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Kitchen Assistant Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Kitchen Assistant

Hartford, MI · On-site

$13 - $16/hr

SUMMARY: Responsible for achieving all standards for basic food preparation, cooking and ensuring all china and glassware is cleaned efficiently and promptly. Provide all facets of the dining venues ...

Kitchen Assistant

Hartford, MI

$13 - $16/hr

SUMMARY: Responsible for achieving all standards for basic food preparation, cooking and ensuring all china and glassware is cleaned efficiently and promptly. Provide all facets of the dining venues ...

Kitchen Assistant

Hartford, MI

$13 - $16/hr

SUMMARY: Responsible for achieving all standards for basic food preparation, cooking and ensuring all china and glassware is cleaned efficiently and promptly. Provide all facets of the dining venues ...

Kitchen Assistant

Dowagiac, MI · On-site

$11.75 - $14.50/hr

SUMMARY: Responsible for achieving all standards for basic food preparation, cooking and ensuring all china and glassware is cleaned efficiently and promptly. Provide all facets of the dining venues ...

Kitchen Assistant

Dowagiac, MI

$11.75 - $14.50/hr

SUMMARY: Responsible for achieving all standards for basic food preparation, cooking and ensuring all china and glassware is cleaned efficiently and promptly. Provide all facets of the dining venues ...

Kitchen Assistant

Hartford, MI · On-site

$13 - $16/hr

SUMMARY: Responsible for achieving all standards for basic food preparation, cooking and ensuring all china and glassware is cleaned efficiently and promptly. Provide all facets of the dining venues ...

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Kitchen Assistant information

See Michigan salary details

$7

$13

$17

How much do kitchen assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for kitchen assistant in Michigan is $13.43, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.73 and $14.47 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Can you be a Kitchen Assistant with no experience?

Yes, many entry-level Kitchen Assistant positions do not require prior experience. Employers often provide on-the-job training and look for basic skills such as reliability, teamwork, and a willingness to learn. Having a positive attitude and good hygiene can also improve your chances of getting hired without experience.

What are some common challenges faced by Kitchen Assistants, and how can they be managed effectively?

Kitchen Assistants often encounter challenges such as working in fast-paced environments, maintaining cleanliness under time pressure, and managing multiple tasks simultaneously. Staying organized, communicating clearly with chefs and team members, and following food safety protocols can help manage these demands effectively. Building strong teamwork skills and being proactive about restocking supplies are also key to thriving in this role.

What are kitchen assistants?

Kitchen assistants are support staff who help chefs and cooks in the preparation and organization of food in restaurants, cafeterias, or other food service establishments. Their duties often include washing and chopping ingredients, cleaning work areas and utensils, unloading deliveries, and ensuring that the kitchen operates efficiently. They play a crucial role in maintaining hygiene standards and ensuring that meals are prepared in a timely manner. Kitchen assistants typically work under the supervision of more experienced kitchen staff and may have opportunities to learn basic cooking skills. The role can be fast-paced and requires good teamwork and attention to detail.

What is the difference between Kitchen Assistant vs Kitchen Porter?

AspectKitchen AssistantKitchen Porter
ResponsibilitiesAssisting with food prep, cleaning, and basic kitchen tasksCleaning dishes, utensils, and kitchen areas; basic support tasks
Required SkillsBasic cooking knowledge, teamwork, organizationCleaning skills, physical stamina, attention to hygiene
Work EnvironmentCommercial kitchens, restaurants, cateringSame as Kitchen Assistant, often in similar settings
CertificationsFood hygiene certificates often preferredFood hygiene certificates often required

Both roles support kitchen operations but differ mainly in responsibilities. Kitchen Assistants typically handle food prep and basic tasks, while Kitchen Porters focus on cleaning and maintaining hygiene. Both roles are essential in commercial kitchens and often require similar certifications.

What Does a Kitchen Assistant Do?

Kitchen assistants perform a number of cooking-related duties, including preparing food, retrieving ingredients from the freezer or other storage locations, and restocking food items. As a kitchen assistant, you may also perform hygiene-related tasks to keep the kitchen clean, such as wiping down equipment or cleaning counters after food preparation. There are usually no educational requirements for the career, but employers prefer that you have relevant work experience in a restaurant setting. Additional qualifications include the ability to follow oral instructions and health and safety procedures, as well as hand dexterity and cooking skills to peel and cut ingredients.

