How to hire a kitchen runner

How to hire a kitchen runner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step kitchen runner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a kitchen runner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new kitchen runner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a kitchen runner job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your kitchen runner job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a kitchen runner for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A kitchen runner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, kitchen runners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of kitchen runners.

   Type of Kitchen Runner	Description	Hourly rate
   Kitchen Runner	Food preparation workers perform many routine tasks under the direction of cooks, chefs, or food service managers. Food preparation workers prepare cold foods, slice meat, peel and cut vegetables, brew coffee or tea, and perform many other food service tasks.	$8-24
   Bakery Clerk	A bakery clerk is an employee who is responsible for running the bakery department of supermarkets, boutique bakeries, or baking facilities. Bakery clerks are usually tasked to manage the bakery's cash register, bagging baked goods and then taking customers' payments... Show more	$11-16
   Food Service Worker	Foodservice workers are employees at restaurants, food trucks, or any outlet that provides food to customers. They may be assigned to welcome customers, take food orders, prepare food orders in the kitchen, serve food, handle customer payments, clean up the tables once the guests leave, or maintain the whole store's cleanliness... Show more	$10-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cleanliness
   • BARS
   • Food Safety
   • Food Handling
   • Customer Service
   • Food Products
   • VIP
   • Food Line
   • Cold Food
   • Food Storage

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage tickets for kitchen, run food and intereact with customers, and bus tables
   • Maintain cleanliness of area as well as keeping cold items stock.
   • Provide dietary relate information to patients as needed.
   • Greet and escort VIP patrons, musicians and celebrities to VIP areas and other access areas.
   • Perform servings, cleaning and inventory for the cafeterias or dining rooms in order to facilitate customer service.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your kitchen runner job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A kitchen runner salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, kitchen runners' average salary in louisiana is 64% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level kitchen runners earn 65% less than senior-level kitchen runners.
   • Certifications. A kitchen runner with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a kitchen runner's salary.

   Average kitchen runner salary

   $14.76hourly

   $30,693 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level kitchen runner salary

   $18,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a kitchen runner job description

   A kitchen runner job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a kitchen runner job description:

   Kitchen runner job description example

   As a food runner it is your responsibility to deliver all of the food from the kitchen to our guests in the dining room. Although your level of guest interaction is minimal, it is still important that you coordinate and communicate with the kitchen and other members of the team to ensure that the experience a guest receives goes above and beyond their expectations.
   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
   
   • Ensures that kitchen is properly cleaned and set before, during and after each shift.
   
   • Provides assistance to Food Servers, Chefs and Managers in accommodating guest needs and requests.
   
   • Ensures that all kitchen station supply stock is maintained to par levels.
   
   • Treats guests with courtesy and respect.
   
   • Is at all times appropriately groomed and wears the uniform provided.
   
   • Deliver all foods in the kitchen to the gusts in dining room.
   
   • Describe the main components of a dish upon delivery.
   
   • Have complete knowledge of products and specifications.
   
   • Assist the Front and Back servers in keeping the beverage and condiment stations supplied in condiments, sugar, coffee, tea, etc.
   
   • Replenish bread, butter, water, coffee and tea as needed during the meal.
   
   • Able to expedite food line and use of Micros System.
   
   • Able to process guest payments and ring up food orders.
   
   • Adjust dining room tables.
   
   • Able to work in extreme weather conditions.
   
   • Assist in clearing and re-setting tables.
   
   • Operate as a member of a team : help others and request help as needed.
   
   • Perform assign side work
   
   • Transport used linens, china, glassware and flatware from the kitchen to designated locations during the meal.
   
   • Additional related duties as requested by the Front Waiter and/or Manager.
   
   • Clear tables and stack scraped dishes in dish area.
   
   • Maintain cleanliness of the kitchen and dining room floor.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   • Must possess basic reading skills.
   
   • At least 1 year restaurant dining room experience.
   
   • At least 6 months gourmet restaurant dining room experience preferred.
   
   • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
   
   JOBSUMMARY:
   
   As a food runner it is your responsibility to deliver all of the food from the kitchen to our guests in the dining room. Although your level of guest interaction is minimal, it is still important that you coordinate and communicate with the kitchen and other members of the team to ensure that the experience a guest receives goes above and beyond their expectations.
   
   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
   
   • Ensures that kitchen is properly cleaned and set before, during and after each shift.
   
   • Provides assistance to Food Servers, Chefs and Managers in accommodating guest needs and requests.
   
   • Ensures that all kitchen station supply stock is maintained to par levels.
   
   • Treats guests with courtesy and respect.
   
   • Is at all times appropriately groomed and wears the uniform provided.
   
   • Deliver all foods in the kitchen to the gusts in dining room.
   
   • Describe the main components of a dish upon delivery.
   
   • Have complete knowledge of products and specifications.
   
   • Assist the Front and Back servers in keeping the beverage and condiment stations supplied in condiments, sugar, coffee, tea, etc.
   
   • Replenish bread, butter, water, coffee and tea as needed during the meal.
   
   • Able to expedite food line and use of Micros System.
   
   • Able to process guest payments and ring up food orders.
   
   • Adjust dining room tables.
   
   • Able to work in extreme weather conditions.
   
   • Assist in clearing and re-setting tables.
   
   • Operate as a member of a team : help others and request help as needed.
   
   • Perform assign side work
   
   • Transport used linens, china, glassware and flatware from the kitchen to designated locations during the meal.
   
   • Additional related duties as requested by the Front Waiter and/or Manager.
   
   • Clear tables and stack scraped dishes in dish area.
   
   • Maintain cleanliness of the kitchen and dining room floor.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   • Must possess basic reading skills.
   
   • At least 1 year restaurant dining room experience.
   
   • At least 6 months gourmet restaurant dining room experience preferred.
   
   • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
   
   PHYSICAL,MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS:
   
   • Ability to move throughout the kitchen and dining room effectively.
   
   • Ability to lift and carry approximately 30 - 40 pounds repeatedly.
   
   • Ability to perform reaching and stooping motions.
   
   Disclaimer : This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the current job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change, (e.g. emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs or technical developments).
   
   Qualifications:
   
   The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.
   
   Caesars Entertainment reserves the right to make changes to the job description whenever necessary.
   
   Asa part of Caesars Entertainment's employment process, finalist candidates will be required to complete a drug test and background check prior to an offer being extended. Caesars Entertainment Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or marital status.
   
   At Caesars Entertainment, Inc., our Team Members create the extraordinary. We are the largest casino-entertainment company in the U.S. and one of the world's most diversified casino-entertainment providers. Since beginning in Reno, Nevada, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment has grown through the development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions. Our resorts operate primarily under the Caesars , Harrah's , Horseshoe and Eldorado brand names. We focus on building loyalty and value with our guests through a combination of impeccable service, operational excellence and technological leadership. The company is committed to its Team Members, suppliers, communities and the environment through its PEOPLE PLANET PLAY framework.
   
   Our Caesars family is driven by our Mission, Vision and Values. We take great pride in living these values - Together We Win, All In On Service and Blaze the Trail - every day. Our mission, "Create the Extraordinary". Our vision, "Create spectacular worlds. That immerse, inspire and connect you. We don't perform magic; we create it with excellence. #WeAreCaesars". If you are ready to create some magic, we invite you to explore our dynamic, yet unique, career opportunities.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find kitchen runners for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your kitchen runner job on Zippia to find and recruit kitchen runner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit kitchen runners, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new kitchen runner

   Once you've decided on a perfect kitchen runner candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new kitchen runner first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a kitchen runner?