Food service workers

Food service workers

NOC
65201

- Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations

perform simple food and beverage preparation; serve customers at counters; clear tables, wash dishes and clean kitchen areas. They work in restaurants, fast food, cafés and cafeterias.

Quick facts

3-Year Outlook

Moderate
Moderate

3-Year Job Openings

884
 

Median Hourly Wage

$13.75
$13.75
Low
$18.30
High

Average Salary

$29,960
 

Typically Required

High school / on-the-job training

Employed

7,392
 
Job details

Full NOC Description

Food counter attendants and food preparers prepare, heat and finish cooking simple food items and serve customers at food counters. Kitchen helpers, food service helpers and dishwashers clear tables, clean kitchen areas, wash dishes, and perform various other activities to assist workers who prepare or serve food and beverages. They are employed by restaurants, cafés, hotels, fast food outlets, cafeterias, hospitals and other establishments.

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
 

Food counter attendants and food preparers

  • Take customers' orders
  • Clean, peel, slice and trim foodstuffs using manual and electric appliances
  • Use deep fryer, grill, oven, dispensers and other equipment to prepare fast food items such as sandwiches, hamburgers, fries, salads, ice cream dishes, milkshakes and other beverages
  • Portion, assemble, and wrap food or place it directly on plates for service to patrons, and package take-out food
  • Use equipment to prepare hot beverages such as coffee and tea specialties
  • Serve customers at counters or buffet tables
  • Stock refrigerators and salad bars and keep records of the quantities of food used
  • May receive payment for food items purchased.

Kitchen helpers

  • Wash and peel vegetables and fruit
  • Wash work tables, cupboards and appliances
  • Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers
  • Unpack and store supplies in refrigerators, cupboards and other storage areas
  • Sweep and mop floors, and perform other duties to assist cook and kitchen staff.

Food service helpers

  • Clear and clean tables and trays in eating establishments
  • Bring clean dishes, flatware and other items to serving areas and set tables
  • Replenish condiments and other supplies at tables and in serving areas
  • Remove dishes before and after courses
  • Perform other duties such as scraping and stacking dishes, carrying linen to and from laundry area and running errands.

Dishwashers

  • Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots and pans using dishwasher or by hand
  • Place dishes in storage area
  • Scour pots and pans, and may clean and polish silverware.

Also Known As

  • bartender helper
  • bus boy/girl
  • cafeteria counter attendant
  • cook's helper
  • dishwasher
  • fast-food preparer
  • food counter attendant
  • food preparer
  • food service helper
  • ice cream counter attendant
  • kitchen helper
  • salad bar attendant
  • sandwich maker
Requirements

Employment Requirements

  • Some secondary school education is usually required.
  • On-the-job training is provided.

Provincial Regulation

Not Provincially Regulated

Employment by Sex

The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

Data legend

66.6%
Female
33.4%
Male
Employment by age

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

Data legend

48.5%
15-24
14.0%
25-34
10.5%
35-44
11.6%
45-54
13.4%
55-64
2.0%
65+
Employment by highest level of education

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

Data legend

30.0%
No Certificate, Diploma or Degree
47.9%
High School, Diploma or Equivalent
3.1%
Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma
14.1%
College or University Below Bachelor Level
4.9%
University - Bachelor Level or Above
Employment by Industry

The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

Data legend

75.8%
Accommodation and food services
12.4%
Health care and social assistance
5.4%
Retail trade
6.4%
All Other Industries
Employment by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

Data legend

19.70%
Northeast
28.90%
Southeast
20.30%
Southwest
20.60%
Central
10.50%
Northwest
Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Data legend

$31,800
Northeast
$31,100
Southeast
$30,700
Southwest
$27,900
Central
$25,800
Northwest
Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Northeast

$13.75
$13.75
Low
$18.00
High

Southeast

$13.75
$13.75
Low
$17.25
High

Southwest

$13.75
$13.75
Low
$18.33
High

Central

$13.75
$13.75
Low
$19.00
High

Northwest

$13.75
$13.75
Low
$18.00
High
Salary

The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

New Brunswick

$29,960

Newfoundland

$32,100

Prince Edward Island

$29,000

Nova Scotia

$29,400

Canada

$34,720
Employment Outlook

The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

Three Year Outlook

Total Openings: 3-Year

884
 

New Jobs: 3-Year

708
 

Retirements/Deaths: 3-Year

176
 

Ten Year Outlook

Total Openings: 10-Year

1,799
 

New Jobs: 10-Year

1,115
 

Retirements/Deaths: 10-Year

684