National
| Median wages (2008) |
$9.26 hourly, $19,260 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
195,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Slower than average (3% to 6%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
62,000 additional employees |
35-2015.00 - Cooks, Short Order
Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables.
Sample of reported job titles:
Cook, Line Cook, Grill Cook, Pizza Maker, Deli Cook (Delicatessen Cook), Prep Cook (Preparation Cook), Snack Bar Cook
Tasks
- Clean food preparation equipment, work areas, and counters or tables.
- Plan work on orders so that items served together are finished at the same time.
- Grill, cook, and fry foods such as french fries, eggs, and pancakes.
- Take orders from customers and cook foods requiring short preparation times, according to customer requirements.
- Grill and garnish hamburgers or other meats such as steaks and chops.
- Complete orders from steam tables, placing food on plates and serving customers at tables or counters.
- Perform simple food preparation tasks such as making sandwiches, carving meats, and brewing coffee.
- Order supplies and stock them on shelves.
- Accept payments, and make change or write charge slips as necessary.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Commercial use cutlery — Boning knives; Chefs' knives; Paring knives; Serrated blade knives |
| Commercial use food slicers — Meat slicers; Slicing machines |
| Commercial use graters — Fruit zesters; Graters |
| Commercial use ranges — Electric ovens; Electric stoves; Gas ovens; Gas stoves |
| Commercial use steamers — Steam kettles; Steamers |
| Desktop computers |
| Domestic strainers or colanders — Colanders; Strainers |
| Point of sale POS terminal — Point of sale POS computer terminals |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Inventory management software — Inventory control software |
| Point of sale POS software — Aldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants Pro; Foodman Home-Delivery; Plexis Software Plexis POS; RestaurantPlus PRO |
