How to hire a kitchen steward

How to hire a kitchen steward, step by step

Here's a step-by-step kitchen steward 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 steward job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new kitchen steward
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a kitchen steward do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your kitchen steward 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 steward 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

   Hiring the perfect kitchen steward also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of kitchen stewards.

   Type of Kitchen Steward	Description	Hourly rate
   Kitchen Steward	Food and beverage serving and related workers perform a variety of customer service, food preparation, and cleaning duties in restaurants, cafeterias, and other eating and drinking establishments.	$11-51
   Mini Bar Attendant	A minibar attendant serves and mixes alcoholic beverages in a licensed establishment or at special events. They are responsible for restocking minibars, charging customers, completing guest inventories, rotating stock, and cleaning the minibar... Show more	$11-51

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cleanliness
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Safety Procedures
   • Culinary
   • Safety Regulations
   • Safety Standards
   • Food Handling
   • Food Service
   • Grills
   • Dishwashers
   • Cooking Equipment
   • Customer Service
   • Kitchen Floors
   • BARS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Clean stoves, ovens, grills, refrigerators, and using cleaning solutions, brushes and wash cloths.
   • Inspect kitchen equipment for cleanliness and order improvement of efficiency.
   • Restock supplies for servers and cooks.
   • Replenish mini-bars and restock VIP guests' amenities.
   • Clean and sanitize all bars and beverage service areas.
   • Supervise a staff of 10 associates to ensure orderly and seamless production for all departments of culinary operations.

   More kitchen steward duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, kitchen stewards' average salary in wyoming is 58% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level kitchen stewards earn 78% less than senior-level kitchen stewards.
   • Certifications. A kitchen steward 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 steward's salary.

   Average kitchen steward salary

   $51,598yearly

   $24.81 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level kitchen steward salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average kitchen steward salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$72,887	$35
   2	Michigan	$66,893	$32
   3	California	$60,826	$29
   4	Texas	$60,781	$29
   5	Illinois	$59,392	$29
   6	Ohio	$57,828	$28
   7	Pennsylvania	$55,122	$27
   8	Tennessee	$53,580	$26
   9	Washington	$52,097	$25
   10	Indiana	$51,136	$25
   11	Arizona	$49,765	$24
   12	Arkansas	$49,743	$24
   13	Kansas	$49,475	$24
   14	Colorado	$41,916	$20
   15	Mississippi	$41,618	$20
   16	Nevada	$41,431	$20
   17	Florida	$38,240	$18
   18	Missouri	$37,842	$18
   19	Nebraska	$37,307	$18
   20	Georgia	$36,623	$18

   Average kitchen steward salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Saint Luke's Health System	$150,470	$72.34
   2	HonorHealth	$69,162	$33.25
   3	Aspen Snowmass	$67,224	$32.32	6
   4	UPMC	$62,710	$30.15	3
   5	Remote	$52,777	$25.37
   6	Affinity Gaming Finance Corp	$51,842	$24.92	1
   7	Atrium Hospitality LP	$51,842	$24.92	12
   8	CEDCO INC.	$51,842	$24.92
   9	Mobilize.Net	$51,842	$24.92
   10	Embassy C E S	$51,814	$24.91
   11	C.J. Foods, Inc.	$51,194	$24.61
   12	Guest Services	$51,045	$24.54	2
   13	PCC Community Markets	$50,992	$24.52	1
   14	Drayton Foods	$50,459	$24.26	1
   15	Resorts World Catskills	$50,235	$24.15
   16	AthleticClubColumbus	$49,283	$23.69
   17	Aimbridge Hospitality	$49,118	$23.61
   18	Spectrum	$48,505	$23.32
   19	The Glen	$48,498	$23.32
   20	Hakkasan Group	$48,362	$23.25

4. Writing a kitchen steward job description

   A kitchen steward 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a kitchen steward job description:

   Kitchen steward job description example

   THE DOUBLETREE by HILTON MONROVIA IS LOOKING FOR EXTRAORDINARY TALENT TO JOIN OUR EXTRAORDINARY TEAM!
   
   We are seeking a confident Kitchen Steward to join our dynamic team. As a Kitchen Steward, you will clean, transport and store all china, glassware and silverware. Maintain cleanliness in all kitchen areas and back dock.
   
   Maintain sanitation and cleanliness of all areas of the dish room, kitchen aisle, and dock area. Break down trays, setup dish machine, wash dishware, and sort store all clean china, glass and silver using proper procedures. Clean tile walls and baseboards. Perform any other job related duties as assigned.
   REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Must possess a valid State and City Health, food handling, laws certification issued by the County Health Department. Must have the ability to communicate in English. Self-starting personality with an even disposition. Maintain a professional appearance and manner at all times. Can communicate well with guests. Must be willing to “pitch-in” and help co- workers with their job duties and be a team player. Finger/hand dexterity in order to operate food machinery. Ability to grasp, lift and/or carry, or otherwise, move goods weighing a maximum of 75 lbs. on a continuous schedule. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: Customer Satisfaction: Our guest are what we are about. One of the keys to a positive guest experience is positive interaction with DoubleTree by Hilton Team Members. It is essential that you remain professional at all times, and treat all guests and team members with courtesy and respect, under all circumstances. Every DoubleTree by Hilton team member is a guest relations ambassador, every working minute of every day. QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactory. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Preferred to have at least one year of experience in a similar position. Will acquire a Criminal Background Check, Drug Testing and E-Verify Required Experience: Preferred one year of experience and or in a similar position. Must possess a valid State and City Health, food handling, laws certification issued by the County Health Department. High school or equivalent TEAM MEMBER CULTURE Dedicated, satisfied, and engaged team members are the key to our continued success. At the DoubleTree by Hilton Monrovia-Pasadena, we strive for innovative ways to enhance our comprehensive selection of benefit offerings. Our team members are eligible for our extensive menu of benefit programs. DoubleTree by Hilton Monrovia benefits offerings include: Healthcare insurance and prescription drug coverage Dental insurance Vision insurance Short-/long-term disability insurance 401(K) Domestic Partner coverage Paid holidays, vacation, and personal time off Tuition reimbursement program Discounted hotel rooms for team members and family Company DescriptionWhen you think of teams, companies, and opportunities there are always some that stand out above others. We at the DoubleTree by Hilton Monrovia stand out because we believe in our people and our brand culture. Take that next step in the best part of your career journey by connecting with our hiring team. Don’t look back, as your future is a wonderful journey ahead!
   Today, Hilton remains a beacon of innovation, quality, and success. This continued leadership is the result of our Team Members staying true to our Vision, Mission, and Values. Specifically, we look for demonstration of these Values:
   • H ospitality - We're passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences.
   • I ntegrity - We do the right thing.
   • L eadership - We're leaders in our industry and in our communities.
   • T eamwork - We're team players in everything we do.
   • O wnership - We're the owners of our actions and decisions.
   • N ow - We operate with a sense of urgency and discipline
   If you LOVE what you do, this position with the DoubleTree by Hilton Monrovia-Pasadena Hotel is a great opportunity for you.
   The DoubleTree by Hilton Monrovia provides equal employment opportunities (EEO/AA/Disabled/Veterans) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The DoubleTree by Hilton Monrovia complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right kitchen steward for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with kitchen steward candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 steward

   Once you have selected a candidate for the kitchen steward position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new kitchen steward. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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.)

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