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Cafeteria Helper Jobs (NOW HIRING)

CAFETERIA HELPER

Worcester, MA · On-site

$15.45/hr

CAFETERIA HELPER SCHOOL DEPARTMENT CITY OF WORCESTER The Worcester Public Schools seeks multiple qualified applicants for a Cafeteria Helper for the School Department. The Cafeteria Helper work ...

Food Service/Cafeteria Helper Date Posted: 12/11/2025 Location: Location to be Determined Date Available: 12/10/2025Cafeteria Helper 6 Hour Shift Monday - Friday When Food Services is in Operation ...

Cafeteria Helper 6 Hour Shift Monday - Friday When Food Services is in Operation Hours May Vary Prepares and serves meals. Minimum High school diploma or GED. Work skills substantiated by training ...

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Cafeteria Helper information

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How much do cafeteria helper jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for cafeteria helper in the United States is $14.80, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $15.14 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Cafeteria Helper vs Kitchen Assistant?

AspectCafeteria HelperKitchen Assistant
CredentialsNone typically requiredBasic food safety knowledge often preferred
Work EnvironmentSchool or institutional cafeterias, serving studentsCommercial or institutional kitchens, food prep areas
Employer & IndustrySchools, colleges, or cafeteriasRestaurants, catering services, food production
Job FocusAssisting with serving, cleaning, and maintaining cafeteria areasAssisting with food prep, cleaning kitchen equipment

While both roles support food service operations, Cafeteria Helpers primarily assist with serving and maintaining cafeteria areas, often in schools, whereas Kitchen Assistants focus more on food preparation and kitchen cleanliness in various food service settings.

What are Cafeteria Helpers?

Cafeteria Helpers are staff members who support the daily operations of a cafeteria, usually in schools, hospitals, or corporate settings. Their duties often include preparing and serving food, cleaning dining areas, restocking supplies, and assisting with dishwashing. They work under the supervision of cafeteria managers and ensure that food safety and hygiene standards are met. Cafeteria Helpers play an important role in creating a clean, organized, and efficient dining environment for all patrons.

What are some of the typical daily responsibilities of a Cafeteria Helper, and how do they collaborate with other staff members?

As a Cafeteria Helper, your daily responsibilities often include preparing and serving food, maintaining cleanliness in dining and kitchen areas, restocking supplies, and assisting with meal setup and cleanup. You'll frequently collaborate with cooks, kitchen staff, and other helpers to ensure smooth food service and adherence to health and safety standards. Teamwork and effective communication are key, as you'll coordinate tasks during busy meal periods and support one another to provide a positive dining experience for students or customers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Cafeteria Helper, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cafeteria Helper, you need basic food preparation skills, knowledge of food safety, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and, in some cases, a food handler’s certification is valuable. Strong teamwork, communication, and customer service skills help you efficiently serve meals and interact positively with students and staff. These abilities ensure safe, efficient food service operations and a welcoming environment for patrons.
What cities are hiring for Cafeteria Helper jobs? Cities with the most Cafeteria Helper job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Cafeteria jobs? The most popular types of Cafeteria jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Cafeteria Helper jobs? The top employers for Cafeteria Helper jobs are:
What states have the most Cafeteria Helper jobs? States with the most job openings for Cafeteria Helper jobs include:
Infographic showing various Cafeteria Helper job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $30,777 per year, or $14.8 per hour.
CAFETERIA HELPER

CAFETERIA HELPER

City of Worcester

Worcester, MA • On-site

$15.45/hr

Part-time

Posted 19 days ago


City Of Worcester rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

359th of 645 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

CAFETERIA HELPER
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
CITY OF WORCESTER

The Worcester Public Schools seeks multiple qualified applicants for a Cafeteria Helper for the School Department. The Cafeteria Helper work involves the performance of a variety of standardized but frequently strenuous tasks in handling, preparing, and serving food for facility clients and personnel and in maintaining the clean and orderly condition of kitchen and dining areas, equipment, and utensils. This positions work may be repetitive or relatively varied but in either case follows standard, well-established procedures or instructions given in advance and is performed under the supervision of a cook.
Bilingual and multilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS:
  • Wash, peel, mix, slice, grate, shred prepare vegetables.
  • Weigh, slice, grind, cube meat and cheese
  • Slice butter, bread, and rolls; fill fruit juice and souffle cups; top desserts, slice pies and cakes; count vegetables and fruit.
  • Prepare salads and salad dressings, sandwich fillings and sandwiches; reconstitute milk and fruit juices; may assist in preparing soups, dressings, sauces, meat loaves; prepare simple desserts, make toast, grill chicken, cook eggs, make coffee, cocoa, and eggnog.
  • Operate, disassemble, clean and polish electrical kitchen equipment, such as mixers, peelers, slicer, dishwashers, and toasters.
  • Set up and replenish serving counters and dining tables; plate and serve food from steam tables and counters; fill and wheel food conveyors; assist in setting up special diet trays according to diet lists and individual instructions; wait on client tables.
  • Collect, scrape, wash, dry, sort, stack and shelve dishes, trays and eating utensils.
  • Sweep crumbs, wash tables, counters, chairs, and benches; clean urns, meat blocks, cooking ranges, steam tables, worktables, refrigerators, sinks; sweeps floors, washes walls, woodwork, closets, and cupboards.
  • Assist in receiving, check and distribute food deliveries, cashier.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
  • Working knowledge of the use and care of food service equipment and kitchen utensils.
  • Some knowledge of the materials, methods and practices of quantity food preparation and service.
  • Some knowledge of health hazards in food preparation and service and of necessary sanitary precautions.
  • Ability to maintain cleanliness of person, appearance, and work habits.
  • Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
  • Ability to perform physically strenuous food service tasks requiring considerable lifting, reaching, standing, and walking.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, co-workers, clients, and facility personnel.
  • Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and lift up to 50lbs.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
  • No previous experience or training required
  • Highschool Diploma or equivalent

SALARY: $15.45 hourly, 183 days per year, positions start at 15 to 40 hours per week, with potential overtime opportunities. Paid training certificate programs.
IMPORTANT: Interested candidates MUST register on the Civil Service list for Cafeteria Helper . To register, complete a Labor Service Application and submit to the City of Worcester's Human Resources Department. Applications are available in-person at City Hall & online at www.worcesterma.gov/employment . Completed Labor Service Applications can be submitted in-person to Human Resources; mailed to: City of Worcester, Human Resources Department, 455 Main Street, Room 109, Worcester, MA 01608; emailed: Hiring@worcesterma.gov ; OR , faxed: (508) 799-1040.