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Food Preparation Workers

General Information

Description

Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit87.44%
  2. State and local government5.56%
  3. Private, not for profit3.81%
  4. Self-employed2.50%
  5. Federal government0.43%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Hospitality & Tourism

Job Outlook

Projected Job Growth (2022 - 2032)
-5%
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Job Outlook

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Employment of food preparation workers is projected to decline 5 percent from 2022 to 2032. Despite declining employment, about 157,100 openings for food preparation workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Salary

Salary Information

Median Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$29,790

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

Salary Range Salary varies based on years of experience, degree level and location.

$19,020
$37,300
No Information for this section

Education & Interests

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 44%
  • Less than high school 37%
  • Post-master's certificate 13%
  • Bachelor's degree 3%
  • Some college 0%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Associate's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • First professional degree 0%
  • Post-secondary certificate 0%

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:

  • Realistic — You have an interest in physically working with equipment, materials or structures.
  • Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.

Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administration and Management
  • Production and Processing
  • Education and Training
  • Public Safety and Security

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.