Fast Food & Counter Workers vs Food Preparation Workers
Median pay is about $4k higher for Food Preparation Workers. 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 | Fast Food & Counter Workers | Food Preparation Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $31,200 | $35,320, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $27,700 | $29,950, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $36,070 | $38,550, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +5.8% Growing fast, higher | -3.0% Declining |
| Openings a year | 827,400 | 135,700 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | No formal credential | No formal credential |
| Difficulty modeled | 1.4 / 5 | 1.6 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 16th pct | 21st pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Fast Food & Counter Workers
- Writing
Only Food Preparation Workers
- Mathematics
Both lean on active listening, speaking, monitoring, reading comprehension, critical thinking.
More comparisons
Compare Fast Food & Counter Workers with
Compare Food Preparation Workers with
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.