Food preparation and serving related occupations: pay, outlook, and education
Official pay, projected growth, openings, and entry requirements for 831 U.S. occupations. Filter, sort, and open any career for state and metro pay, skills, programs, and licenses.
17 occupations. Wages Verified data Growth and openings Official projection
| Occupation | Median wage | Change 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Employment | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chefs and head cooks SOC 35-1011 | $62,470 | +6.6% | 25,200 | 220,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Cooks, private household SOC 35-2013 | $47,940 | +5.1% | 5,000 | 35,400 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers SOC 35-1012 | $44,080 | +5.4% | 171,500 | 1,236,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Cooks, all other SOC 35-2019 | $37,690 | +5.2% | 2,800 | 19,700 | No formal educational credential |
| Cooks, institution and cafeteria SOC 35-2012 | $37,450 | +2.8% | 62,900 | 454,000 | No formal educational credential |
| Cooks, restaurant SOC 35-2014 | $37,390 | +12.1% | 218,600 | 1,417,500 | No formal educational credential |
| Cooks, short order SOC 35-2015 | $35,880 | -5.2% | 17,400 | 138,700 | No formal educational credential |
| Food preparation and serving related workers, all other SOC 35-9099 | $35,840 | +5.5% | 11,800 | 85,100 | No formal educational credential |
| Food servers, nonrestaurant SOC 35-3041 | $35,360 | +4.5% | 48,800 | 296,300 | No formal educational credential |
| Food preparation workers SOC 35-2021 | $35,320 | -3.0% | 135,700 | 908,500 | No formal educational credential |
| Waiters and waitresses SOC 35-3031 | $35,230 | +2.0% | 423,100 | 2,284,400 | No formal educational credential |
| Dishwashers SOC 35-9021 | $34,810 | -1.0% | 68,900 | 480,400 | No formal educational credential |
| Bartenders SOC 35-3011 | $34,340 | +5.0% | 121,200 | 762,600 | No formal educational credential |
| Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers SOC 35-9011 | $33,980 | +5.3% | 95,300 | 546,600 | No formal educational credential |
| Fast food and counter workers SOC 35-3023 | $31,200 | +5.8% | 827,400 | 3,855,900 | No formal educational credential |
| Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop SOC 35-9031 | $31,200 | +3.4% | 107,100 | 444,200 | No formal educational credential |
| Cooks, fast food SOC 35-2011 | $30,890 | +0.6% | 86,400 | 640,500 | No formal educational credential |
Employment is from BLS Employment Projections (2025) when OEWS does not publish it. Median wage is the OEWS May 2025 national median annual wage; hourly medians are shown where BLS publishes hourly wages only.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.