Food Preparation Workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
Also called: Cook · Cook Aide · Deli Clerk (Delicatessen Clerk) · Diet Aide · Dietary Aide · Food Prep (Food Preparer)
Median pay (national)
$34,220
$23,490–$44,260 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
888,770
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-3.4%
~148,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for food preparation workers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $44,260 versus $23,490 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $34,220 leaves roughly 29% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -3.4% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 148,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $38,950, +14% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $20,640 — a 89% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.
- Weigh or measure ingredients.
- Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.
- Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.
Tools & technology
- Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial
- CBORD Foodservice Suite
- CBORD NetRecipe
- Culinary Software Services ChefTec
- EGS CALCMENU
- iPro
- Master Cook Deluxe Professional Cook
- Mealmaster Cookbook Wizard
- MicroBlast Recipe Wizard for Windows
- Quizlet
- Recipe software
- ValuSoft MasterCook
- YouTube
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Food Production
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Psychology
- Education and Training
- Public Safety and Security