National
| Median wages (2008) |
$8.96 hourly, $18,630 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
902,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Faster than average (14% to 20%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
451,000 additional employees |
35-2021.00 - Food Preparation Workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
Sample of reported job titles:
Dietary Aide, Prep Cook (Preparation Cook), Food Service Worker, Diet Aide, Food Service Aide, Dietary Assistant, Nutrition Aide, Food Preparer, Pantry Cook, Slicer
Tasks
- Clean work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, and silverware.
- Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
- Prepare a variety of foods according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures.
- Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
- Portion and wrap the food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
- Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.
- Inform supervisors when supplies are getting low or equipment is not working properly.
- Weigh or measure ingredients.
- Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
- Wash, peel and/or cut various foods to prepare for cooking or serving.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Belt conveyors |
| Cappuccino or espresso machines — Cappuccino machines; Espresso machines |
| Commercial use food choppers or cubers or dicers — Choppers; Dicers |
| Commercial use food slicers — Bread slicers; Electric meat and cheese slicers; Tomato slicers |
| Commercial use ovens — Brick ovens; Ovens |
| Commercial use rotisseries — Electronic chicken rotisseries; Roasters |
| Commercial use scales — Combination slicers/electronic portion scales; Food scales; Point of sale POS interface scales; Thermal label printing scales |
| Point of sale POS terminal — Point of sale POS systems |
| Soft serve machines — Frozen custard machines; Soft-serve ice cream machines |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Data base user interface and query software — Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial; EGS CALCMENU software; MicroBlast Recipe Wizard for Windows; ValuSoft MasterCook |
