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Kitchen assistant salary
Average kitchen assistant salary
$13.2
Understanding Kitchen Assistant Salaries
The role of a kitchen assistant is vital in the culinary industry, supporting chefs and ensuring smooth kitchen operations. As of October 2025, the average salary for kitchen assistants stands at $27,455 annually, or about $13 per hour. Salaries vary based on several factors including geographic location, experience level, and the type of establishment (restaurant, catering, or institutional kitchens).
Salary Insights by Location
In states like California and New York, kitchen assistants tend to earn significantly more than the national average. For example, in California, kitchen assistants can earn upwards of $32,000 per year, while those in New York may earn around $30,000. These figures highlight the impact of location on salary potential.
Experience Matters
Moreover, experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level kitchen assistants can expect to earn approximately $25,000, while those with several years in the field, particularly in high-end restaurants, may command salaries exceeding $35,000.
Job Outlook
The job market for kitchen assistants remains steady, with numerous opportunities available across various dining establishments. By understanding the salary landscape, aspiring kitchen assistants can better negotiate their pay and find roles that align with their financial goals.
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Where can a Kitchen Assistant earn more?
Kitchen assistant salaries by experience level
Kitchen assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average kitchen assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for kitchen assistants are Alaska, Washington, and Maine. The lowest average kitchen assistant salary states are Georgia, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for kitchen assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $41,929 | $20.16 |
| 2 | Maine | $39,030 | $18.76 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $38,961 | $18.73 |
| 4 | Washington | $40,940 | $19.68 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $35,746 | $17.19 |
| 6 | Illinois | $34,044 | $16.37 |
| 7 | Michigan | $30,945 | $14.88 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $32,669 | $15.71 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $34,406 | $16.54 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $31,667 | $15.22 |
| 11 | Colorado | $32,231 | $15.50 |
| 12 | Oregon | $36,494 | $17.55 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $30,774 | $14.80 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $30,749 | $14.78 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $30,932 | $14.87 |
| 16 | Utah | $31,781 | $15.28 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $33,419 | $16.07 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $32,354 | $15.55 |
| 19 | New York | $35,112 | $16.88 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $36,311 | $17.46 |
| 21 | Nevada | $29,610 | $14.24 |
| 22 | Vermont | $33,027 | $15.88 |
| 23 | Iowa | $29,727 | $14.29 |
| 24 | Montana | $29,509 | $14.19 |
| 25 | California | $33,605 | $16.16 |
| 26 | Arizona | $27,826 | $13.38 |
| 27 | Ohio | $26,962 | $12.96 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $30,311 | $14.57 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $29,957 | $14.40 |
| 30 | Indiana | $26,495 | $12.74 |
| 31 | Delaware | $30,968 | $14.89 |
| 32 | Idaho | $28,143 | $13.53 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $25,234 | $12.13 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $25,984 | $12.49 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $25,376 | $12.20 |
| 36 | Florida | $24,718 | $11.88 |
| 37 | Kansas | $26,778 | $12.87 |
| 38 | Missouri | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| 39 | Maryland | $29,092 | $13.99 |
| 40 | Texas | $24,136 | $11.60 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $28,248 | $13.58 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $25,886 | $12.45 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $21,639 | $10.40 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $21,516 | $10.34 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $23,662 | $11.38 |
| 46 | Virginia | $26,630 | $12.80 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $25,207 | $12.12 |
| 48 | Georgia | $23,341 | $11.22 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $21,373 | $10.28 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $22,372 | $10.76 |
| 51 | Alabama | $18,950 | $9.11 |
Highest paying cities for kitchen assistants
The highest-paying cities for kitchen assistants are Minneapolis, MN, Portland, ME, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $39,011 | $18.76 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $36,784 | $17.68 |
| 4 | Foster City, CA | $35,076 | $16.86 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $34,901 | $16.78 |
| 6 | Skokie, IL | $34,503 | $16.59 |
| 7 | North Kingstown, RI | $33,265 | $15.99 |
| 8 | Broomfield, CO | $32,401 | $15.58 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $31,921 | $15.35 |
| 10 | Troy, MI | $30,991 | $14.90 |
| 11 | Reading, PA | $30,951 | $14.88 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $30,601 | $14.71 |
| 13 | Omaha, NE | $30,413 | $14.62 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $29,304 | $14.09 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $29,261 | $14.07 |
| 16 | Prescott, AZ | $28,231 | $13.57 |
| 17 | Arlington, VA | $27,794 | $13.36 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $27,692 | $13.31 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $26,466 | $12.72 |
| 20 | Boca Raton, FL | $24,595 | $11.82 |
Kitchen assistant salary details
A kitchen assistant's salary ranges from $21,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $35,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a kitchen assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 75th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| Average | $27,455 | $2,288 | $13 |
| 25th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
| 10th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
Highest paying kitchen assistant jobs
The highest paying types of kitchen assistants are assistant, kitchen lead, and line cook/dishwasher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Prep/Dishwasher | $29,964 | $2,497 | $14.41 | 113,200 |
| Line Cook/Dishwasher | $34,435 | $2,870 | $16.56 | 133,370 |
| Prep Cook/Dishwasher | $31,687 | $2,641 | $15.23 | 126,351 |
| Dish Washer | $29,860 | $2,488 | $14.36 | 37,127 |
| Food Service Worker | $28,753 | $2,396 | $13.82 | 169,323 |
| Kitchen Helper | $25,796 | $2,150 | $12.40 | 80,202 |
Top companies hiring kitchen assistants now:
Which companies pay kitchen assistants the most?
Kitchen assistant salaries at University of Massachusetts Boston and University of San Diego are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average kitchen assistant salary at companies like Syracuse University and Bethesda Project are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts Boston | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| 2 | University of San Diego | $40,545 | $19.49 |
| 3 | Syracuse University | $39,654 | $19.06 |
| 4 | Bethesda Project | $39,325 | $18.91 |
| 5 | The Culinary Institute of America | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| 6 | CITC | $35,828 | $17.23 |
| 7 | Amber | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| 8 | Woodson Ymca | $34,983 | $16.82 |
| 9 | Dignity Health | $34,945 | $16.80 |
| 10 | Zoox | $34,697 | $16.68 |
| 11 | Light of Life Rescue Mission | $34,271 | $16.48 |
| 12 | Cornell University | $33,710 | $16.21 |
| 13 | PJ's Coffee | $33,540 | $16.13 |
| 14 | American Addiction Centers | $33,275 | $16.00 |
| 15 | Cafe Services | $33,068 | $15.90 |
| 16 | H-E-B | $32,946 | $15.84 |
| 17 | Senior Resource Group | $32,581 | $15.66 |
| 18 | Dairy Farmers of America | $32,204 | $15.48 |
| 19 | Allina Health | $32,113 | $15.44 |
| 20 | Supportive Concepts for Families | $31,696 | $15.24 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Kitchen Assistant salary by industry
The average kitchen assistant salary varies across industries:
- The average kitchen assistant salary in the construction industry is $29,019, the highest of any industry.
- The average kitchen assistant salary in the finance industry is $29,010.
- Kitchen assistants in the retail industry earn an average salary of $26,846, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for kitchen assistants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $29,019 | $13.95 |
| 2 | Education | $29,010 | $13.95 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $28,260 | $13.59 |
| 4 | Health Care | $28,169 | $13.54 |
| 5 | Retail | $26,846 | $12.91 |
High paying kitchen assistant jobs
Kitchen assistant salary trends
The average kitchen assistant salary has risen by $7,162 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average kitchen assistant earned $20,293 annually, but today, they earn $27,455 a year. That works out to a 22% change in pay for kitchen assistants over the last decade.
Compare kitchen assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average kitchen assistant salary over time
Compare kitchen assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Kitchen assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $27,500 | $13.20 | +4.9% |
| 2025 | $26,100 | $12.56 | +4.3% |
| 2024 | $25,000 | $12.01 | +4.2% |
| 2023 | $23,900 | $11.51 | +5.7% |
| 2022 | $22,600 | $10.86 | +5.9% |
Recently added kitchen assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audubon Engineering | Kitchen Assistant | Bremen, ME | 06/30/2025 | $39,653 |
| Delaware North Companies | Kitchen Assistant, Yellowstone General Stores | Parkman, WY | 06/29/2025 | $37,044 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati | Dishwasher/Kitchen Assistant | Cincinnati, OH | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Dcsdk12 | Kitchen Assistant at Academy Charter School | Castle Rock, CO | 06/27/2025 | $35,750 |
| Spanish Cove Retirement Village | Kitchen Assistant | Yukon, OK | 06/26/2025 | $25,044 |
| The Heritage Tradition | Kitchen Assistant/Dishwasher-The Heritage Tradition | Sun City West, AZ | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| Allegro Management Company | Kitchen Assistant | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| Ymca of Greater Fort Wayne | Seasonal Kitchen Assistant-Camp Potawotami | Milford, IN | 06/25/2025 | $27,131 |
| Anchorage School District | Central Kitchen Assistant I | Nome, AK | 06/25/2025 | $32,662 |
| Public School of North Carolina | Kitchen Assistant-Position School Year | Winston-Salem, NC | 06/25/2025 | $34,185 |
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