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What is a kitchen operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a kitchen operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $16.17 an hour? That's $33,634 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 16% and produce 419,300 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreKitchen OperatorUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $33,634

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.2

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.90%

Asian 8.47%

Black or African American 8.26%

Hispanic or Latino 19.90%

Unknown 4.31%

White 58.15%

Gender

female 26.29%

male 73.71%

Age - 37
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37
Stress level
6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.3

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Kitchen operator career paths

Key steps to become a kitchen operator

  1. Explore kitchen operator education requirements

    Most common kitchen operator degrees

    High School Diploma

    34.7 %

    Bachelor's

    34.7 %

    Associate

    19.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific kitchen operator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Quality Checks22.17%
    CIP15.13%
    Culinary13.22%
    Product Quality13.15%
    Computer System13.14%
  3. Complete relevant kitchen operator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New kitchen operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a kitchen operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real kitchen operator resumes.
  4. Research kitchen operator duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
    • Monitor combat missions through satellite and computer global positioning systems in order to prepare accurate reports for unit commanders.
    • Monitor combat missions through satellite and computer global positioning systems in order to prepare accurate reports for unit commanders.
  5. Prepare your kitchen operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your kitchen operator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a kitchen operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable kitchen operator resume templates

    Build a professional kitchen operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your kitchen operator resume.
    Kitchen Operator Resume
    Kitchen Operator Resume
    Kitchen Operator Resume
    Kitchen Operator Resume
    Kitchen Operator Resume
    Kitchen Operator Resume
    Kitchen Operator Resume
    Kitchen Operator Resume
    Kitchen Operator Resume
  6. Apply for kitchen operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a kitchen operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first kitchen operator job

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Average kitchen operator salary

The average kitchen operator salary in the United States is $33,634 per year or $16 per hour. Kitchen operator salaries range between $25,000 and $44,000 per year.

Average kitchen operator salary
$33,634 Yearly
$16.17 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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