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What is a mess attendant 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 mess attendant. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.58 an hour? That's $32,416 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 14% and produce 775,300 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreMess AttendantUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $32,416

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.0

Growth rate 14%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.85%

Asian 6.49%

Black or African American 9.64%

Hispanic or Latino 18.63%

Unknown 6.92%

White 57.47%

Gender

female 55.34%

male 44.66%

Age - 21
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 - 21
Stress level
7.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.7

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
9.7

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Mess attendant career paths

Key steps to become a mess attendant

  1. Explore mess attendant education requirements

    Most common mess attendant degrees

    High School Diploma

    49.3 %

    Associate

    19.4 %

    Diploma

    13.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific mess attendant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service31.52%
    Food Safety17.31%
    Facility Residents8.58%
    Cooking Equipment5.05%
    Clean Tables4.54%
  3. Complete relevant mess attendant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mess attendants 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 mess attendant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mess attendant resumes.
  4. Research mess attendant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage VIP's with personal requirements and assist in their room set up and hospitality experience.
    • Keep records on individual pet, including daily observations and information activities perform, meals sever, and medication administer.
    • Prepare personalized smoothies and meals for customers
  5. Prepare your mess attendant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your mess attendant 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 mess attendant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable mess attendant resume templates

    Build a professional mess attendant 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 mess attendant resume.
    Mess Attendant Resume
    Mess Attendant Resume
    Mess Attendant Resume
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    Mess Attendant Resume
    Mess Attendant Resume
  6. Apply for mess attendant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a mess attendant 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 mess attendant job

Zippi

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Average mess attendant salary

The average mess attendant salary in the United States is $32,416 per year or $16 per hour. Mess attendant salaries range between $21,000 and $48,000 per year.

Average mess attendant salary
$32,416 Yearly
$15.58 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do mess attendants rate their job?

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Mess attendant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

Repetitive tasks. Or obviously, working with people who are highly critical.


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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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