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Employment Percentage
-21.66149068
SOC ID
35-2021
SOC Title
Food Preparation Workers
ONET ID
35-2021.00
ONET Concat ID
35202100
Median Salary
28454.87
Ed Level High School
82.290001
Ed Level Certificate
0.63
Ed Level Some College
0
Ed Level Associates
0
Ed Level Bachelors
3.94
Ed Level Masters
13.14
Ed Level Doctors
0
Typical Ed Level
a high school diploma or less
Career 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.
Core Tasks
  • Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
  • Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
  • Portion and wrap the food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
  • Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures.
  • Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
  • Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
  • Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.
  • Wash, peel, and cut various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to prepare for cooking or serving.
  • Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.
  • Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
  • Distribute food to waiters and waitresses to serve to customers.
  • Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
  • Cut, slice or grind meat, poultry, and seafood to prepare for cooking.
  • Weigh or measure ingredients.
  • Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.
  • Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.
  • Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
  • Add cutlery, napkins, food, and other items to trays on assembly lines in hospitals, cafeterias, airline kitchens, and similar establishments.
  • Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.
  • Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.
  • Load dishes, glasses, and tableware into dishwashing machines.
  • Make special dressings and sauces as condiments for sandwiches.
  • Mix ingredients for green salads, molded fruit salads, vegetable salads, and pasta salads.
Start Annual Earnings
26746.87
Top Annual Earnings
37015.97
EMSI Career Title Slug
food-preparation-worker