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Kitchen porter

Also called KP, dish washer, kitchen hand

Kitchen porters wash and clean kitchen areas, including pots, pans, utensils, cutlery and dishes. They prepare the kitchen area before service, and receive and store supplies.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospectsShortage in 11 countries now. 45 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Food preparation assistantsWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €800 (Bulgaria) to €3,700 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Food preparation assistantsWhat do I need to study?Basic schooling5 in 10 have basic schooling only.Food preparation assistantsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Kitchen helpers · ILO

What you'd do

Kitchen helpers · ILO
  • Cleaning kitchens, food preparation areas and service areas
  • Assisting cooks and chefs in preparation of food by washing, peeling, chopping, cutting, measuring and mixing ingredients
  • Assembling dishes for service
  • Unpacking checking, transferring, weighing and storing supplies in refrigerators, cupboards and other storage areas
  • Washing dishes and cooking utensils and putting them away
  • Preparing, cooking, toasting and heating simple food items
Handover the food preparation areaEnsure cleanliness of food preparation areaClean kitchen equipmentReport on possible equipment hazardsMaintain a safe, hygienic and secure working environment+ 8 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Little freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Varied tasks, little repetition
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Dishwashers"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

11 EU countries are short of kitchen helpers now, and many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as food preparation assistants in the EU
1.38m1.65m2.06m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
325,000 new jobs 459,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Food preparation assistants45
All jobs29
Right now
11 of 27 countries report a shortage of kitchen helpers, 8 a surplus.
Kitchen helpers · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €800 a month (Bulgaria) to €3,700 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among elementary occupations in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Elementary occupations · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Basic schooling

Most people start with basic schooling and learn on the job.

Highest qualification of food preparation assistants (EU, 2025)
Degree 10%Vocational 30%General secondary 15%Basic schooling 45%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.13 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Unpacking checking, transferring, weighing and storing supplies in refrigerators, cupboards and other storage areas0.15
Assembling dishes for service0.14
Assisting cooks and chefs in preparation of food by washing, peeling, chopping, cutting, measuring and mixing ingredients0.14
Washing dishes and cooking utensils and putting them away0.12
Cleaning kitchens, food preparation areas and service areas0.12
Preparing, cooking, toasting and heating simple food items0.10

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for kitchen helpers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).