Kitchen and catering assistants salary in South East
Full-time average annual pay in South East
£11,286
Based on ~38,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£11,286
Mean
£12,533
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £11,286 |
| Mean | £12,533 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of kitchen and catering assistants earn £6,788–£17,846. See full methodology →
Employment patterns
- 27% of Kitchen work full-time
- 0.9% are self-employed
- 86% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Kitchen and catering assistants pay in South East
The typical kitchen and catering assistants in South East earns a median salary of £11,286 in 2025/26, based on around 38,000 employees — 4.7% (£554) below the UK-wide median of £11,840. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
Across the UK, South East ranks 6th of 11 regions for kitchen and catering assistants pay. Regional medians run from £9,411 in South West up to £14,974 in London, a spread of £5,563 (59%).
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £12,533. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical kitchen and catering assistants in South East actually earns.
To see what £11,286 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £941 | £11,286 |
| Income tax | £0 | £0 |
| National Insurance | £0 | £0 |
| Take-home pay | £941 | £11,286 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Kitchen and catering assistants pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for kitchen and catering assistants at £14,974 — 26% above the UK median. South West is lowest at £9,411.
UK median £11,840
| Region | Median payUK median £11,840 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £14,974 | £14,974 | £17,129 | +26% |
| East Midlands | £13,303 | £13,303 | £13,604 | +12% |
| Scotland | £13,135 | £13,135 | £14,951 | +11% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £11,988 | £11,988 | £12,628 | +1% |
| North West | £11,872 | £11,872 | £12,203 | ±0% |
| South East (current region) | £11,286 | £11,286 | £12,533 | -5% |
| West Midlands | £11,135 | £11,135 | £12,434 | -6% |
| North East | £10,408 | £10,408 | £11,530 | -12% |
| Wales | £10,404 | £10,404 | £11,140 | -12% |
| East of England | £9,512 | £9,512 | £11,225 | -20% |
| South West | £9,411 | £9,411 | £11,036 | -21% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £14,974 | £14,974Mean £17,129 | +26% |
| East Midlands £13,303 | £13,303Mean £13,604 | +12% |
| Scotland £13,135 | £13,135Mean £14,951 | +11% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £11,988 | £11,988Mean £12,628 | +1% |
| North West £11,872 | £11,872Mean £12,203 | ±0% |
| South East (current region) £11,286 | £11,286Mean £12,533 | -5% |
| West Midlands £11,135 | £11,135Mean £12,434 | -6% |
| North East £10,408 | £10,408Mean £11,530 | -12% |
| Wales £10,404 | £10,404Mean £11,140 | -12% |
| East of England £9,512 | £9,512Mean £11,225 | -20% |
| South West £9,411 | £9,411Mean £11,036 | -21% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£11,840); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
How kitchen and catering assistants pay in South East has changed over time
Median annual pay for kitchen and catering assistants in South East by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
South East median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
Related roles in Other Elementary Services Occupations
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