What does a Cafe Worker do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
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Cafe worker responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real cafe worker resumes:

  • Replace or attach bar code labels on every ammunition containers for identification and location.
  • Replace or attach bar code labels on every ammunition containers for identification and location.

Cafe worker skills and personality traits

We calculated that 27% of Cafe Workers are proficient in Food Handling, Food Service, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Physical strength.

We break down the percentage of Cafe Workers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Food Handling, 27%

    Maintained the cleanliness of the cafe to meet or exceed Health Department standards for cleanliness, food handling and sanitation.

  • Food Service, 21%

    Maintained a safe and healthy food service environment while delivering exemplary customer service to patrons.

  • Customer Service, 13%

    Have primary responsibility for overall customer service and level of customer satisfaction with catering event.

  • Cleanliness, 6%

    Assigned team members their duties, and inspects work for conformance to prescribed standards of cleanliness.

  • Basic Math, 5%

    Used basic mathematics to solve problems with registers and customers.

  • BARS, 5%

    Stock supplies, such as food or utensils, in serving stations, cupboards, refrigerators, or salad bars.

Most cafe workers use their skills in "food handling," "food service," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential cafe worker responsibilities here:

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a cafe worker to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "food and beverage serving and related workers must listen carefully to their customers’ orders and relay them correctly to the kitchen staff so that the orders are prepared to the customers’ request." Additionally, a cafe worker resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "cook sanitize cash drawer customer service close store communication skills"

Customer-service skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling cafe worker duties is customer-service skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "food service establishments rely on good food and customer service to keep customers and succeed in a competitive industry." According to a cafe worker resume, here's how cafe workers can utilize customer-service skills in their job responsibilities: "take food and drink orders cash customers out"

Physical strength. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of cafe workers is physical strength. This skill is critical to many everyday cafe worker duties, as "food and beverage serving and related workers need to be able to lift and carry stock and equipment that can weigh up to 50 pounds." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assembled and maintained physical structures, using hand tools and power tools. "

All cafe worker skills

The three companies that hire the most cafe workers are:

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Compare different cafe workers

Cafe worker vs. Food prep

The primary duty of a food prep is to accomplish various food handling and preparation tasks according to the direction of supervisors, chefs, or cooks. One can work in different establishments or industry where there is food involved. Among the responsibilities will mostly revolve around doing light to moderate chores such as cleaning the kitchen and sanitizing utensils, preparing the required ingredients and ensure its quality and quantity, be in charge of food storage, and assist by performing basic cooking tasks.

The annual salary of food preps is $2,785 lower than the average salary of cafe workers.Even though cafe workers and food preps are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require food handling, food service, and customer service in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a cafe worker are more likely to require skills like "basic math," "bars," "coffee drinks," and "cooking equipment." On the other hand, a job as a food prep requires skills like "taking care," "good communication," "math," and "dexterity." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Food preps earn the highest salaries when working in the retail industry, with an average yearly salary of $28,945. On the other hand, cafe workers are paid more in the retail industry with an average salary of $28,931.The education levels that food preps earn slightly differ from cafe workers. In particular, food preps are 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a cafe worker. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Cafe worker vs. Snack bar attendant

A Food Service Attendant works in various establishments such as hotels, cafeterias, and bars to deal with service, meal preparation, and food handling. They work under the control of a kitchen manager or food service director and deliver their services all days of the week. Their primary duties include taking delivery orders and answering customer phones, and assisting wait staff and cashiers in collecting money. Moreover, they respond to customer queries and making menu suggestions. Also, they clean workplaces, follow meal safety guidelines and prepare food and drinks.

Snack bar attendant positions earn lower pay than cafe worker roles. They earn a $2,197 lower salary than cafe workers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Cafe workers and snack bar attendants both require similar skills like "food handling," "food service," and "customer service" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real cafe worker resumes. While cafe worker responsibilities can utilize skills like "bars," "coffee drinks," "making sandwiches," and "cooking equipment," snack bar attendants use skills like "cash handling," "customer transactions," "beverage products," and "beverage cart."

Snack bar attendants earn a lower average salary than cafe workers. But snack bar attendants earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $29,732. Additionally, cafe workers earn the highest salaries in the retail with average pay of $28,931 annually.In general, snack bar attendants achieve similar levels of education than cafe workers. They're 0.7% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Cafe worker vs. Concession stand attendant

On average, concession stand attendants earn higher salaries than cafe workers, with a $649 difference per year.By looking over several cafe workers and concession stand attendants resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "food handling," "food service," and "customer service." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from cafe worker resumes include skills like "cleanliness," "basic math," "bars," and "coffee drinks," whereas a concession stand attendant is more likely to list skills in "sale system," "food preparation equipment," "quality appearance," and "concession stand. "

Concession stand attendants typically earn similar educational levels compared to cafe workers. Specifically, they're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Cafe worker vs. Food service attendant

Food service attendants average a lower salary than the annual salary of cafe workers. The difference is about $3,021 per year.While both cafe workers and food service attendants complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like food handling, customer service, and cleanliness, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A cafe worker uses "food service," "bars," "coffee drinks," and "making sandwiches." Food service attendants are more likely to have duties that require skills in "patients," "cash handling," "guest service," and "haccp. "In general, food service attendants earn the most working in the media industry, with an average salary of $27,152. The highest-paying industry for a cafe worker is the retail industry.In general, food service attendants hold similar degree levels compared to cafe workers. Food service attendants are 0.4% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of cafe worker

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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