Customize Your Journey
For Educators: Military Resources
For Educators: Military Resources

Fast Food and Counter Workers

Median Salary
29,540
Job Outlook
+5%
In-Demand

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

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.

What sectors do they work in?

Private for profit

93%

Self-employed

2%

Private not for profit

2%

State and local government

2%

Federal Government

1%

What is the job outlook?

Overall employment of food and beverage serving and related workers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 1,172,600 openings for food and beverage serving and related workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$20,050

10%

$29,540

Median

$37,010

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • Less than high school

    53%

  • High school

    26%

  • Some college

    15%

  • Post-secondary certificate

    3%

Skills and Interest

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Food Production
  • Education and Training
  • English Language

What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Realistic

You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.

Conventional

You like structure, staying organized, and working with systems to get things done efficiently.

Enterprising

You love taking risks in business or personal projects — and have the leadership skills to back it up.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test

Related Occupations

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.