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.
Fixing5
Weigh or measure ingredients.
+Weigh 500 grams of flour on the scale for the batch, tare the bowl first, level the ingredient without…
Weigh or measure ingredients.
+Weigh 500 grams of flour on the scale for the batch, tare the bowl first, level the ingredient without packing, record the exact weight on the prep sheet, and set the measured portion in the labeled container for the line cook.
The tools that do the workCulinary Software Services ChefTecESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Wash, peel, and cut vegetables and fruits
+Wash, peel, and dice 10 pounds of carrots: scrub under running water, peel to remove blemishes, cut to…
Wash, peel, and cut vegetables and fruits
+Wash, peel, and dice 10 pounds of carrots: scrub under running water, peel to remove blemishes, cut to 1/2-inch dice, place in sanitized pan, and date-and-time the container before refrigerating for tonight's service.
The tools that do the workjob descriptionsO*NET
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Keep workstation organized and sanitary
+Organize your station at the end of shift: sanitize all surfaces and tools, return unused ingredients to…
Keep workstation organized and sanitary
+Organize your station at the end of shift: sanitize all surfaces and tools, return unused ingredients to labeled storage, empty and line the waste bin, restock prep trays and gloves, and note anything spoiled or broken on the shift log for morning staff.
The tools that do the workjob descriptionsO*NET
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Support kitchen staff with ingredient prep
+Wash, trim, and portion 20 kilograms of chicken thighs into labeled meal-size packs, follow the kitchen's…
Support kitchen staff with ingredient prep
+Wash, trim, and portion 20 kilograms of chicken thighs into labeled meal-size packs, follow the kitchen's hygiene checks, store them at 4°C on shelf C2, and leave a note for chef Maria if any pieces fall below spec.
The tools that do the workCulinary Software Services ChefTecjob descriptionsO*NET
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Assist in managing inventory and food labels
+Audit the dry-store and fridge labels for all dairy, sauces, and prepared stocks, relabel any items missing…
Assist in managing inventory and food labels
+Audit the dry-store and fridge labels for all dairy, sauces, and prepared stocks, relabel any items missing use-by dates, record corrections on the inventory log and alert procurement lead James if stock is below par.
The tools that do the workCBORD Foodservicejob descriptionsO*NET
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Keeping the record1
Keep records of the quantities of food used.
+Record quantities used from tonight's dinner service: meat, veg, and sauces, note batch numbers and wasted…
Keep records of the quantities of food used.
+Record quantities used from tonight's dinner service: meat, veg, and sauces, note batch numbers and wasted portions, update the daily usage sheet so the morning chef Anna can reconcile purchases.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work14
Direct workers in task performance
+Assign stations for the morning shift: Jose on vegetable prep, Aisha on protein portioning, Mark on sauce…
Direct workers in task performance
+Assign stations for the morning shift: Jose on vegetable prep, Aisha on protein portioning, Mark on sauce batching; show each their step sequence, critical temperatures, and cleaning checkpoints, and collect confirmation by 9:30 so we hit service with no cross-contamination.
The tools that do the workCBORD FoodserviceESCO
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Follow hygienic procedures during food processing
+Run the daily hygiene checklist with the prep team: verify handwash method, sanitizer concentrations, glove…
Follow hygienic procedures during food processing
+Run the daily hygiene checklist with the prep team: verify handwash method, sanitizer concentrations, glove changes after raw protein, cold-hold temps logged every hour, and sign off before the first tray leaves the line.
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Help with food prep for cold foods and salads
+Prepare the cold food and salad station for service: wash and chill lettuces, portion dressings into dated…
Help with food prep for cold foods and salads
+Prepare the cold food and salad station for service: wash and chill lettuces, portion dressings into dated containers, label and rotate stock, assemble a tossed salad kit for 50 with chilled proteins separated, and flag any missing produce for tonight's order.
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 per diet orders for the noon run: check each tray against the printed diet list,…
Assemble meal trays with foods in accordance with patients' diets.
+Assemble patient meal trays per diet orders for the noon run: check each tray against the printed diet list, place foods in the correct compartments, seal hot and cold items separately, note allergies on the tray card, and set aside untouched special trays for ward 4B.
The tools that do the workCBORD NetRecipeO*NET
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Stir and strain soups and sauces.
+Stir and strain the two kettles of chicken soup on rotation: keep a steady scoop to prevent sticking, pass…
Stir and strain soups and sauces.
+Stir and strain the two kettles of chicken soup on rotation: keep a steady scoop to prevent sticking, pass both batches through a fine sieve into cooled containers, label with cook time and temperature, and return to blast chiller within 30 minutes.
The tools that do the workCulinary Software Services ChefTecO*NET
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Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.
+Scrape plate leftovers into the designated waste bins, separate compostable food from landfill, rinse…
Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.
+Scrape plate leftovers into the designated waste bins, separate compostable food from landfill, rinse salvageable containers into the wash area, record any large food waste items on today's waste log, and secure the bins to avoid pests.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeO*NET
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Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.
+Run the till during lunch rush: ring orders accurately, accept cash, card or meal plan payments, count the…
Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.
+Run the till during lunch rush: ring orders accurately, accept cash, card or meal plan payments, count the drawer before and after shift, give exact change, and note any discrepancies with receipts for Anna in finance.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
+Package take-out orders and serve counter customers: use proper portion containers, seal hot and cold items…
Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
+Package take-out orders and serve counter customers: use proper portion containers, seal hot and cold items separately, include utensils and condiments, label with customer name and order time, and hand to customer while confirming the order.
The tools that do the workBarrington Software CookenPro CommercialO*NET
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Slice and grind meats and seafood
+Trim, slice and grind 15 kg of pork shoulder and 10 kg of fresh tuna to spec for tonight's service, label…
Slice and grind meats and seafood
+Trim, slice and grind 15 kg of pork shoulder and 10 kg of fresh tuna to spec for tonight's service, label each pack with cut, grind date and use-by, chill to 3°C within one hour, discard any off-smelling pieces.
The tools that do the workCulinary Software Services ChefTecjob descriptions
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Store ingredients properly and rotate stock
+Check storeroom and move oldest sealed dairy, produce and proteins to the front, log rotation on the…
Store ingredients properly and rotate stock
+Check storeroom and move oldest sealed dairy, produce and proteins to the front, log rotation on the inventory sheet, adjust temperatures if needed, discard any past-use-by items and note quantities for reorder.
The tools that do the workCBORD Foodservicejob descriptions
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Help with basic cooking tasks like steaming vegetables
+Steam three batches of seasonal vegetables to order: 8 kg broccoli, 6 kg carrots, 5 kg green beans; hold on…
Help with basic cooking tasks like steaming vegetables
+Steam three batches of seasonal vegetables to order: 8 kg broccoli, 6 kg carrots, 5 kg green beans; hold on steam table at safe temperature, season each batch the same way and record batch times for quality control.
The tools that do the workBarrington Software CookenPro Commercialjob descriptions
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Control and regulate temperatures
+Monitor walk-in and service line temps every hour for the next shift, log any deviations, adjust thermostats…
Control and regulate temperatures
+Monitor walk-in and service line temps every hour for the next shift, log any deviations, adjust thermostats or move product to safe holding if over limits, and escalate to the kitchen manager if temps fail twice.
The tools that do the workiProESCO
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Monitor cooking process
+Stand with the oven and stove during the pastry run, check timings and colors every ten minutes, rotate trays…
Monitor cooking process
+Stand with the oven and stove during the pastry run, check timings and colors every ten minutes, rotate trays to even bake, note any hotspots and report adjustments so the next batch hits the program's specs.
The tools that do the workMaster Cook Deluxe Professional CookESCO
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Assign specific baking tasks
+Assign buns, croissant and tart tasks to Emma, Luis and Jana for tomorrow's morning shift, list exact…
Assign specific baking tasks
+Assign buns, croissant and tart tasks to Emma, Luis and Jana for tomorrow's morning shift, list exact quantities, proof and bake times for each person, and send the task sheet so everyone knows their station.
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