Airline food service worker
Also known as: kitchen assistant, airline food kitchen worker, airline food preparer, airline catering worker, food services worker, worker in airline food services
About this occupation
Airline food service workers prepare food and serve customers. They prepare simple dishes to be used in places that serve food such restaurants, cafetarias, hotels, hospitals and ensure that kitchen operations run smoothly and efficiently.
Essential skills and knowledge
- follow control of substances hazardous to health procedures
- food legislation
- comply with food safety and hygiene
- food allergies
- follow hygienic procedures during food processing
- store raw food materials
- food preservation
- maintain food specifications
- clean kitchen equipment
- foodborne diseases
- use different communication channels
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Food Preparation Workers (O*NET 35-2021.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
- Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
- Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
- Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
- Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
- Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Social
Top skills: Active Listening, Service Orientation, Time Management, Speaking, Coordination, Critical Thinking
US median pay: US$35,320 a year (2025), 893,600 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Cooks, Restaurant
- Cooks, Short Order
- Fast Food and Counter Workers
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
- Butchers and Meat Cutters
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Bakers
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
- Cooks, Fast Food
- Baristas
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.