What does a kitchen staff do?
The kitchen staff consists of preparation workers who execute several routine tasks as directed by chefs, food service managers, and cooks. These works should have the ability to follow cooking instructions and deliver well-prepared meals. Their responsibilities include the cleanup of dishes, cooking equipment, and the working stations. They also take charge of food safety regulations, storing and sorting of ingredients, and preparing foodstuff.
Kitchen staff responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real kitchen staff resumes:
- Assist the catering manager to manage, prepare, cook and deliver each day s caterings.
- Present an enjoyable and positive atmosphere while preparing an outstanding product, manage inventory, and maintain cleanliness
- Conduct daily inspections for overall cleanliness of all areas and proper sanitizing of food preparation surfaces.
- Increase sales by upselling and signing customers up for discount cards
- Prep food for dinner dishes, bar back, work on fryers, and wash dishes.
- Cook, wash dishes, serve customers, prepare food for caterings, and stock shelves.
- Require to meet monthly sales goals, and learned the art of upselling entr e and drinkspecials.
- Present an enjoyable and positive atmosphere while preparing an outstanding product, manage inventory, and maintain cleanliness
- Perform dishwasher duties and general cleaning duties
- Maintain sanitation of workplace including dishwasher.
- Create pizzas for customers as listed or request and run a large pizza oven.
Kitchen staff skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Kitchen Staff are proficient in Food Handling, Cleanliness, and Sanitation Standards. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Dexterity, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Kitchen Staff that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Food Handling, 25%
Prepared food and supervised co-workers in proper sanitation and food handling procedures
- Cleanliness, 21%
Worked as Dishwasher and Prep cook.maintaining organization and cleanliness for all shifts including banquets and catering services
- Sanitation Standards, 13%
Monitor kitchen areas and ensure compliance with established safety and sanitation standards, maintaining inventory of cleaning chemicals and supplies.
- Quality Food, 9%
Prepared high-quality food in a fast-paced environment.
- Food Products, 7%
Prepared, cooked, assembled, and dished various food products alone in the kitchen for several hours.
- Meal Preparation, 5%
Assist with meal preparation, assist with cooking meals, perform necessary cleaning tasks, occasionally operate cash register.
Most kitchen staff use their skills in "food handling," "cleanliness," and "sanitation standards" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential kitchen staff responsibilities here:
The three companies that hire the most kitchen staffs are:
- Hooters357 kitchen staff jobs
- Taco Bell67 kitchen staff jobs
- Chick-fil-A66 kitchen staff jobs
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Compare different kitchen staff
Kitchen staff vs. Food handler
Cooks/servers are employees who take on the dual role of being a cook and a server in the restaurant. They are usually trained cooks who are in charge of preparing meals for the guests. They prepare ingredients, cook them according to the recipe, and serve them to guests. They are responsible for ensuring that the food is prepared and served to guests within the promised time. They are in charge of managing the pantry, ensuring that the stock is fresh, and checking whether the stock is low. They are expected to have culinary skills, precision, and time management skills.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, kitchen staff responsibilities require skills like "food handling," "cleanliness," "sanitation standards," and "quality food." Meanwhile a typical food handler has skills in areas such as "basic math," "math," "food safety procedures," and "customer complaints." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Food handlers tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $37,836. In contrast, kitchen staff make the biggest average salary, $30,914, in the education industry.On average, food handlers reach similar levels of education than kitchen staff. Food handlers are 0.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Kitchen staff vs. Cook/server
The primary duty of a food prep is to accomplish various food handling and preparation tasks according to the direction of supervisors, chefs, or cooks. One can work in different establishments or industry where there is food involved. Among the responsibilities will mostly revolve around doing light to moderate chores such as cleaning the kitchen and sanitizing utensils, preparing the required ingredients and ensure its quality and quantity, be in charge of food storage, and assist by performing basic cooking tasks.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that kitchen staff responsibilities requires skills like "food handling," "cleanliness," "sanitation standards," and "meal preparation." But a cook/server might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "allergies," "drink orders," "mathematics," and "customer complaints."
On average, cook/servers earn a lower salary than kitchen staff. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, cook/servers earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $29,014. Whereas kitchen staff have higher pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $30,914.In general, cook/servers achieve similar levels of education than kitchen staff. They're 0.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Kitchen staff vs. Food prep
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. They may also be assigned to manage inventories, handle stocks and deliveries, and other activities related to the restaurant's successful operations. Foodservice workers must always be hygienic and maintain the sanitation of the area to ensure food safety.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from kitchen staff resumes include skills like "quality food," "meal preparation," "food preparation," and "clean environment," whereas a food prep is more likely to list skills in "taking care," "good communication," "math," and "dexterity. "
Food preps earn the highest salary when working in the retail industry, where they receive an average salary of $28,945. Comparatively, kitchen staff have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $30,914.When it comes to education, food preps tend to earn similar degree levels compared to kitchen staff. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Kitchen staff vs. Food service worker
Types of kitchen staff
Updated January 8, 2025
