Home / Career Explorer / Food Preparation and Service

Fast Food and Counter Workers

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$30480	904300	6.1%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$30480

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

904300

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

6.1%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
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.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Less than a High School Diploma

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: N.A.

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Detailed Work Activities

Communicate with customers to resolve complaints or ensure satisfaction.
Process customer bills or payments.
Clean food preparation areas, facilities, or equipment.
Clean tableware.
Balance receipts.
Operate cash registers.
Take customer orders.
Serve food or beverages.
Cook foods.
Clean food service areas.
Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
Prepare hot or cold beverages.
Collect dirty dishes or other tableware.
Package food or supplies.
Communicate dining or order details to kitchen personnel.
Arrange food for serving.
Stock serving stations or dining areas with food or supplies.
Train food preparation or food service personnel.
Move equipment, supplies or food to required locations.
Arrange tables or dining areas.
Add garnishes to food.
Deliver items.
Prepare foods or meals.
Manage preparation of special meals or diets.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.
Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food.
Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.
Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.
Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.
Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars.
Monitor and order supplies or food items, and restock as necessary to maintain inventory.
Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.
Brew coffee and tea, and fill containers with requested beverages.
Clean and organize eating, service, and kitchen areas.
Prepare daily food items, and cook simple foods and beverages, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, or coffee, using proper safety precautions and sanitary measures.
Prepare and serve cold drinks, frozen milk drinks, or desserts, using drink-dispensing, milkshake, or frozen-custard machines.
Wrap menu items such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout.
Set up dining areas for meals, and clear them following meals.
Collect and return dirty dishes to the kitchen for washing.
Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment.
Deliver orders to kitchens, and pick up and serve food when it is ready.
Perform personnel activities, such as supervising and training employees.
Add relishes and garnishes to food orders, according to instructions.
Distribute food to servers.
Select food items from serving or storage areas and place them in dishes, on serving trays, or in take-out bags.
Notify kitchen personnel of shortages or special orders.
Take customers' orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders.
Plan, prepare, and deliver meals to individuals with special dietary needs.
Replenish foods at serving stations.
Wash dishes, glassware, and silverware after meals.
Arrange tables and decorations according to instructions.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Innovation

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Session has been expired