Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars.
AI Impact Summary
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 44/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 90% of all analyzed occupations. Of 14 analyzed tasks, 5 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
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)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Food Servers, Nonrestaurant 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
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
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AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path
by Pluralsight
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Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Customer Service Fundamentals
by Knowledge Accelerators
Estimated Impact
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.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
14 tasks analyzed
Examine trays to ensure that they contain required items.
Place food servings on plates or trays according to orders or instructions.
Monitor food distribution, ensuring that meals are delivered to the correct recipients and that guidelines, such as those for special diets, are followed.
Load trays with accessories such as eating utensils, napkins, or condiments.
Clean or sterilize dishes, kitchen utensils, equipment, or facilities.
Monitor food preparation or serving techniques to ensure that proper procedures are followed.
Take food orders and relay orders to kitchens or serving counters so they can be filled.
Carry food, silverware, or linen on trays or use carts to carry trays.
Determine where patients or patrons would like to eat their meals and help them get situated.
Prepare food items, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, or beverages.
Remove trays and stack dishes for return to kitchen after meals are finished.
Stock service stations with items, such as ice, napkins, or straws.
Total checks, present them to customers, and accept payment for services.
Record amounts and types of special food items served to customers.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examine trays to ensure that they contain required items. | 80Estimated | 65.0% | 5% | |
| Place food servings on plates or trays according to orders or instructions. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 15% | |
| Monitor food distribution, ensuring that meals are delivered to the correct recipients and that guidelines, such as those for special diets, are followed. | 70Estimated | 77.2% | 10% | |
| Load trays with accessories such as eating utensils, napkins, or condiments. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 10% | |
| Clean or sterilize dishes, kitchen utensils, equipment, or facilities. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 10% | |
| Monitor food preparation or serving techniques to ensure that proper procedures are followed. | 70Estimated | 77.2% | 5% | |
| Take food orders and relay orders to kitchens or serving counters so they can be filled. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 8% | |
| Carry food, silverware, or linen on trays or use carts to carry trays. | 70Estimated | 61.0% | 10% | |
| Determine where patients or patrons would like to eat their meals and help them get situated. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 5% | |
| Prepare food items, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, or beverages. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 8% | |
| Remove trays and stack dishes for return to kitchen after meals are finished. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Stock service stations with items, such as ice, napkins, or straws. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Total checks, present them to customers, and accept payment for services. | 98Estimated | 88.4% | 3% | |
| Record amounts and types of special food items served to customers. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 23.2%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$34,460
per year
Mean Wage
$35,030
per year
Employment
272K
workers
Wage Range
$26,590 - $44,770
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
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Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsNonfarm Animal Caretakers
28%Median salary: $33,470
Higher risk than 31% of other occupations
Waiters and Waitresses
34%Median salary: $33,760
Higher risk than 61% of other occupations
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
34%Median salary: $32,670
Higher risk than 62% of other occupations
Food Preparation Workers
37%Median salary: $34,220
Higher risk than 71% of other occupations
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
38%Median salary: $35,930
Higher risk than 75% of other occupations
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
40%Median salary: $30,380
Higher risk than 79% of other occupations
Stock Clerks, Sales Floor
42%Higher risk than 85% of other occupations
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
43%Higher risk than 89% of other occupations
Cooks, Fast Food
46%Median salary: $30,160
Higher risk than 93% of other occupations
Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop
47%Higher risk than 94% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change