Culinary Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a Culinary Assistant make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Culinary Assistant in the United States is $33,445 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $16.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $38,165
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $31,142 to $35,915
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $29,045
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View as table View as graph 25% $31,142 10% $29,045 90% $38,165 75% $35,915 $33,445 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Culinary Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $35,915 $2,993 $691 $17
Average $33,445 $2,787 $643 $16
25th Percentile $31,142 $2,595 $599 $15
Check out Culinary Assistant Job Openings in the United States
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Culinary Production Manager

ARAMARK - ALLENDALE, MI

Culinary Specialist

ARAMARK - MONTICELLO, KY

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Key Factors That Influence Culinary Assistant Salaries

A Culinary Assistant'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 Culinary Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Culinary Assistant'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): $32,901
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $32,965
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $33,804
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $34,919
  • Expert (over 8 years): $34,999
Levels Salary
Entry Level Culinary Assistant$32,901
Intermediate Level Culinary Assistant$32,965
Senior Level Culinary Assistant$33,804
Specialist Level Culinary Assistant$34,919
Expert Level Culinary Assistant$34,999
$32,901 0 yr
$32,965 < 2 yrs
$33,804 2-4 yrs
$34,919 5-8 yrs
$34,999 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Culinary Assistants

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: $42,184
  • San Francisco: $41,769
  • Oakland: $40,843

What Skills Can Increase a Culinary Assistant'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.
See More Skills
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 Culinary Assistant'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
$36,120
8%
WFM
$35,786
7%
Leadership
$35,117
5%
Honesty and Integrity
$35,117
5%
Team Management
$35,117
5%
Foodservice
$34,782
4%
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How Education impacts a Culinary Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Culinary Assistants 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 Culinary Assistant with a No Diploma is between $33,458 and $35,114).

Culinary Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Culinary Assistant
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%
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Culinary Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Culinary Assistant'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Culinary Assistant

Salaries for a Culinary Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $32,926 in 2023 to around $32,171 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Culinary Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Culinary Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$32,926
2024
$32,790
2025
$32,171
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $32,926
2024 $32,790
2025 $32,171
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Culinary Assistant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Culinary Assistant

Here are companies hiring for Culinary Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Culinary Assistant Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Culinary Assistant job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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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