What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Food Preparation Workers in the U.S. earn more than $35,320 a year — the middle 80% land between $25,810 and $45,340. About 893,600 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Food Preparation Workers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Service and sales workers earn about ₹15,575 a month on average — around ₹1.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$35,320typical pay / year
893,600people in this work
$45,340+top 10% earn
₹1.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Fixing3
Weigh or measure ingredients.
+Weigh turkey breast, provolone, and pickled peppers to the prep-sheet amounts, record each weight on the…
Weigh or measure ingredients.
+Weigh turkey breast, provolone, and pickled peppers to the prep-sheet amounts, record each weight on the daily prep log immediately, and adjust batch sizes if any item is over or under by more than 5 percent before the lunch rush.
The tools that do the workCBORD NetRecipeESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Wash, peel, and cut vegetables and fruits
+Wash the romaine, peel the carrots, and cut cucumbers into half-moons to the portion sizes on the prep sheet,…
Wash, peel, and cut vegetables and fruits
+Wash the romaine, peel the carrots, and cut cucumbers into half-moons to the portion sizes on the prep sheet, place in labelled perforated pans to drain, and note any blemished produce on the handover board for the morning chef.
The tools that do the workCulinary Software Services ChefTecjob descriptionsO*NET
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Support kitchen staff with ingredient prep
+Pre-portion the roast beef, dice the onions, and blanch the peppers to the sizes and counts the kitchen…
Support kitchen staff with ingredient prep
+Pre-portion the roast beef, dice the onions, and blanch the peppers to the sizes and counts the kitchen requested, stage the pans with covers and the ticketed pickup time, and text Chef Maria if anything will be late.
The tools that do the workCBORD NetRecipejob descriptionsO*NET
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Move1
Keep workstation organized and sanitary
+Clear and sanitise the slicer, cutting boards, and counters after the morning run, rotate the two labelled…
Keep workstation organized and sanitary
+Clear and sanitise the slicer, cutting boards, and counters after the morning run, rotate the two labelled sanitiser buckets, restock clean towels and gloves, and update the cleaning checklist on the shift clipboard before you clock out.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptionsO*NET
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Keeping the record2
Assist in managing inventory and food labels
+Check par levels on the deli shelf, print new ingredient labels with use-by dates for the brisket and…
Assist in managing inventory and food labels
+Check par levels on the deli shelf, print new ingredient labels with use-by dates for the brisket and coleslaw, update the inventory sheet with quantities taken, and flag any item below par to Purchasing by 10 a.m.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Keep records of the quantities of food used.
+Log the morning batch usages into the daily consumption sheet: amounts taken from each tub, leftovers…
Keep records of the quantities of food used.
+Log the morning batch usages into the daily consumption sheet: amounts taken from each tub, leftovers returned to storage, and total yield; reconcile against the prep ticket and alert Manager Raul if totals differ by more than 8 percent.
The tools that do the workCulinary Software Services ChefTecjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work13
Direct workers in task performance
+Assign Jose and Maya to the morning prep line, have Jose trim and portion the brisket to stated weights, have…
Direct workers in task performance
+Assign Jose and Maya to the morning prep line, have Jose trim and portion the brisket to stated weights, have Maya label and date every package, run the walk-in temperature log every hour, and check sanitizer concentration before we open; report completion by 10:30 AM.
The tools that do the workCBORD FoodserviceESCO
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Follow hygienic procedures during food processing
+Prepare for the roast chicken shift by washing hands and changing gloves, wipe and sanitise the cutting…
Follow hygienic procedures during food processing
+Prepare for the roast chicken shift by washing hands and changing gloves, wipe and sanitise the cutting board, discard any items past hold time, weigh and record chicken portions, and restock the garnish station before serving begins; sign the hygiene log when finished.
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Help with food prep for cold foods and salads
+Help prep the cold case: wash and dry lettuces, portion sliced meats and cheeses to 4-ounce servings, label…
Help with food prep for cold foods and salads
+Help prep the cold case: wash and dry lettuces, portion sliced meats and cheeses to 4-ounce servings, label tubs with date and use-by, and stock the salad station so every ingredient is ready for the noon rush.
The tools that do the workCBORD Foodservicejob descriptionsO*NET
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Assemble meal trays with foods in accordance with patients' diets.
+Assemble patient meal trays according to their diet cards: check each tray against the card, portion…
Assemble meal trays with foods in accordance with patients' diets.
+Assemble patient meal trays according to their diet cards: check each tray against the card, portion proteins, starches and approved sides, seal and label with patient name and diet code, and place trays in the delivery rack for 11:30 service.
The tools that do the workCBORD NetRecipeO*NET
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Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.
+Scrape plates and prepware into the compost and garbage bins, rinse food scraps into the disposal, wash the…
Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.
+Scrape plates and prepware into the compost and garbage bins, rinse food scraps into the disposal, wash the trays immediately to avoid pests, and log the waste weight on the end-of-shift sheet.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.
+Run the register for counter sales, total the till at each break, accept cash and card, give correct change…
Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.
+Run the register for counter sales, total the till at each break, accept cash and card, give correct change from the drawer, and complete the cash count slip before depositing in the safe at shift end.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeO*NET
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Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
+Package take-out orders and plate counter meals: choose correct container, pack hot and cold items…
Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
+Package take-out orders and plate counter meals: choose correct container, pack hot and cold items separately, add condiments and napkins, label with order name and time, then call the customer when the order is ready.
The tools that do the workiProO*NET
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Slice and grind meats and seafood
+Slice and grind the pastrami, turkey breast, and smoked salmon to deli spec, label each package with grind…
Slice and grind meats and seafood
+Slice and grind the pastrami, turkey breast, and smoked salmon to deli spec, label each package with grind size and kill date, follow glove and sanitizer steps, and put finished portions on the top shelf of the prep fridge by noon.
The tools that do the workCulinary Software Services ChefTecjob descriptions
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Store ingredients properly and rotate stock
+Rotate incoming provolone, cream cheese tubs, and pickled vegetables so the oldest dated cartons are fronted,…
Store ingredients properly and rotate stock
+Rotate incoming provolone, cream cheese tubs, and pickled vegetables so the oldest dated cartons are fronted, record moved units to the dry storage log, reset temperatures and discard any items past use-by at shift end.
The tools that do the workCBORD Foodservicejob descriptions
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Help with basic cooking tasks like steaming vegetables
+Steam the broccoli, carrots, and baby corn to tender-crisp, drain and cool on the sheet pans, date and cover,…
Help with basic cooking tasks like steaming vegetables
+Steam the broccoli, carrots, and baby corn to tender-crisp, drain and cool on the sheet pans, date and cover, then place under the hot-holding lamp for service with the steamed fish at 11:30.
The tools that do the workMaster Cook Deluxe Professional Cookjob descriptions
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Control and regulate temperatures
+Check and log walk-in, prep fridge, and hot-hold temperatures on the shift chart, adjust thermostat on the…
Control and regulate temperatures
+Check and log walk-in, prep fridge, and hot-hold temperatures on the shift chart, adjust thermostat on the deli fridge if readings exceed safe range, and notify the manager if temperatures don’t stabilise within 15 minutes.
The tools that do the workiProESCO
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Monitor cooking process
+Watch the roast beef and smoked salmon during the cook, probe internal temps every 10 minutes, note any color…
Monitor cooking process
+Watch the roast beef and smoked salmon during the cook, probe internal temps every 10 minutes, note any color or texture changes, and pull to rest when they hit the service temperature while updating the cook log.
The tools that do the workBarrington Software CookenPro CommercialESCO
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Assign specific baking tasks
+Assign Jenny the rolls and Dan the rye loaves for this morning’s bake, give Jenny proofing times and Dan his…
Assign specific baking tasks
+Assign Jenny the rolls and Dan the rye loaves for this morning’s bake, give Jenny proofing times and Dan his oven racks, and write the completion times on the whiteboard so service knows when items finish.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeESCO
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Says who?
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Activities this job lives in
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Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
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Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses