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Food Preparation and Serving Occupations

Employment of food preparation and serving related occupations is projected to grow 11 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations, a gain of about 1.5 million jobs. Population and income growth are expected to result in greater consumer demand for food at a variety of dining places, including restaurants and grocery stores.

Food preparation and serving related occupations is the lowest paid occupational group, with a median annual wage of $24,220 in May 2019.

OCCUPATION	JOB SUMMARY	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2019 MEDIAN PAY
Bartenders	Bartenders mix drinks and serve them directly to customers or through wait staff.	No formal educational credential	$23,680
Chefs and Head Cooks	Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served.	High school diploma or equivalent	$51,530
Cooks	Cooks prepare, season, and cook a wide range of foods.	See How to Become One	$26,360
Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers	Food and beverage serving and related workers perform a variety of customer service, food preparation, and cleaning duties in eating and drinking establishments.	No formal educational credential	$23,000
Food Preparation Workers	Food preparation workers perform many routine tasks under the direction of cooks, chefs, or food service managers.	No formal educational credential	$24,800
Waiters and Waitresses	Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.	No formal educational credential	$22,890