Kitchen assistant is essential in almost every professional kitchen. Assistants help the head chef maintain order in the kitchen and support the smooth preparation and serving of meals ordered by guests. Kitchen assistant can find employment not only in restaurants or cafés, but also in educational institutions such as schools or kindergartens. What are the responsibilities of this role, and what salary can you expect?
Kitchen assistant – what are their responsibilities?
Although often underestimated, the presence of a kitchen assistant is crucial to the efficiency of the main kitchen team. Depending on the type and size of the establishment, responsibilities may vary. Kitchen assistants in schools perform different tasks than kitchen assistants in restaurants. However, there are several duties common across most workplaces. The core responsibilities include preparing vegetables and fruits, washing, peeling, and cutting them. In addition, tasks include preparing simple dishes, maintaining kitchen cleanliness and workstations, washing dishes, and supporting order fulfillment. Kitchen assistance does not require formal culinary education, but experience in a kitchen and a willingness to learn are valuable.
How much does a kitchen assistant earn?
Earnings for a kitchen assistant can vary and depend on several factors, which we will discuss shortly. First, however, let’s define typical salary ranges. According to a report on salaries in Poland from February 2024, the average salary for a kitchen assistant is around PLN 4,320 gross . Employees in this role typically earn between PLN 3,890 and PLN 5,210 gross.
What affects a kitchen assistant’s salary?
Although there are many variables, three main factors have the greatest impact. First of all, experience and skills influence earnings . Someone working in a kitchen for the first time and still learning will earn less than a more experienced employee.
The second important factor is location . In large cities with higher living costs, such as Warsaw or Kraków, kitchen assistants earn more than those in smaller towns.
The nature of the business also matters. Kitchen assistants in kindergartens typically earn less than those working in high-end restaurants with more complex menus.
How to find an employee?
Demand for workers in the gastronomy sector often exceeds the number of available candidates, which makes finding a kitchen assistant challenging. Common solutions used by restaurants include posting job offers on job portals and social media . However, this is not always effective, and sometimes candidates do not meet expectations, requiring the recruitment process to be repeated. If possible, companies also rely on employee referrals , but this may still not be enough. What else can be done?
Another solution worth considering is a temporary employment agency. It specializes in recruiting workers, which ensures that candidates have the required skills for the job. Agencies often have a ready database of candidates, so employees can be provided quickly . It is possible to hire workers permanently or lease workers from Ukraine for a certain period. Temporary employment agencies are flexible and aim to meet the needs of companies looking for staff .