NOC 2021 · 65201 · TEER 5
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
Unit group 65201 of the National Occupational Classification, 2021 Version 1.0.
Check which category draws this code qualifies for
What this group covers
Food counter attendants and food preparers prepare, heat and finish cooking simple food items and serve customers at food counters. Kitchen helpers, food service helpers and dishwashers clear tables, clean kitchen areas, wash dishes, and perform various other activities to assist workers who prepare or serve food and beverages. They are employed by restaurants, cafés, hotels, fast food outlets, cafeterias, hospitals and other establishments.
Example job titles
As Statistics Canada publishes them. Yours may be worded differently and still belong here.
- airline food assembler
- bar helper
- barista
- bartender helper
- bus boy/girl
- cafeteria counter attendant
- cafeteria helper
- cafeteria worker
- cafeteria-buffet attendant
- camp cook's helper
- camp lunchroom attendant
- caterer helper
- cook's helper
- counterperson - food services
- dessert maker
- dessert preparer
- dietary aide
- dining room assistant
- dining room attendant
- dishwasher
- dishwashing machine attendant
- donut shop attendant
- donut shop clerk
- donut shop counter clerk
- doughnut shop attendant
- doughnut shop clerk
- doughnut shop counter clerk
- drive-in food service attendant
- expediter - food services
- fast-food preparer
- fast-food service attendant
- fish and chips preparer
- food and beverage service runner assistant
- food and beverage services attendant
- food assembler - fast food
- food concession worker
- food counter attendant
- food preparer
- food runner
- food service attendant
- food service counter attendant
- food service helper
- food service worker
- hospital meal attendant
- hospital tray carrier
- hot dog vendor
- ice cream counter attendant
- ice cream vendor
- kitchen helper
- logging camp cook's helper
- lunchroom counter attendant
- lunchroom counterman/woman
- popcorn vendor
- pot washer
- restaurant counter attendant
- salad and sandwich maker
- salad bar attendant
- salad maker
- sandwich artist
- sandwich maker
- sandwich, salad and dessert maker
- silverware cleaner
- snack bar attendant
- steam table attendant - food services
- steward - Canadian Armed Forces
- street food vendor
- sushi preparer
- take-out attendant - fast food
- tray carrier attendant - hospital
What it pays, and where it is hiring
Job Bank publishes a wage estimate and a three-year employment outlook for each occupation, region by region. Both are below as published — where an estimate is missing from the source it is missing here too, because the alternative is inventing one.
Across Canada
$16.55 an hour
Low $15.00, high $21.50
Where it pays most
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue · Quebec$18.00
- Côte-Nord · Quebec$18.00
- Vancouver Island and Coast · British Columbia$18.00
- Kootenay · British Columbia$18.00
- Lower Mainland · British Columbia$17.85
Economic regions only. A province’s figure is an average over the regions inside it, so including one would rank a province above its own best region and read as a finding.
By province and territory
| Where | Median hourly | Low to high | Outlook 2025–2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $16.00 – $22.00 | Moderate |
| Prince Edward Island | $16.50 | $16.50 – $20.98 | Good |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $16.50 – $18.77 | Good |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $15.65 – $21.00 | Moderate |
| Quebec | $16.50 | $16.10 – $21.75 | Limited |
| Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $21.00 | Limited |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.00 – $18.50 | Moderate |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $15.35 – $20.19 | Moderate |
| Alberta | $16.00 | $15.00 – $20.00 | Moderate |
| British Columbia | $17.85 | $17.85 – $23.00 | Limited |
| Yukon Territory | $20.00 | $17.94 – $31.50 | Moderate |
| Northwest Territories | $20.00 | $16.70 – $32.00 | Moderate |
| Nunavut | $25.90 | $19.00 – $30.00 | Limited |
By economic region
The 72 economic regions where Job Bank publishes a wage or a rated outlook, of 72.
| Where | Province | Median hourly | Low to high | Outlook 2025–2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon Peninsula | Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $16.00 – $20.00 | Moderate |
| South Coast--Burin Peninsula | Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $16.00 – $22.67 | Moderate |
| West Coast--Northern Peninsula--Labrador | Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $16.00 – $22.50 | Moderate |
| Notre Dame--Central Bonavista Bay | Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $16.00 – $22.67 | Moderate |
| Cape Breton | Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $16.50 – $19.00 | Good |
| North Shore | Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $16.50 – $18.00 | Good |
| Annapolis Valley | Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $16.50 – $18.00 | Good |
| Southern | Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $16.50 – $18.50 | Good |
| Halifax | Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $16.50 – $18.85 | Good |
| Campbellton--Miramichi | New Brunswick | $16.00 | $15.65 – $21.00 | Moderate |
| Moncton--Richibucto | New Brunswick | $16.00 | $15.65 – $20.70 | Moderate |
| Saint John--St. Stephen | New Brunswick | $15.65 | $15.65 – $20.00 | Moderate |
| Fredericton--Oromocto | New Brunswick | $15.65 | $15.65 – $20.21 | Moderate |
| Edmundston--Woodstock | New Brunswick | $15.65 | $15.65 – $21.00 | Moderate |
| Gaspésie--Îles-de-la-Madeleine | Quebec | $16.40 | $16.10 – $23.52 | Limited |
| Bas-Saint-Laurent | Quebec | $16.95 | $16.10 – $21.10 | Limited |
