Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other
Food Preparation and Serving Related
Ingredients get prepped for cooking, dishes get plated or finished for service, and work areas stay clean under food-safety and sanitation rules. Inventory help and basic customer service often sit alongside the kitchen tasks, depending on the site. The work shows up in kitchens, cafeterias, and other food-service settings that need extra hands not covered by a more specific job title. Duties shift with the operation: one day more prep, another more plating or counter help. Suits people who like mixed kitchen-and-service tasks, following hygiene rules, and switching between prep, plating, and counter help.
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$35'840
Median Wage Market Position
$35'840
What you might do
- Prep ingredients before cooking begins
- Help plate and present finished dishes
- Wipe down food prep work areas
- Follow food safety and sanitation rules
- Help count and restock kitchen supplies
- Help guests with basic service requests
Skills that matter
- Preparing ingredients for the cooks
- Plating dishes for service
- Keeping prep areas clean
- Following kitchen sanitation guidelines
- Tracking what the kitchen is short on
- Answering basic guest questions
AI & the future of this role
Routine prep and serving steps are relatively standardized, so kitchens may automate portions of plating, ordering, and simple assembly. Hands-on timing, food safety habits, and live guest contact still matter, but the role looks more exposed overall.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details