Post job

Kitchen helper vs catering assistant

The differences between kitchen helpers 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 $25,796 average annual salary of a kitchen helper.

The top three skills for a kitchen helper include food handling, food service and wash dishes. The most important skills for a catering assistant are patients, food service, and customer service.

Kitchen helper vs catering assistant overview

Kitchen HelperCatering Assistant
Yearly salary$25,796$32,101
Hourly rate$12.40$15.43
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs80,20210,042
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age3737
Years of experience--

What does a kitchen helper do?

Kitchen helpers perform various kitchen tasks in restaurants, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. Their duties and responsibilities include assisting cooks in the preparation of meal ingredients, helping other staff with unloading food items from delivery trucks, and washing and drying the utensils, dishes, and cookware. Kitchen helpers are also responsible for removing and replacing garbage bags and storing ingredients and food supplies in compliance with food safety standards. The requirements for this position may include a high school diploma, a license in food handling, and knowledge of food safety standards.

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 helper vs catering assistant salary

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

Kitchen HelperCatering Assistant
Average salary$25,796$32,101
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $32,000Between $26,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CitySaint Paul, MNWashington, DC
Highest paying stateMinnesotaHawaii
Best paying companyWilliams InternationalMassachusetts General Hospital
Best paying industryRetailManufacturing

Differences between kitchen helper and catering assistant education

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

Kitchen HelperCatering Assistant
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Kitchen helper vs catering assistant demographics

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

Kitchen HelperCatering Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 53.3% Female, 46.7%Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 8.1% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%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 helper and catering assistant duties and responsibilities

Kitchen helper example responsibilities.

  • Experience on grill, broiler, slicers, fryers etc.
  • Cook food using servsafe guidelines.
  • Use of POS system and cash register.
  • Maintain multiple kitchens while following ServSafe and HACCP.
  • Be aware of certain allergies and avoid cross contamination.
  • Inquire about any allergies to the ingredients of the dishes.
  • Show more

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 helper vs catering assistant skills

Common kitchen helper skills
  • Food Handling, 29%
  • Food Service, 22%
  • Wash Dishes, 10%
  • Cleanliness, 10%
  • Culinary, 8%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 3%
Common catering assistant skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Food Service, 21%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Food Safety, 7%
  • Food Delivery, 6%
  • Beverage Service, 4%

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs