Kitchen assistant Average UK Salary & Prospects

Kitchen assistants prepare food, make sure chefs have everything they need and keep the kitchen clean.

Typical task
Working hours
Attractive values

Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
Portion and wrap the food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.

Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
Portion and wrap the food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures.
Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.
Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.
Wash, peel, and cut various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to prepare for cooking or serving.
Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
Distribute food to waiters and waitresses to serve to customers.
Cut, slice or grind meat, poultry, and seafood to prepare for cooking.
Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.
Weigh or measure ingredients.
Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.
Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
Add cutlery, napkins, food, and other items to trays on assembly lines in hospitals, cafeterias, airline kitchens, and similar establishments.
Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.
Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.
Load dishes, glasses, and tableware into dishwashing machines.
Make special dressings and sauces as condiments for sandwiches.
Mix ingredients for green salads, molded fruit salads, vegetable salads, and pasta salads.
Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.
Keep records of the quantities of food used.
Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.
Assemble meal trays with foods in accordance with patients' diets.
Distribute menus to hospital patients, collect diet sheets, and deliver food trays and snacks to nursing units or directly to patients.
Stir and strain soups and sauces.
Butcher and clean fowl, fish, poultry, and shellfish to prepare for cooking or serving.
Prepare and serve a variety of beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

Average salary
16,604 GBP *
per year

Average salary for Kitchen assistant

Men make 5% more than Women

36% of Kitchen assistants are men

17,074 GBP
16,263 GBP

Average salary for part-time Kitchen assistant

Average salary for full-time Kitchen assistant

Showing:

7,787 GBP
7,817 GBP
7,699 GBP

16,604 GBP
16,263 GBP
17,074 GBP

Pay over time for Kitchen assistant

Pay for this role has increased slightly over time

13,535 GBP
13,992 GBP
14,290 GBP
15,449 GBP
15,737 GBP
16,604 GBP

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Future outlook for Kitchen assistants

Balanced outlook

544 000+ jobs available

Very good outlook

4% yearly wage growth (on average)

Fair outlook

69% chance of automation in the future

Which qualifications do I need?

Find out what you need to know in order to become a Kitchen assistant and the highest average level of education for people in this role.

Find out which qualifications or skills you need to become a Hospital porter

You may find it helps you to get work if you do a course like:

Level 1 Award in Introduction to Employment in the Hospitality Industry
Level 1 Certificate in General Cookery
Level 2 Award in Food Safety

You'll need:

customer service skills
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
the ability to work well with others
to enjoy working with other people
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
the ability to use your initiative
business management skills
the ability to work well with your hands
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Get the right qualification to begin your journey to becoming a Kitchen assistant

Cookery

Self Control Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. Cooperation Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. Integrity Job requires being honest and ethical. Social Orientation Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. Attention to Detail Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

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Kitchen assistant Average UK Salary & Prospects

Salary statistics

Future outlook for Kitchen assistants

Kitchen assistant - Your future job?

Which qualifications do I need?

Things to highlight for your Kitchen assistant interview

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