Food Preparation Workers vs Cooks, Restaurant AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Food Preparation Workers

51 shared · 6 different

core competencies

medium risk

Cooks, Restaurant

Side-by-Side Comparison

Cooks, Restaurant leads 5–0

Metric	Food Preparation Workers	Cooks, Restaurant
Risk Score	36.7%	31.6%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	71th	48th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	7 / 15	5 / 15
Median Salary	$34,220	$36,830
Employment	889K	1.5M

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Food Production

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Customer and Personal Service

Perceptual Speed

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

English Language

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Food Preparation Workers

26%

total discount

Cooks, Restaurant

28%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Food Preparation Workers

7 of 15 at risk

88%Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.

87%Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.

64%Keep records of the quantities of food used.

59%Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.

57%Distribute food to waiters and waitresses to serve to customers.

Cooks, Restaurant

5 of 15 at risk

86%Estimate expected food consumption, requisition or purchase supplies, or procure food from storage.

77%Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.

71%Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.

59%Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment.

58%Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods.

Wage Comparison

Cooks, Restaurant earns +$2,610(+8%) vs Food Preparation Workers

Food Preparation WorkersCooks, Restaurant

10th

$23,490$28,010

25th

$28,740$31,310

Median

$34,220$36,830

75th

$37,540$43,610

90th

$44,260$47,340

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Food Preparation Workers2028–2035

Cooks, Restaurant2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Cooks, Restaurant has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Food Preparation Workers.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Food Preparation Workers

$21,654

from $34,220

Cooks, Restaurant

$25,192

from $36,830

After adjusting for AI risk, Cooks, Restaurant offers $3,537 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Food

Unique to Cooks,

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Creativity

Decision Complexity

Regulatory Barriers

Fine Manipulation

Food Preparation WorkersCooks, Restaurant

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