Food service
Food preparation worker
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
Median pay
$35,320
Growth to 2035
−3%
declining
Openings a year
135,700
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Food preparation worker
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Food preparation worker: 6% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
- Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
- Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
- Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
- Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
- Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
- Weigh or measure ingredients.
- Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.
Also called: Cook · Cook Aide · Deli Clerk (Delicatessen Clerk) · Diet Aide · Dietary Aide · Food Prep (Food Preparer) · Food Service Aide · Food Service Worker (FSW)
Outlook and AI
Food preparation workers held 908,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 881,300 by 2035 (−3%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Food preparation worker vs. Cooks, restaurant
- Food preparation worker vs. Cooks, short order
- Food preparation worker vs. Fast food and counter workers
- Food preparation worker vs. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Food preparation worker vs. Butchers and meat cutters
- Food preparation worker vs. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Food preparation worker vs. Baker
- Food preparation worker vs. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Food preparation worker vs. Cooks, fast food