Food Preparation Workers vs Food Servers, Nonrestaurant AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Food Preparation Workers

31 shared · 14 different

core competencies

medium risk

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

Side-by-Side Comparison

Food Preparation Workers leads 3–1

Metric	Food Preparation Workers	Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
Risk Score	36.7%	44.0%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	71th	90th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	7 / 15	7 / 14
Median Salary	$34,220	$34,460
Employment	889K	272K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Customer and Personal Service

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Developing and Building Teams

Scheduling Work and Activities

Administration and Management

Performing General Physical Activities

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Coaching and Developing Others

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People

Processing Information

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Food Preparation Workers

26%

total discount

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

23%

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.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

7 of 14 at risk

88%Total checks, present them to customers, and accept payment for services.

87%Take food orders and relay orders to kitchens or serving counters so they can be filled.

87%Record amounts and types of special food items served to customers.

77%Monitor food distribution, ensuring that meals are delivered to the correct recipients and that guidelines, such as those for special diets, are followed.

77%Monitor food preparation or serving techniques to ensure that proper procedures are followed.

Wage Comparison

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant earns +$240(+1%) vs Food Preparation Workers

Food Preparation WorkersFood Servers, Nonrestaurant

10th

$23,490$26,590

25th

$28,740$29,800

Median

$34,220$34,460

75th

$37,540$37,550

90th

$44,260$44,770

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Food Preparation Workers2028–2035

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant2028–2035

20242030203520402045

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

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Food Preparation Workers

$21,654

from $34,220

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

$19,294

from $34,460

After adjusting for AI risk, Food Preparation Workers offers $2,360 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Food

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Regulatory Barriers

Fine Manipulation

Creativity

Social Intelligence

Food Preparation WorkersFood Servers, Nonrestaurant

Find transitions from Food Preparation Workers Find transitions from Food Servers, Nonrestaurant