Takeover Tracker
37%medium risk

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.

Higher risk than 71% of occupations
Checking for existing plan...

How AI Impacts Each Task

31 tasks analyzed

Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 5%

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

Risk: 87.2%AI: 95EstimatedTime: 1%

Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.

Risk: 56.8%AI: 59.6ObservedTime: 3%

Portion and wrap the food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 3%

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

Risk: 88.0%AI: 97EstimatedTime: 1%

Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 5%

Keep records of the quantities of food used.

Risk: 64.2%AI: 37.5ObservedTime: 1%

Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 2%

Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 2%

Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 2%

Wash, peel, and cut various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to prepare for cooking or serving.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 5%

Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 2%

Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.

Risk: 59.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 1%

Distribute food to waiters and waitresses to serve to customers.

Risk: 57.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 1%

Cut, slice or grind meat, poultry, and seafood to prepare for cooking.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 2%

Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 1%

Weigh or measure ingredients.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 1%

Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.

Risk: 53.3%AI: 50.8ObservedTime: 2%

Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.

Risk: 41.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 1%

Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.

Risk: 30.4%AI: 53.45ObservedTime: 3%

Assemble meal trays with foods in accordance with patients' diets.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 1%

Add cutlery, napkins, food, and other items to trays on assembly lines in hospitals, cafeterias, airline kitchens, and similar establishments.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 1%

Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 2%

Distribute menus to hospital patients, collect diet sheets, and deliver food trays and snacks to nursing units or directly to patients.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 1%

Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 1%

Stir and strain soups and sauces.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 1%

Load dishes, glasses, and tableware into dishwashing machines.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 1%

Butcher and clean fowl, fish, poultry, and shellfish to prepare for cooking or serving.

Risk: 13.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 1%

Prepare and serve a variety of beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

Risk: 63.0%AI: 75EstimatedTime: 1%

Make special dressings and sauces as condiments for sandwiches.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 1%

Mix ingredients for green salads, molded fruit salads, vegetable salads, and pasta salads.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 45%

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Information Ordering5%

Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Reading Comprehension10%

Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Manual Dexterity80%

Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Service Orientation82%

Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Persuasion80%

Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Food Preparation Workers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

DataCampbeginner

SQL Fundamentals Skill Track

by DataCamp

21 hours$25/mo4.7Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Information Ordering

Estimated Impact

-6.6pt risk+$2K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Pluralsightbeginner

Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path

by Pluralsight

30 hours$29/mo4.5Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Monitoring

Estimated Impact

-4.7pt risk+$2K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Courseraintermediate

Leading People and Teams Specialization

by University of Michigan

~6 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Leadership

Estimated Impact

-3.8pt risk+$2K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Alternate Career Paths

See all transitions

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Cooks, Short Order

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Marketing Managers

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Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers

38%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $37,700

Higher risk than 74% of other occupations

Sales Managers

25%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 20% of other occupations

Waiters and Waitresses

34%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $33,760

Higher risk than 61% of other occupations

Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

+2.1

overall change

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

Less than High School38%
High School Diploma45%
Some College1%
Bachelor's Degree4%
Level 913%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

None42%
Up to 1 month10%
1-3 months14%
3-6 months2%
6 months - 1 year12%
1-2 years14%
4-6 years4%
6-8 years3%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None12%
Up to 1 month43%
1-3 months20%
3-6 months10%
6 months - 1 year1%
1-2 years14%

Related News

Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation

1 articles

Panera Eliminates Baking Staff, Challenging Blue-Collar Job Security Myths

Panera Bread has reportedly terminated its entire baking staff, shifting away from in-store skilled labor. The mass layoff serves as a stark warning that physical and blue-collar roles are just as vulnerable to corporate restructuring.

r/LayoffsApr 19

Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis