Kitchen hand Kitchenhand
Occupation code: 851311（ANZSCO） Not a skilled migration occupation Overall 6.5/10
Kitchen hands assist with food preparation, washing, and general kitchen duties. It is an entry-level hospitality role, often used as a stepping stone to becoming a chef, covered under the Hospitality Award, and is not a skilled migration occupation.
Ratings · Overall 6.5/10i
In the AI era: what happens to Kitchen hand
Kitchen hand is a high-risk automation role; AI and robots will significantly replace repetitive tasks like food prep and washing, reducing entry-level positions, but humans still have advantages in complex kitchen coordination and quality control.
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Replaces kitchen assistants at frying and grilling stations, such as frying fries and chicken nuggets and flipping burger patties, reducing demand for manual kitchen help.
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Replaces kitchen assistants in pizza preparation tasks such as ingredient prepping, topping, and arranging, reducing manpower needed for manual pizza topping preparation.
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Replaces kitchen hands in some chopping, portioning, and simple cleaning tasks, but still requires manual handling of complex preparations and deep cleaning.
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Behind the scenes, workers on Mechanical Turk perform data tasks like recipe annotation and image recognition training, indirectly assisting kitchen AI systems without directly replacing kitchen assistants.
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Replaces some work of kitchen hands in receiving instructions and simple food preparation assistance, such as reminding of ingredients and timing, but cannot replace physical labor.
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- Using an automatic dishwasher to clean dishes and kitchen utensils
- Intelligent food preparation robot chopping vegetables and portioning ingredients
- AI inventory system automatically manages ingredient purchasing and stocktaking
- Robots complete floor cleaning and waste disposal
- AI recipe recommendation system helps design seasonal menus
- Smart scheduling tools optimize personnel allocation and shift rotations
- Digital quality control records for kitchen hygiene and temperature
- Flexible response to complex kitchen emergencies
- Sensory evaluation of food freshness and quality
- Efficient and tacit collaboration with chef teams
- Strict enforcement of hygiene standards and on-site management
- Basic digital literacy and operation of tablet ordering systems
- Basic food hygiene and safety certification (e.g., SITXFSA005)
- Time management and multitasking coordination skills
- Team communication and conflict resolution skills
- Learning to use simple automated equipment maintenance
Entry-level positions become narrower due to dishwashing robots and intelligent prep systems reducing demand for junior assistants; employers prefer multi-skilled workers or leverage AI tools to improve efficiency.
Future kitchen hands can upgrade to 'smart kitchen coordinators', supervising robot work, handling exceptions, and learning basic cooking skills to become chef assistants. Use AI learning platforms to enhance food service management knowledge, obtain advanced food safety certificates, and move to kitchen supervisor roles in hotels or large catering companies.
Salary
| Experience | Annual (AUD) | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (casual) | $48,000 ~ $56,000 | Hourly rate approximately $25–$30 including allowances |
| Full-time | $54,000 ~ $62,000 | Hospitality Award |
Education Path
| Stage | Duration | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| No mandatory qualifications (on-the-job training) | Immediate | $0~$0 |
Qualifications
| Qualification | Issuer | |
|---|---|---|
| Food Safety / Food Handling (recommended) | Online/RTO | Optional |
Migration
Not a skilled migration occupation. Visa pathways depend on matching the specific duties to the correct ANZSCO; refer to the latest Department of Home Affairs occupation lists and the relevant assessing authorities.
Who it fits
- Those looking to enter hospitality with a view to becoming a chef later
- Able to handle a fast-paced environment and shift work
- Those pursuing skilled migration as a direct goal
- Not suited to those who cannot tolerate high kitchen temperatures and physical demands
Career outlook
Progression is possible towards cook or kitchen supervisor roles (cook is an STSOL migration occupation).
Demand in hospitality is high but turnover is also high; this role can serve as a stepping stone toward becoming a chef.
Growth areas：
Food PrepCommercial Kitchen OpsPathway to Cook/Chef
FAQ
Data sources
Salary ranges are estimates aggregated from public listings on Seek, Indeed, Glassdoor and ERI SalaryExpert; employment and demand forecasts cite Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS); visa and migration details follow the latest occupation lists from the Department of Home Affairs and the relevant assessing authorities. Figures are indicative only — always refer to the latest official sources.