- 2,049back of house jobs live right now, most of them in kitchens
- 19employers hiring back of house staff
- £12.71–£15.11typical top hourly rate in adverts that show pay
- 7 of 18employers we sampled say you don't need experience or qualifications
What Does a Kitchen Porter Do?
Job titles vary (kitchen porter, kitchen assistant, kitchen team member), but the job is built around the same things. We read 45 adverts from 18 employers hiring for the role on our site. These are the parts of the job they mentioned most.
- Keeping the kitchen cleanCleaning surfaces, floors and equipment before, during and after service. Mentioned by 16 of the 18 employers.
- Supporting the chefsMaking sure the chefs have what they need, and helping with basic food preparation. Mentioned by 14 of the 18.
- Washing upPots, pans, plates, crockery and cutlery, by hand or in the dishwasher. Mentioned by 10 of the 18.
- Food safety and hygieneFollowing food safety, hygiene and health and safety rules, including allergens. Mentioned by 9 of the 18.
- Deliveries and stockTaking in deliveries, rotating stock and keeping the stores organised. Mentioned by 9 of the 18.
- Waste and recyclingGetting rid of waste safely and recycling where you can. Mentioned by 5 of the 18.
In some kitchens the job goes further. Five employers ask their kitchen assistants to help cook, plate up or bake.
Where You Could Work
Kitchen porter and kitchen assistant jobs on our site are in:
- Pubs and pub restaurants, the largest group by far.
- Restaurant chains.
- Bakeries.
- Hotels and inns.
- Care homes, preparing meals for residents.
- Airports.
- School catering, where an enhanced DBS check is needed.
- Cinemas that serve food.
Do You Need Experience?
No. 7 of the 18 employers say outright that you don't need experience or formal qualifications, and most of them promise full training. 13 of the 18 mention training in their adverts.
A few things can still come up. One employer asks for enough spoken and written English to work safely and understand allergen controls. Another asks for a basic understanding of allergies and cross contamination. Some airport roles need you to be 18 or over for certain tasks, plus five years of references and a criminal record check.
What Employers Look For
How many of the 18 employers mention each quality in their adverts:
Attitude matters more than a CV. A typical advert asks for someone who takes pride in a clean, organised kitchen and stays calm when service gets busy.
What Does a Kitchen Porter Earn?
£12.71–£15.11an hour
That's the spread of typical top hourly rates across the 14 employers whose adverts show pay. The middle of that spread is £13.21.
- £12.71 is the floor. It's the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over (from April 2026), and no employer's typical top rate is lower.
- Ranges can start at £8.00. That's the legal minimum for under-18s and apprentices, so the bottom of a range is usually the youngest age band.
- Tips on top. 8 of the 18 employers mention tronc, tips or service charge. One says its kitchen porters can earn £1.50 to £2 an hour on top of their pay.
- Nights can pay more. An airport kitchen advertises an extra £1.20 an hour between midnight and 6am.
Look beyond the hourly rate as well. Of the 18 employers, 15 mention a staff discount, 12 mention wellbeing support, 8 mention a pension and 7 mention free or discounted meals on shift.
Hours and Shifts
- Full-time and part-time. Both are advertised, along with seasonal, bank and casual roles.
- Early starts in some kitchens. One bakery chain's kitchen teams typically start around 5:30am to 6:30am. An airport kitchen is open from 3am to 11pm.
- Evenings and weekends elsewhere. Hotel kitchens can run seven days a week, all year round, so shifts can include evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
- Some rotas are unusual. One care home advertises five days worked over 14, then nine days off.
Where It Can Lead
A kitchen porter job is a way into a professional kitchen. One restaurant group says the role could be the first step to becoming a professional chef. Another offers structured training to grow into a line chef and beyond. The next steps on our site include:
- Kitchen Team Leader: running a shift in the kitchen.
- Apprentice, Commis or Line Chef: learning to cook the menu.
- Chef: from chef de partie up to head chef. Read our guide to becoming a chef.
Job Titles to Search For
- Kitchen Porter
- Kitchen Assistant
- Kitchen Team Member
- Kitchen Team Leader
- Apprentice Chef
- Commis Chef
- Line Chef
How to Get Started
- Apply without experience. Look for adverts that offer full training. Your attitude matters most.
- Pick the hours that suit you. Bakeries start early, pubs and restaurants run into the evening, and care homes can offer daytime shifts.
- Upload your CV. Employers can then find you as well as the other way round. One employer doesn't even ask for a CV.
- Prepare for the interview. Read our 20 common interview questions before the day.
