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Cafeteria Helper Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

May assign duties to lower level employees in the absence of the cafeteria supervisor. * Perform ... To help you manage your work and life needs, we offer an Employee Assistance Program, Wellness ...

Cafeteria Monitor

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$15.65/hr

Assists students who may need help as they go through the lunch line, including assisting students with condiments, opening milk cartons and other containers, dispensing napkins, etc * Oversees the ...

Cafeteria Monitor

Sterling, VA · On-site

$12 - $14.75/hr

Assists students who may need help as they go through the lunch line, including assisting students with condiments, opening milk cartons and other containers, dispensing napkins, etc. * Oversees the ...

Cafeteria Monitor

Sterling, VA · On-site

$12 - $14.75/hr

Assists students who may need help as they go through the lunch line, including assisting students with condiments, opening milk cartons and other containers, dispensing napkins, etc * Oversees the ...

Cafeteria Monitor

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$12.25 - $15.25/hr

Assists students who may need help as they go through the lunch line, including assisting students with condiments, opening milk cartons and other containers, dispensing napkins, etc. * Oversees the ...

Cafeteria Monitor

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$15.65/hr

Assists students who may need help as they go through the lunch line, including assisting students with condiments, opening milk cartons and other containers, dispensing napkins, etc * Oversees the ...

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Cafeteria Helper information

See Washington salary details

$5

$16

$20

How much do cafeteria helper jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for cafeteria helper in Washington is $16.76, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $17.16 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a cafeteria helper?

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 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 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.

How do you become a school cafeteria helper?

To become a school cafeteria helper, applicants typically need to be at least 16 years old, complete an application, and pass a background check. Some schools may require or prefer previous experience with food service or working with children, and training on food safety and sanitation is often provided on the job.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cafeteria jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Cafeteria jobs in Washington are:

What are popular job titles related to Cafeteria Helper jobs in Washington?

For Cafeteria Helper jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Cafeteria Helper jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Cafeteria Helper jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Cafeteria Helper jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Cafeteria Helper job openings:

Infographic showing various Cafeteria Helper job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $34,858 per year, or $16.8 per hour.

$18.20/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago


Job description

Pay Rate: $18.20/hour plus an additional $5.09/hour for Health & Welfare.
Schedule: Must have open availability. Scheduled days and hours will vary.

Make an impact by joining ServiceSource, a champion for people with disabilities. Explore new opportunities! ServiceSource is an organization of talented people who drive innovation, embrace change, and strengthen communities.

Job Summary

Serve as a lead and provide guidance to Food Service Workers. Perform a wide variety of tasks in the kitchen and/or dining area of a dining center. Work with the staff to achieve daily goals to fulfill contractual requirements. Performs duties as Supervisor in his/her absence.

Primary Duties

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. These duties and responsibilities will be rated on the Annual Performance Review.

  • Serve as lead and provide guidance to Food Service Workers.

  • Set up food on self-serving lines and portion food for individual servings in accordance with instructions.

  • Refill cold bar, salad bars, pastry cabinets, condiments, juice dispensers, and set up dining rooms. Replace glassware/dishes and silverware and refill condiment containers.

  • Cleans counters and trays, and maintains cleanliness of preparation, work and display areas.

  • Greets customers as they arrive at service counter and answers basic customer questions about specialty foods.

Additional Responsibilities

  • Perform ware-washing by keeping pots and pans area in order prior to, during, and after meals.

  • May assign duties to lower level employees in the absence of the cafeteria supervisor.

  • Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications: Education, Experience, and Certification(s)

  • High school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) preferred.

  • 1 year of food service-related experience preferred.

  • Security clearance or background requirements are determined by contract requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Must have strong customer service skills.

  • Must be thoroughly knowledgeable in the following areas: sanitation, conducting training, security, customer relations, safety and accident prevention, and equipment maintenance.

  • Must have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate verbally and in writing.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk and sit. The employee may occasionally lift or move products and supplies, up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

What We Offer - for Benefit Eligible Employees May Include:

Because ServiceSource hires the best people, we work hard to provide benefits that make their lives better, so we offer a comprehensive benefit program which features:

  • Health coverage for you and your family through Medical, Dental, and Vision plans.

  • Financial protection with 100% company paid Disability, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance.

  • A 403(b)-Retirement plan in which the company matches dollar for dollar on a generous percentage matching up to 3% of your contribution.

  • Tax advantages through Flexible Spending and Health Savings accounts that allow you to pay for specific healthcare and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

  • To help you manage your work and life needs, we offer an Employee Assistance Program, Wellness Program, and Tuition Assistance.

  • A generous paid time-off program in which the benefits increase based on your tenure with the company.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, making employment decisions without regard to a person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and transgender status), national origin, age (40 or older), veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. We are an E-Verify Employer and a drug-free workplace. Pre-employment background checks are required for all employment positions.

PAY TRANSPARENCY POLICY STATEMENT:

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information