How much does a Kitchen assistant make

  1. Salary statistics
  2. Kitchen assistant
Image that illustrates Kitchen assistant

Kitchen assistant

27 900 kr

Restaurant and kitchen assistants etc.

24 800 - 33 700 kr / month

Women earn 98% of what men do.

Hotell, restaurang

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Kitchen assistant

Average salary 27 900 kr
Males 28 300 kr
Females 27 600 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 463 Vacant jobs ->

What does a kitchen assistant do? – Tasks and work environment

A kitchen assistant mainly works by supporting chefs and kitchen staff in restaurants, large kitchens, schools, and other service environments. Tasks include preparing ingredients, washing dishes, maintaining cleanliness in kitchen areas, serving food, and handling simple cooking. The environment is often fast-paced, noisy, and requires good physical endurance, as the work involves lots of standing and heavy lifting. Close contact with colleagues is common, and teamwork is essential for smooth workflow.

Salary development over time

The salary for kitchen assistants has shown a relatively stable but positive development in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 25,200 kronor per month, increasing to 26 600 kronor in 2023. The latest recorded salary for 2024 is 27 900 kronor per month. This represents a total increase of just over 11% over three years. This development can be attributed to increased demand in the restaurant and large kitchen sectors, as well as general wage adjustments and collective agreements. The wage increase has been somewhat higher than inflation during the same period, indicating a slight improvement in the profession's attractiveness. However, challenges such as part-time work and varied employment forms still affect many kitchen assistants' actual income.

Kitchen assistant salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 27 900 kr/month
  • Lowest salary: 24,800 kr/month (female, private sector employee)
  • Highest salary: 33,700 kr/month (male, public sector)
  • Hourly wage: 168 kr/hour
  • Gender differences: Women earn 98% of what men do (27 600 kr/month vs 28 300 kr/month)
  • Regional differences: No specific statistics available

Education and qualifications

To work as a kitchen assistant, no formal education is generally required, but many employers prefer applicants who have completed the restaurant and food program at high school or have experience from similar work. Practical experience, hygiene knowledge, and the ability to cooperate are important qualifications. Being able to quickly adapt to new routines and tasks is valuable.

  • High school education: Restaurant and Food Program (3 years)
  • Internship: Common within education or as an introduction upon employment
  • Hygiene training: Basic food hygiene is often requested
  • Prerequisites: No formal education required, but experience is advantageous
  • Online courses: Available for food handling and kitchen safety

Many kitchen assistants get the chance to work in very diverse environments – from fine dining restaurants to schools and elderly care facilities. It provides a unique opportunity to quickly build broad experience and network within the restaurant industry.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensation

For kitchen assistants, benefits such as free work clothing, staff meals, and sometimes wellness allowances are common. Overtime pay for evening and weekend work, as well as holiday pay, are often included in employment terms. Some workplaces also offer staff discounts and opportunities for further training.

Challenges and competition

The job market for kitchen assistants is characterized by high demand but also high competition for the most attractive positions, especially in public kitchens and larger restaurants. Many positions are part-time, which can make it challenging to achieve a stable income. The work environment demands physical endurance and stress resilience, and working hours can be irregular. Recruitment difficulties occur, partly because many seek other professions after a while due to physical strain and relatively low wages. Despite this, job opportunities are generally plentiful, and employers are continuously seeking new staff.

Tips for those who want to become a kitchen assistant

To succeed as a kitchen assistant, flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to changing tasks and pace are important. Good teamwork skills are crucial, as work is done close to colleagues and often under pressure. Showing initiative, such as taking own responsibility for cleanliness and order, is appreciated by employers. Attention to hygiene and food handling is a key trait that also contributes to a safe work environment. Patience and stress resilience during busy times make the workday smoother and increase job satisfaction. Those who are service-minded and have a positive attitude towards guests and colleagues have good chances to thrive and advance in the profession.

Key facts about kitchen assistants

  • Education level: Usually no formal education required
  • Work environment: Fast-paced, physically demanding, and socially oriented
  • Work form: Commonly part-time with varying hours
  • Demand: Great opportunities for employment nationwide
  • Special skills: Food hygiene and teamwork

Career paths and future prospects

After gaining some experience as a kitchen assistant, there are opportunities to advance to more qualified roles, such as cold kitchen chef, kitchen manager, or further training to become a chef. Some choose to take on supervisory responsibilities or move into other roles within the restaurant industry. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service's forecast, the prospects for employment as a kitchen assistant remain strong, with demand expected to stay unchanged over the next five years. Despite some recruitment challenges, especially for full-time positions, there are many available jobs – currently, 123 positions are advertised within the profession. This makes the role a good entry point for those looking to establish themselves in the restaurant and large kitchen sectors.

Common questions about kitchen assistants

  • What is the average salary of a kitchen assistant?
    - The average salary is 27 900 kronor per month.
  • What are the lowest and highest salaries for a kitchen assistant?
    - The lowest salary is 24,800 kronor and the highest is 33,700 kronor per month.
  • Are there gender differences in salary?
    - Yes, women earn 98% of what men do within the profession.
  • What are the requirements to become a kitchen assistant?
    - No formal education is required, but experience and hygiene knowledge are advantageous.
  • What are the future prospects?
    - Demand for kitchen assistants is high and expected to remain unchanged over the next five years.
  • What is the hourly wage for a kitchen assistant?
    - The average hourly wage is 168 kronor.
  • What are common work environments?
    - Restaurants, schools, elderly care homes, and large kitchens are common workplaces.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-10-22 08:35:48

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Kitchen assistant is 33700 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Public sector with a pre-secondary education shorter than 9 years. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 31300 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Kitchen assistant is 24800 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed officials. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 25000 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 97% 23700 kr 26200 kr
25-34 101% 27000 kr 28600 kr
35-44 92% 28400 kr 29500 kr
45-54 100% 27800 kr 29000 kr
55-64 103% 27700 kr 28400 kr
65-68 100% 27900 kr 28900 kr
Snitt 98% 26200 kr 27900 kr
* Empty columns indicate that the statistical data was insufficient to allow for a statistically significant conclusion.
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Kitchen assistant has the SSYK code 9412, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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