Bartenders vs Cooks, Fast Food
Median pay is about $3k higher for Bartenders. Both usually start with the same education: no formal credential.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Bartenders | Cooks, Fast Food |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $34,340, higher | $30,890 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $27,400, higher | $27,260 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $47,570, higher | $37,260 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +5.0% Growing fast, higher | +0.6% Stable |
| Openings a year | 121,200 | 86,400 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | No formal credential | No formal credential |
| Difficulty modeled | 2 / 5 | 1.6 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 11th pct | 25th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading comprehension, active learning, monitoring.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.