  • Basic Math, 8%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 7%
  • Safety Standards, 6%

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