Food Service · Career brief

Fast Food and Counter Workers

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Fast Food and Counter Workers at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$31,200

Lower national median pay

2025 national median. Bottom quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

5.8%

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

827,400

Exceptional hiring volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Top 10% for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

No formal credential

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

No formal educational credential. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Structured / detail

Accuracy, process, and organized information matter

Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.

ChooseField take

The strongest national signals are growth and opening volume; each ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if structured, detail-oriented work appeals to you and you are comfortable with entry without a formal credential. Main tradeoff: Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.

Before choosing, compare:Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Fast Food and Counter Workers with another field Explore rankings in Food Service Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$31,200

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

5.8%employment growth827,400openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

No formal educational credential; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

3,855,900

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Fast food and counter workers (35-3023).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.
Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food.
Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.
Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.
The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Getting Information3.5
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public3.5
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others3.4
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.3
Assisting and Caring for Others3.1

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Conventional5.0
Realistic4.8
Social3.5
Enterprising3.5
Artistic1.5
Investigative1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Food Production Mathematics Computers and Electronics Sales and Marketing

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Prepare the same item more than once under a time and cost limit, then improve consistency using another person's feedback.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Fast food and counter workers nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Monitoring, Speaking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options