Kitchen and catering assistants Pay Data UK — 2025

Kitchen and catering assistants roles in the UK earn a median of £23,067 per year, equivalent to £12.80 per hour as of 2025. This represents a 7.2% increase in annual pay compared to the previous year. Pay varies across the UK, ranging from £18,233 to £34,935 per year.

How Pay Varies Across the UK

Each bar shows how many areas of the UK have a median annual pay in that range for Kitchen and catering assistants roles. The dashed line marks the national median.

Based on sub-regional area data. Want a precise figure for your area?

About Kitchen and catering assistants

Kitchen and catering assistants assist in the preparation and service of food and beverages in restaurants, cafés and other eating establishments, and perform various cleaning, fetching and carrying tasks.

Typical Tasks and Duties

• cleans or prepares food for cooks by hand or machine
• carries meat, vegetables and other foodstuffs from delivery van to storeroom and from storeroom to kitchen
• cleans and tidies service area, kitchen surfaces, crockery, cutlery, glassware, kitchen utensils and disposes of rubbish
• prepares and serves beverages and light refreshments, accepts payment and gives change
• keeps service area well stocked

Entry Routes and Qualifications

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically received on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in relevant areas are available at levels 1 and 2.

Related Occupations

Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.