# Food Preparation Workers

> Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 35-2021.00
- **Summary:** Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.

## Aliases

- Cook
- Deli Clerk (Delicatessen Clerk)
- Dietary Aide
- Food Service Worker (FSW)
- Cook Aide
- Diet Aide
- Food Prep (Food Preparer)
- Food Service Aide
- Line Cook
- Nutrition Aide
- Back of House Team Member (BOH Team Member)
- Cafeteria Aide

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.c |
| Distribute food to waiters and waitresses to serve to customers. | Supplemental | 4.A.4.c.3.c |
| Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.j |
| Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.e |
| Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.ak |
| Weigh or measure ingredients. | Core | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change. | Supplemental | 4.A.4.c.1.c |
| Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.c |

## Emerging Tasks

| Text |
| --- |
| Check and log refrigerator, freezer, and cooler temperatures. |

## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Clean food preparation areas, facilities, or equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Clean tableware. | 4.A.3.a.1.h |
| Cook foods. | 4.A.3.a.2.c |
| Assess equipment functioning. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Prepare foods for cooking or serving. | 4.A.3.a.2.c |
| Report information to managers or other personnel. | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Operate cash registers. | 4.A.4.c.1.c |
| Process customer bills or payments. | 4.A.4.c.1.c |
| Clean food service areas. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Arrange food for serving. | 4.A.3.a.2.c |
| Store supplies or goods in kitchens or storage areas. | 4.A.3.a.2.ak |
| Serve food or beverages. | 4.A.3.a.1.o |
| Package food or supplies. | 4.A.3.a.2.ap |
| Measure ingredients. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Assist chefs or caterers with food or drink preparation. | 4.A.3.a.2.c |
| Stock serving stations or dining areas with food or supplies. | 4.A.3.a.2.ak |
| Remove trash. | 4.A.3.a.1.e |
| Prepare hot or cold beverages. | 4.A.3.a.2.c |
| Move equipment, supplies or food to required locations. | 4.A.3.a.1.j |
| Cut cooked or raw foods. | 4.A.3.a.2.c |
| Distribute resources to patrons or employees. | 4.A.4.c.3.c |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Mix ingredients. | 4.A.3.a.1.a |
| Present food or beverage information or menus to customers. | 4.A.4.a.3.c |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.27 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3 |
| Service Orientation | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3 |
| Food Production | knowledge | 2.94 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 2.88 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 2.88 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 2.88 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 2.88 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 2.88 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 2.88 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 2.88 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 2.75 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 2.75 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 2.69 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 2.62 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 2.62 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 2.62 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 2.62 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 2.62 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 2.62 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 2.5 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 2.5 |
| Stamina | ability | 2.5 |
| Extent Flexibility | ability | 2.5 |
| English Language | knowledge | 2.44 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 2.38 |
| Far Vision | ability | 2.38 |
| Administration and Management | knowledge | 2.34 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 2.25 |
| Static Strength | ability | 2.25 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | ability | 2.25 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 2.12 |
| Time Sharing | ability | 2.12 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 2.12 |
| Mathematics | essential_skill | 2 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| CBORD Foodservice Suite | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| CBORD NetRecipe | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Culinary Software Services ChefTec | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| EGS CALCMENU | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| iPro | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Master Cook Deluxe Professional Cook | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Mealmaster Cookbook Wizard | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| MicroBlast Recipe Wizard for Windows | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Quizlet | Computer based training software | no | no |
| Recipe software | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| ValuSoft MasterCook | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| YouTube | Video creation and editing software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.68 |
| Spend Time Standing | 4.42 |
| Contact With Others | 4.18 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.18 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.15 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.1 |
| Time Pressure | 3.91 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 3.89 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.61 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 3.59 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.43 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.36 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.29 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.27 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.25 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.17 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.11 |
| Telephone Conversations | 3.01 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.01 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 2.93 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 2.74 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 2.74 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 2.6 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 2.5 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.5 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 2.27 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 2.27 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 2.17 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 2.13 |
| E-Mail | 1.99 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 1.96 |
| Level of Competition | 1.95 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 1.94 |
| Exposed to Disease or Infections | 1.81 |
| Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance | 1.8 |
| Public Speaking | 1.78 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 1.7 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 1.69 |
| Conflict Situations | 1.65 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 1.61 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| Doctoral Degree | 4.15 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 2.73 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 1.2 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.4 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 4.8 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.18 |
| Social | career_interest_type | 2.71 |
| Culinary Art | specific_interest_area | 2.46 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 2.23 |
| Dependability | work_style | 2.14 |
| Artistic | career_interest_type | 1.9 |
| Personal Service | specific_interest_area | 1.88 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 1.84 |
| Health Care Service | specific_interest_area | 1.69 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 1.35 |
| Management/Administration | specific_interest_area | 1.23 |
| Social Service | specific_interest_area | 1.21 |
| Accounting | specific_interest_area | 1.2 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 1.2 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 35-2014.00 | role-35-2014-00 | Cooks, Restaurant | Primary-Short |
| 35-2015.00 | role-35-2015-00 | Cooks, Short Order | Primary-Short |
| 35-3023.00 | role-35-3023-00 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | Primary-Short |
| 35-2012.00 | role-35-2012-00 | Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | Primary-Short |
| 51-3021.00 | role-51-3021-00 | Butchers and Meat Cutters | Primary-Short |
| 35-9011.00 | role-35-9011-00 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | Primary-Long |
| 51-3011.00 | role-51-3011-00 | Bakers | Primary-Long |
| 35-3041.00 | role-35-3041-00 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | Primary-Long |
| 35-2011.00 | role-35-2011-00 | Cooks, Fast Food | Primary-Long |
| 35-3023.01 | role-35-3023-01 | Baristas | Primary-Long |
| 35-1011.00 | role-35-1011-00 | Chefs and Head Cooks | Supplemental |
| 35-2013.00 | role-35-2013-00 | Cooks, Private Household | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Hospitality, Events, & Tourism | hospitality-events-tourism |

