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For Educators: Military Resources
For Educators: Military Resources

Food Preparation Workers

Median Salary
32,420
Job Outlook
-4%

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

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

What sectors do they work in?

Private for profit

86%

State and local government

6%

Private not for profit

4%

Self-employed

3%

Federal Government

1%

What is the job outlook?

Employment of food preparation workers is projected to decline 4 percent from 2023 to 2033. About 155,200 openings for food preparation 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?

$20,160

10%

$32,420

Median

$40,390

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • High school

    69%

  • Some college

    22%

  • Doctoral degree

    4%

  • Less than high school

    2%

  • Post-secondary certificate

    1%

Skills and Interest

Which skill sets are the most valuable to possess?

Skills

  • Verbal Skills

    Low

  • Leadership

    Low

  • Math and Science Skills

    Low

  • Technology Design and Control

    Low

  • Equipment Operation and Maintenance

    Mid

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

    Low

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Production and Processing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Food Production
  • English Language
  • Administration and Management

What challenges will you likely face in the workplace?

Workplace

  • Physical Activity

    High

  • Time Pressure

    Mid

  • Repetitiveness

    Mid

  • Responsibility

    Mid

  • Exposure to Job Hazards

    Low

  • Decision Making

    Low

  • Level Of Competition

    Low

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.

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