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Kitchen helper vs food service assistant

The differences between kitchen helpers 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 $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 food service assistant are patients, customer service, and food handling.

Kitchen helper vs food service assistant overview

Kitchen HelperFood Service Assistant
Yearly salary$25,796$29,354
Hourly rate$12.40$14.11
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs80,202149,665
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
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 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 helper vs food service assistant salary

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

Kitchen HelperFood Service Assistant
Average salary$25,796$29,354
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $32,000Between $23,000 And $36,000
Highest paying CitySaint Paul, MNSpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateMinnesotaMassachusetts
Best paying companyWilliams InternationalFremont Public Schools
Best paying industryRetailRetail

Differences between kitchen helper and food service assistant education

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

Kitchen HelperFood Service Assistant
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Kitchen helper vs food service assistant demographics

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

Kitchen HelperFood Service Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 53.3% Female, 46.7%Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1%
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, 12.1% 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 helper and food service 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.
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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.
  • Show more

Kitchen helper vs food service assistant skills

Common kitchen helper skills
  • Food Handling, 29%
  • Food Service, 22%
  • Wash Dishes, 10%
  • Cleanliness, 10%
  • Culinary, 8%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 3%
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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