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.
Prepare a variety of foods,

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

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

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

Cookery

What soft skills do I need?

Rise above the competition by brushing up on the 5 most important soft skills you need to become a Kitchen assistant.

Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times

Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions

Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people

Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do

Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively

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?

What soft skills do I need?

Things to highlight for your Kitchen assistant interview

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