Most food service jobs provide on-the-job training, so you don’t need many qualifications before starting work. Some employers prefer you to have a high school diploma, and you can take culinary courses to gain specific kitchen skills. To work front of house roles, you need strong interpersonal and customer service skills. If you want to work as a chef, you may have to work your way up from prep cook. All food service workers need physical stamina, as you spend most of each shift on your feet.

If you are interested in a job related to Food Service, here are some popular related job searches with the most open positions on ZipRecruiter.

Top Types Of Food Service Jobs

List of the top 10 highest paying Food Service positions in 2026, with salary ranges, according to ZipRecruiter.

Restaurant
Salary range: $40,000 - $64,500
Restaurant is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Restaurant jobs pay between $40,000 (25th percentile) and $64,500 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Restaurant job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Stand Up Reach Forklift
Salary range: $34,000 - $39,000
Stand Up Reach Forklift is a common job search query. Most salaries for Stand Up Reach Forklift jobs pay between $34,000 (25th percentile) and $39,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Stand Up Reach Forklift job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Patties
Salary range: $32,000 - $38,000
Patties is a common job search query. Most salaries for Patties jobs pay between $32,000 (25th percentile) and $38,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Patties job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Chartwells Food Service
Salary range: $36,500 - $58,000
Chartwells Food Service is a common job search query. Most salaries for Chartwells Food Service jobs pay between $36,500 (25th percentile) and $58,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Chartwells Food Service job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Food Handler
Salary range: $33,000 - $39,000
A food handler is anyone who handles food in a restaurant or other organization that serves food, such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. This position includes the kitchen staff who stores ingredients, the chefs who prepare and cook the meals, and servers who bring the food to customers. Some states require food handlers to complete a food handler’s certificate program and obtain a food handler’s card before being allowed to work in the restaurant industry.
No Experience Waiter
Salary range: $24,000 - $35,000
No Experience Waiter is a typical job search query Most salaries for No Experience Waiter jobs pay between $24,000 (25th percentile) and $35,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for No Experience Waiter job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Service Industry
Salary range: $36,000 - $57,000
Service Industry is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Service Industry jobs pay between $36,000 (25th percentile) and $57,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Service Industry job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Food Service Employee
Salary range: $22,500 - $30,000
Food Service Employee is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Food Service Employee jobs pay between $22,500 (25th percentile) and $30,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Food Service Employee job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Food Industry
Salary range: $35,000 - $72,000
Food Industry is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Food Industry jobs pay between $35,000 (25th percentile) and $72,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Food Industry job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Housing Provided Chef
Salary range: $35,000 - $64,500
Housing Provided Chef is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Housing Provided Chef jobs pay between $35,000 (25th percentile) and $64,500 (75th percentile) annually. There are lots of open positions nationwide for Housing Provided Chef job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

All Jobs Food Service Jobs 10 of the Most Popular Types of Food Service Jobs in 2026