Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.
Cooks, Fast Food
SOC: 35-2011 O*NET: 35-2011.00
Median Salary
$30,890
per year
Job Growth
📉 0.6%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
86.4
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Job Zone 1
Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.
What does a Cooks, Fast Food do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$22,580
10th percentile
Early Career
$27,260
25th percentile
Median
$30,890
50th percentile
Experienced
$37,260
75th percentile
Top Earners
$42,910
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$22,580
25th
$27,260
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$30,890
Mean: $32,390
75th
$37,260
90th
$42,910
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $20,330 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $27,260 and $37,260
- •Salary spread is 32.4% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 641,070 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:640,500
Top Industries
Food Services and Drinking Places96.8%
Restaurants and Other Eating Places96%
Full-Service Restaurants5%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+0.6%
Annual Openings:86,400
Employment Projections
2025 (Current)640,500
Current
2035 (Projected)644,100
+0.6%
+3,600
Employment Change
+0.6%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: More slowly than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Cooks, Fast Food professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
124,440 jobs$42,0501.66x
North Carolina
81,980 jobs$27,1904.02x
Missouri
55,780 jobs$29,8904.61x
Texas
36,240 jobs$28,2800.62x
Alabama
26,740 jobs$27,8703.07x
Florida
22,600 jobs$29,9000.55x
Kentucky
21,750 jobs$23,5002.64x
West Virginia
16,490 jobs$23,1205.70x
Michigan
14,340 jobs$29,4600.79x
Tennessee
14,020 jobs$28,3301.04x
Illinois
13,430 jobs$34,9600.53x
Georgia
12,940 jobs$26,9400.64x
Virginia
12,520 jobs$29,9500.74x
Ohio
12,310 jobs$26,8700.54x
New York
11,710 jobs$35,7700.29x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025
Key Growth Factors
Standard growth expectations for this occupation
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Service Orientation
100%
#2
Administration and Management
100%
#3
Oral Comprehension
100%
#4
Transportation
88%
#5
Near Vision
80%
#6
Communications and Media
76%
#7
Public Safety and Security
64%
#8
Information Ordering
60%
#9
Customer and Personal Service
52%
#10
Active Listening
40%
Skills Overview
Service Orientation
advanced5.0
100%
Administration and Management
advanced5.0
100%
Oral Comprehension
advanced5.0
100%
Transportation
intermediate4.4
88%
Near Vision
intermediate4.0
80%
Communications and Media
intermediate3.8
76%
Public Safety and Security
intermediate3.2
64%
Information Ordering
intermediate3.0
60%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Service Orientation
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Administration and Management
advancedImportance100%
knowledge
5.0/5.0
Oral Comprehension
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Transportation
intermediateImportance88%
knowledge
4.4/5.0
Near Vision
intermediateImportance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0
Communications and Media
intermediateImportance76%
knowledge
3.8/5.0
Public Safety and Security
intermediateImportance64%
knowledge
3.2/5.0
Information Ordering
intermediateImportance60%
abilities
3.0/5.0
Customer and Personal Service
basicImportance52%
knowledge
2.6/5.0
Active Listening
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
English Language
basicImportance40%
knowledge
2.0/5.0
Speech Recognition
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers67%
2 shared skills
Food Preparation Workers67%
2 shared skills
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant67%
2 shared skills
Shampooers67%
2 shared skills
Amusement and Recreation Attendants50%
2 shared skills
Fast Food and Counter Workers50%
2 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Service Orientation
- ✓Administration and Management
- ✓Transportation
Learn on the Job:
- →Public Safety and Security
- →Customer and Personal Service
- →Information Ordering
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Service Orientation
- ✓Administration and Management
- ✓Transportation
- ✓Oral Comprehension
- ✓Near Vision
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Service Orientation
- ★Transportation
- ★Oral Comprehension
- ★Near Vision
- ★Communications and Media
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Cooks, Fast Food
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
19
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Documentation & Record-Keeping (8)General Responsibilities (8)Operations & Execution (1)Planning & Development (1)Communication & Coordination (1)
1
Maintain sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping100% perform100%
2
Clean food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution94% perform96%
4
Verify that prepared food meets requirements for quality and quantity.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping91% perform94%
5
Take food and drink orders and receive payment from customers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Read food order slips or receive verbal instructions as to food required by patron, and prepare and cook food according to instructions.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping85% perform90%
7
Wash, cut, and prepare foods designated for cooking.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development82% perform88%
8
Measure ingredients required for specific food items.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Cook and package batches of food, such as hamburgers or fried chicken, prepared to order or kept warm until sold.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping76% perform84%
10
Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on documentation & record-keeping activities
- •37% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Cooks, Fast Food
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Cooks, Fast Food professionals typically have a RCE Holland code and highly value relationships
RRealistic
CConventional
EEnterprising
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Cooks, Fast Food
Integrity
ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level3.77
Cooperation
ImportantCooperation
Importance Level3.71
Dependability
ImportantDependability
Importance Level3.68
Social Orientation
ImportantSocial Orientation
Importance Level3.61
Complete Work Styles Profile
Integrity
3.8
Cooperation
3.7
Dependability
3.7
Social Orientation
3.6
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 1
Little or No Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or less
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.
Training:
Short demonstration or on-the-job training
💼 Experience Requirement
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • On-the-job training is typical
- • Tasks can be learned within a few days or weeks
- • Basic skills development
1
Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.
On-the-job training is typicalTasks can be learned within a few days or weeksBasic skills development
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Explore educational programs that can help you become a Cooks, Fast Food.
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