Kitchen helper and dishwasher jobs in Canada

About these jobs

Kitchen helpers wash dishes, prepare ingredients, keep the kitchen clean and help the cooks. It is one of the most common first jobs in Canada and rarely needs experience; employers teach their own routines and food safety.

Restaurants hire all year, with more openings in summer in tourist areas. Expect evening and weekend shifts and time on your feet. Some provinces ask kitchen staff to take a short food handler course.

Questions

Do I need experience to be a kitchen helper?

Usually not. Tick “No experience needed (training provided)” to see the jobs where the employer trains you.

What is the difference between a kitchen helper and a prep cook?

A kitchen helper does dishes, cleaning and simple preparation; a prep cook prepares ingredients for the cooks. Both are entry-level.

Do kitchen jobs lead anywhere?

Many cooks started as kitchen helpers. With experience you can move to line cook, then to a cook position.