Kitchen Help Salary in the United States

How much does a Kitchen Help make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Kitchen Help in the United States is $33,757 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $16.

However, a Kitchen Help's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $38,486
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $31,409 to $36,232
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $29,271

Key Factors That Influence Kitchen Help Salaries

A Kitchen Help's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Kitchen Help Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Kitchen Help's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $33,529
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $33,594
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $34,449
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $35,584
  • Expert (over 8 years): $35,665
Levels Salary
Entry Level Kitchen Help$33,529
Intermediate Level Kitchen Help$33,594
Senior Level Kitchen Help$34,449
Specialist Level Kitchen Help$35,584
Expert Level Kitchen Help$35,665

How Do Kitchen Help Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Kitchen Helps. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $37,376.
  • California: $37,234.
  • Massachusetts: $36,738.

Top Paying Cities for Kitchen Helps

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $42,577
  • San Francisco: $42,111
  • Oakland: $41,224

What Skills Can Increase a Kitchen Help's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.79% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 3.76% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
  • Safety Standards (Mentioned in 1.74% Job Postings): Safety standards are designed to ensure the safety of products, activities and processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.79%
Foodservice 3.76%
Safety Standards 1.74%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Kitchen Help's salary.

  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • WFM: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration $36,457
8%
WFM $36,120
7%
Leadership $35,445
5%

Kitchen Help Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Kitchen Help roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Kitchen Help positions in Financial Services or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Kitchen Help as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Kitchen Help

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$43,884$21.030%
Aerospace & Defense$42,196$20.025%
MFG Nondurable$40,508$19.020%
Healthcare$38,820$19.015%
Business Services$37,132$18.010%

How Education impacts a Kitchen Help's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Kitchen Helps enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Kitchen Help with a No Diploma is between $33,458 and $35,114).

Kitchen Help Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Kitchen Help
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.1%
High School 53.0%
Associates 30.3%
Bachelors 10.6%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

Kitchen Help Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Kitchen Help's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$31,409
Average $33,757/year
$36,232
$2,617
Average $2,813/month
$3,019
$604
Average $649/week
$697
$15
Average $16/hour
$17
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $36,232 $3,019 $697 $17
Average $33,757 $2,813 $649 $16
25th Percentile $31,409 $2,617 $604 $15

Most common benefits for Kitchen Help

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Kitchen Help

Here are companies hiring for Kitchen Help and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Kitchen Help

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Kitchen Help?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Kitchen Help roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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