The federal government has numerous facilities where employees and visitors can get a meal, and also provides food services to workers living on federal property. The government hires food service workers at various levels to operate, manage and maintain these operations.
The federal government hires chefs to oversee the preparation and operation of various food service programs. Chefs working for the Department of the Army are responsible for all aspects of day-to-day food operations. They develop menus based on nutritional content and cost-effectiveness. They also create an operating budget, hire necessary labor and order appropriate quantities of food. Chefs at this level also manage subordinate workers. According to chefsalarydata.com, chefs in the federal government earn about $60,000 per year. The federal government also hires food service workers who work under chefs. These workers are solely responsible for basic food preparation, as directed by a supervisor. These workers generally place food on plates or trays. They also place cold items in a refrigerator and prepare ingredients for the chef. Food services workers are paid about $14 per hour, according to recent government job listings.
Food and beverage attendants are also employed by the federal government. These employees are generally employed at freestanding food carts or snack bars. Their primary duties are to prepare short order foods, like hamburgers and other sandwiches. They also ensure that refrigerated foods are within their expiration dates and refill the refrigerators as needed. Food and beverage attendants may be tasked with keeping eating areas clean. They also collect money for items purchased and reconcile a cash register at the end of their shift. Federal government job listings for attendants advertise an hourly rate of $10.
Food service workers are also hired within the federal government to specifically perform housekeeping duties. These workers are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the food preparation and eating areas. They ensure that all trash is removed and clean the floors of the establishment. The workers wash dishes and handle routine maintenance of kitchen appliances. They are also unload supplies and food from delivery trucks. An hourly rate of $8 is average for these positions, according to federal job advertisements.
Food Service Specialists
Aside from chefs, the other manager-level food workers in the federal government are food service specialists. Food service specialists create food service policies and ensure adherence to regulations and laws. They oversee units and provide guidance on procedures and policies. Specialists are also responsible for visiting units and inspecting their operations. Based on their findings, they handle disciplinary or corrective actions. Budgeting is another responsibility of the food service specialist. They monitor food and operating costs, comparing them to budgetary guidelines. They also provide input to their managers for the creation of future budgets. Current government job listings for specialists advertise a salary of $55,000 per year.
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