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Busboy / girl, Caterer Helper, Dining Room Assistant / Attendant, Food Runner
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
| Starting | $15.44 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $16.44 |
| Top | $18.51 |
Interest in handling to clear tables and trays in eating establishments, to bring clean dishes, flatware and other items to serving areas, to remove dishes before and after courses, and to perform duties such as scraping and stacking dishes and carrying linen to and from laundry areas
Interest in comparing to clean tables and trays, and to replenish condiments and other supplies at tables and serving areas
Interest in assisting other staff by running errands
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Dining room assistants help food and beverage servers in restaurants and formal dining establishments. In general, they:
Dining room assistants must be quick to help food and beverage servers whenever their assistance is needed. During less busy periods between mealtimes, they may:
Food and beverage service runners or assistants assist servers in delivering food orders from the kitchen to the appropriate tables and responding to customer requests. Runners also may perform duties similar to those of dining room attendants.
Caterer helpers assist caterers with presenting or serving food and refreshments at social functions and banquets. In general, they:
Food service helpers usually work lunch or dinner shifts, sometimes in split shifts. They often work weekends and holidays. At busy mealtimes they are constantly on their feet and under pressure to work quickly. They may be required to lift items weighing up to 20 kilograms.
Food service helpers need:
They should enjoy handling dishes, having clear rules and organized methods, and working with people.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 100 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Jan 04, 2022 and Jan 22, 2022.
Review these skills to learn:
| Portion and wrap foods | 67 |
|---|---|
| Personal Suitability: Team player | 65 |
| Clean and sanitize kitchen including work surfaces, cupboards, storage areas, appliances and equipment | 63 |
| Prepare, heat and finish simple food items | 63 |
| Package take-out food | 61 |
| Personal Suitability: Reliability | 58 |
| Remove kitchen garbage and trash | 55 |
| Stock refrigerators and salad bars | 55 |
| Take customers' orders | 53 |
| Receive, unpack and store supplies in refrigerators, freezers, cupboards and other storage areas | 52 |
There are no standard education requirements for food service helpers. They are trained on the job.
All staff involved in the sale and service of liquor in licensed premises (for example, owners, managers and supervisors, retailers, bartenders and servers, greeters and hosts, and security staff) must have ProServe Liquor Staff Training. This is a provincial government training program designed to ensure liquor service and sales activities are conducted with integrity and in a socially responsible manner. ProServe is available online, as a self-directed program of home study using a video and a manual, or by seminar.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Food service helpers are employed in restaurants, formal dining rooms and other retail eating and drinking establishments. Most food service helpers are students employed in part-time positions.
When dining room attendants have learned food and beverage service skills by observing experienced food and beverage servers and obtaining appropriate training (for example, food safety courses), they may advance to food and beverage server positions. For more information, see the Food and Beverage Server occupational profile.
Kitchen helpers and food assemblers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 6711: Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations. In Alberta, 78% of people employed in this classification work in the Accommodation and Food Services [pdf] industry.
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 6711: Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.3% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 1070 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the 1070 new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
In most restaurants, food and beverage servers contribute a portion of their tips to a tip pool, which is divided and distributed among other food and beverage service workers, including dining room attendants.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $18.76 | $15.44 | $15.00 |
| Overall | $15.00 | $23.08 | $16.44 | $15.33 |
| Top | $15.00 | $31.26 | $18.51 | $16.90 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Public Administration | $43,387 |
|---|---|
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $25,933 |
| Retail Trade | $25,397 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $25,101 |
| Educational Services | $24,437 |
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $23,040 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $22,810 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $14,171 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $9,513 |
Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals website: cafp.ca
emerit website: emerit.ca
National Restaurant Association [United States]website: www.restaurant.org
Restaurants Canada website: www.restaurantscanada.org
Tourism HR Canada website: tourismhr.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated May 18, 2021. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.