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Food Service

Fast Food and Counter Workers

Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Fast Food and Counter Workers
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Median pay

$30,480
Median annual pay for Fast Food and Counter Workers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

6.1%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

904,300
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

3,796,000
Estimated U.S. employment for Fast Food and Counter Workers in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+233,200
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

No formal educational credential
Typical additional preparation: Short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Monitoring
  3. 3Speaking
  4. 4Critical Thinking
  5. 5Reading Comprehension
  6. 6Learning Strategies

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Food Production
  4. 4Mathematics
  5. 5Computers and Electronics
  6. 6Administration and Management

Abilities

  1. 1Near Vision
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Oral Expression
  4. 4Speech Clarity
  5. 5Speech Recognition
  6. 6Time Sharing

Career interests

  1. 1Conventional
  2. 2Realistic
  3. 3Social
  4. 4Enterprising
  5. 5Artistic
  6. 6Investigative

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Cooperation
  3. 3Social Orientation
  4. 4Optimism
  5. 5Attention to Detail
  6. 6Self-Control

Work activities

  1. 1Getting Information
  2. 2Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  3. 3Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
  4. 4Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  5. 5Assisting and Caring for Others
  6. 6Training and Teaching Others

Work context

  1. 1Contact With Others
  2. 2Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  3. 3Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
  4. 4Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
  5. 5Freedom to Make Decisions
  6. 6Spend Time Standing

Representative tasks

  • Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.
  • Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food.
  • Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.
  • Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.
  • Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.
  • Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars.
  • Monitor and order supplies or food items, and restock as necessary to maintain inventory.
  • Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.

Software and tools

Facebook · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Windows · hot technologyAldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants ProCompris softwareFoodman Home-DeliveryIntuit QuickBooks Point of SaleMenu and nutrition database softwareMICROS Systems HSI Profits SeriesNCR Advanced Checkout SolutionNCR NeighborhoodPOS

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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