What qualifications do you need to be a Kitchen Assistant?

Kitchen assistants typically do not require formal qualifications but should have basic literacy and numeracy skills. Relevant experience in food handling, cleanliness, and safety procedures is beneficial, and some employers may prefer food safety certifications such as a Level 1 Food Hygiene certificate.

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

To thrive as a Kitchen Assistant, you need basic food preparation skills, knowledge of food safety, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, dishwashing machines, and sometimes food hygiene certifications are typically required. Strong teamwork, attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently under pressure are important soft skills. These competencies ensure a safe, organized, and productive kitchen environment, supporting overall food quality and service.

What do you do as a Kitchen Assistant?

A Kitchen Assistant helps with food preparation, cleaning, and maintaining the cleanliness of kitchen equipment and work areas. They may also assist with serving food, organizing supplies, and following safety and hygiene standards. The role often requires good communication skills and the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

How to work as a Kitchen Assistant?

To work as a Kitchen Assistant, you should be able to follow safety and hygiene standards, assist with food preparation and cleaning, and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment. Basic skills such as organization, attention to detail, and the ability to operate kitchen equipment are important. Some positions may require food safety certifications or prior experience in a kitchen setting.
What are the most commonly searched types of Kitchen jobs in Michigan? The most popular types of Kitchen jobs in Michigan are:
What are popular job titles related to Kitchen Assistant jobs in Michigan? For Kitchen Assistant jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Kitchen Assistant jobs in Michigan look for? The top searched job categories for Kitchen Assistant jobs in Michigan are:
What cities in Michigan are hiring for Kitchen Assistant jobs? Cities in Michigan with the most Kitchen Assistant job openings:
Infographic showing various Kitchen Assistant job openings in Michigan as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 52% Full Time, 42% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $27,932 per year, or $13.4 per hour.
Kitchen Assistant

Kitchen Assistant

Four Winds Casinos

Hartford, MI • On-site

$13 - $16/hr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Four Winds Casinos rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 30 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

48th of 141 rated casinos


Job description

SUMMARY:
Responsible for achieving all standards for basic food preparation, cooking and ensuring all china and glassware is cleaned efficiently and promptly. Provide all facets of the dining venues with silver and dishware on a continual basis.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
  • Prepares, seasons, finishes, and garnishes all food.
  • Maintains all refrigeration and dry storage areas to ensure proper handling and rotation of products.
  • Ensures that their culinary work station is clean and that all food items are properly covered and stored at the end of shift.
  • Follows all recipes, specs, and control procedures.
  • Maintains a clean and sanitary area at all times in full accordance with health regulations.
  • Assists with guest requests when needed.
  • Helps stock dishes.
  • Assists with storage and proper rotation of food products.
  • Uses dry and liquid measure and scales.
  • Stirs and strains soups and sauces.
  • Maintains a culinary work station when required.
  • Performs proper receiving, thawing, and storage in correct location, proportioning prep area sanitation, heating and holding, and re-thermalization (including sauces, soups, salad bar items, lunch, dinner, and produce).
  • Ensures compliance to standards set by management in scraping, racking, stacking, and washing of china and glassware.
  • Understands the use of proper chemicals on property.
  • Maintains knowledge of sanitation, dishwashing, maintenance, and safety standards.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.
Promotes the following within the department and among all employees:
  • Creates an atmosphere of fun for all casino guests.
  • Encourages mutual respect, dignity and integrity with all employees, by setting positive examples at all times.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
High school diploma or G.E.D. preferred.
SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Strong organizational skills required.
This position requires a Level 4 Gaming License.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to perform basic math skills: addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
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 use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, and to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or bend.
The employee is frequently required to lift up to 25 lb. and occasionally required to lift up to 50 lb.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Applicant must successfully complete screening for essential job functions
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The employee regularly works around mechanical moving parts.
The work environment may, at times, be very warm or very cold. The work environment includes moderate exposure to slippery work surfaces and greasy areas.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. A casino environment is typically smoky.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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