compare.careers

Food service

Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

All food preparation and serving related workers not listed separately.

Median pay

$35,840

Growth to 2035

+6%

about as fast as average

Openings a year

11,800

Time to qualify*

1 month

* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.

Pay

Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

$35,84010% earn under $25,470 · middle half $31,200–$39,880 · top 10% over $47,550
Bar: middle 50% of workers. Line: 10th to 90th percentile. Dot: median. BLS OEWS, May 2025, national.

Getting in

Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Prior experience
None

Calculate your switch to food preparation and serving related workers, all other

What the work is like

Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

Dealing with the public

Rarely
Constantly

Time pressure

Rarely
Constantly

Freedom to make decisions

Little
A lot
Average worker ratings, 1 to 5. O*NET 31.0 work context survey.

Core tasks

Outlook and AI

Food preparation and serving related workers, all other held 85,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 89,700 by 2035 (+6%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).

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