| Capitale-Nationale | Quebec | $16.73 | $16.10 – $23.00 | Limited |
| Chaudière-Appalaches | Quebec | $17.00 | $16.10 – $21.58 | Limited |
| Estrie | Quebec | $17.00 | $16.10 – $21.68 | Limited |
| Centre-du-Québec | Quebec | $16.10 | $16.10 – $20.00 | Limited |
| Montérégie | Quebec | $16.10 | $16.10 – $21.58 | Limited |
| Montréal | Quebec | $17.50 | $16.10 – $23.52 | Limited |
| Laval | Quebec | $16.25 | $16.10 – $21.03 | Limited |
| Lanaudière | Quebec | $16.10 | $16.10 – $23.00 | Limited |
| Laurentides | Quebec | $16.10 | $16.10 – $20.00 | Limited |
| Outaouais | Quebec | $16.25 | $16.10 – $21.67 | Limited |
| Abitibi-Témiscamingue | Quebec | $18.00 | $16.10 – $22.50 | Limited |
| Mauricie | Quebec | $17.00 | $16.10 – $21.50 | Limited |
| Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean | Quebec | $16.25 | $16.10 – $21.58 | Limited |
| Côte-Nord | Quebec | $18.00 | $16.10 – $22.00 | Very limited |
| Nord-du-Québec | Quebec | Not published | Not published | Very limited |
| Ottawa | Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $22.20 | Limited |
| Kingston--Pembroke | Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $21.00 | Limited |
| Muskoka--Kawarthas | Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $23.67 | Moderate |
| Toronto | Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $21.00 | Limited |
| Kitchener--Waterloo--Barrie | Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $20.00 | Limited |
| Hamilton--Niagara Peninsula | Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $20.00 | Limited |
| London | Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $20.70 | Limited |
| Windsor--Sarnia | Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $20.00 | Limited |
| Stratford--Bruce Peninsula | Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $25.00 | Limited |
| Northeast | Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $23.00 | Limited |
| Northwest | Ontario | $17.60 | $17.60 – $21.23 | Limited |
| Southeast | Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.00 – $19.78 | Moderate |
| South Central | Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.00 – $17.50 | Moderate |
| Southwest | Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.00 – $19.32 | Moderate |
| North Central | Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.00 – $17.50 | Moderate |
| Winnipeg | Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.00 – $18.34 | Moderate |
| Interlake | Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.00 – $18.94 | Moderate |
| Parklands | Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.00 – $19.77 | Moderate |
| North | Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.00 – $19.77 | Moderate |
| Regina--Moose Mountain | Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $15.35 – $19.00 | Moderate |
| Swift Current--Moose Jaw | Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $15.35 – $22.00 | Good |
| Saskatoon--Biggar | Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $15.35 – $20.00 | Moderate |
| Yorkton--Melville | Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $15.35 – $20.85 | Good |
| Prince Albert | Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $15.35 – $20.88 | Moderate |
| Northern | Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $15.35 – $20.88 | Moderate |
| Lethbridge--Medicine Hat | Alberta | $16.00 | $15.00 – $21.00 | Moderate |
| Camrose--Drumheller | Alberta | $15.50 | $15.00 – $20.16 | Moderate |
| Calgary | Alberta | $16.03 | $15.00 – $19.03 | Moderate |
| Banff--Jasper--Rocky Mountain House | Alberta | $16.00 | $15.00 – $20.00 | Good |
| Red Deer | Alberta | $15.50 | $15.00 – $20.00 | Moderate |
| Edmonton | Alberta | $16.65 | $15.00 – $21.37 | Moderate |
| Athabasca--Grande Prairie--Peace River | Alberta | $15.50 | $15.00 – $19.00 | Good |
| Wood Buffalo--Cold Lake | Alberta | $16.00 | $15.00 – $20.00 | Limited |
| Vancouver Island and Coast | British Columbia | $18.00 | $17.85 – $24.32 | Limited |
| Lower Mainland | British Columbia | $17.85 | $17.85 – $22.00 | Limited |
| Thompson--Okanagan | British Columbia | $17.85 | $17.85 – $21.00 | Limited |
| Kootenay | British Columbia | $18.00 | $17.85 – $25.00 | Limited |
| Cariboo | British Columbia | $17.85 | $17.85 – $23.00 | Limited |
| North Coast | British Columbia | $17.85 | $17.85 – $22.00 | Very limited |
| Nechako | British Columbia | $17.85 | $17.85 – $22.00 | Very limited |
| Northeast | British Columbia | $17.85 | $17.85 – $21.00 | Limited |
Job Bank rates employment prospects for each occupation in each economic region from very good to very limited over 2025–2027, and says “undetermined” where it has not got enough to rate. It is an assessment of prospects, not a count of vacancies.
The estimates on this page come from Labour Force Survey (2023-2024) · Employment Insurance Survey Data (2023-2024) · Small Area Estimation (2024).
Job Bank publishes an estimate for 24,364 of the 44,376 occupation-and-place pairs in this release. The rest are suppressed rather than modelled, and appear here as not published.
Wage estimates from the 2025 Wages release, revised 19 November 2025; employment outlooks from 2025-2027 Employment Outlooks - NOC 2021, released 8 December 2025. Both are updated annually. Estimates for different regions come from different surveys, so comparing two regions is exactly as sound as Job Bank’s own regional comparison and no more.
Source: Statistics Canada — National Occupational Classification 2021 V1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada — Job Bank wages; Employment and Social Development Canada — Job Bank 3-year employment outlooks. Data current as of 13 August 2026. NOC 2021 Version 1.0. The classification is versioned rather than dated — IRCC moved to it in November 2022, and a new version would be a new classification rather than an update.