## Education Level

- **Category:** No formal educational credential

## Study Programs


## Market

- **Median Wage:** 34220
- **Mean Wage:** 33940
- **Pct10Wage:** 23490
- **Pct25Wage:** 28740
- **Pct75Wage:** 37540
- **Pct90Wage:** 44260
- **Employment:** 888770
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 72 | 72 | Accommodation and Food Services | Sector | 515940 | 33280 | 6.29 |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector | 233660 | 35270 | 2.6 |
| 722511 | 722511 | Full-Service Restaurants | National industry | 214960 | 35540 | 6.96 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 54410 | 33800 | 0.41 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 33580 | 36190 | 0.43 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 15000 | 35130 | 0.2 |
| 71 | 71 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | Sector | 10030 | 35720 | 0.66 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 9920 | 33500 | 0.19 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 7840 | 33040 | 0.51 |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector | 3400 | 33390 | 0.13 |
| 721120 | 721120 | Casino Hotels | National industry | 3040 | 38770 | 1.56 |
| 624120 | 624120 | Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | National industry | 2930 | 29680 | 0.21 |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 722511 | 722511 | Full-Service Restaurants | National industry | 214960 | 6.96 |
| 72 | 72 | Accommodation and Food Services | Sector | 515940 | 6.29 |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector | 233660 | 2.6 |
| 721120 | 721120 | Casino Hotels | National industry | 3040 | 1.56 |
| 711110 | 711110 | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | National industry | 280 | 0.67 |
| 71 | 71 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | Sector | 10030 | 0.66 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 7840 | 0.51 |
| 623220 | 623220 | Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities | National industry | 690 | 0.46 |
- **Count:** 28

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.87 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -1.226416 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -1.701858 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.9339887 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 20
- **Percentile:** 17
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 9 | felten_aioe |
| 8 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 44 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -1.226416 | 9 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.05555555555555555 | 8 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.13682859394722605 | 44 | Moderate | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.87
- **Percentile:** 74
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.018518518518518517
- **Beta:** 0.037037037037037035
- **Gamma:** 0.05555555555555555

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage. | 0.019617187532096184 | 4.42 |
| Keep records of the quantities of food used. | 0.0026704024912801087 | 3.96 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -3.4
- **Growth Percentile:** 15
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 148
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 97
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 902.7
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 871.8

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Ai Playbook

- **Trusted Task Count:** 2
- **Task Count:** 4
- **Total Sample:** 187
- **Autonomy Median:** 3
- **Dominant Collaboration:** learning
- **Automation Share:** 20
- **Augmentation Share:** 55.38

### Collaboration

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| learning | 55.38 |
| directive | 20 |

### Use Case

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| personal | 92.31 |

### Delegated Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Collaboration | Autonomy Median | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage. | 0.009901237654706838 | learning | 3 | 99 |
| Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas. | 0.0031003875484435553 | learning | 3 | 31 |

### Boundary Tasks

| Task | Human Needed Percent | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage. | 100 | 99 |
| Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas. | 100 | 31 |

### Seed Prompts

| Prompt | Collaboration |
| --- | --- |
| Teach me how to store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage, then check my work as I try it myself. | learning |
| Teach me how to receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas, then check my work as I try it myself. | learning |
- **Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 31
- **Skills:** 32
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 15
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** da8535f8a4af643e