Fast Food and Counter Workers
35-3023.00
Bright Outlook Updated 2025

The occupation code you requested, 35-3021.00 (Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food), is no longer in use. In the future, please use 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers) instead.

Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.

Sample of reported job titles: Cafe Server, Cafeteria Server, Cafeteria Worker, Counter Worker, Deli Worker (Delicatessen Worker), Dietary Aide, Food Server, Food Service Worker, Server, Snack Bar Attendant

Also see: Baristas

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

  • Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.
  • Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food.
  • Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.
  • Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.
  • Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.
  • Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars.
  • Monitor and order supplies or food items, and restock as necessary to maintain inventory.
  • Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.
  • Brew coffee and tea, and fill containers with requested beverages.
  • Clean and organize eating, service, and kitchen areas.
  • Prepare daily food items, and cook simple foods and beverages, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, or coffee, using proper safety precautions and sanitary measures.
  • Prepare and serve cold drinks, frozen milk drinks, or desserts, using drink-dispensing, milkshake, or frozen-custard machines.
  • Wrap menu items such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout.
  • Set up dining areas for meals, and clear them following meals.
  • Collect and return dirty dishes to the kitchen for washing.
  • Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment.
  • Deliver orders to kitchens, and pick up and serve food when it is ready.
  • Perform personnel activities, such as supervising and training employees.
  • Add relishes and garnishes to food orders, according to instructions.
  • Distribute food to servers.
  • Select food items from serving or storage areas and place them in dishes, on serving trays, or in take-out bags.
  • Notify kitchen personnel of shortages or special orders.
  • Take customers' orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders.
  • Plan, prepare, and deliver meals to individuals with special dietary needs.
  • Replenish foods at serving stations.
  • Wash dishes, glassware, and silverware after meals.
  • Arrange tables and decorations according to instructions.
  • Check and monitor food temperatures while cooking.
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Technology Skills

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Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Detailed Work Activities

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Work Context

  • Contact With Others — 89% responded “Constant contact with others.”
  • Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team — 86% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Deal With External Customers or the Public in General — 58% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People — 78% responded “Every day.”
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 73% responded “A lot of freedom.”
  • Spend Time Standing — 54% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams — 62% responded “Every day.”
  • Physical Proximity — 48% responded “Very close (near touching).”
  • Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals — 43% responded “A lot of freedom.”
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 68% responded “Every day.”
  • Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 64% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 50% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 54% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities — 42% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body — 57% responded “About half the time.”
  • Spend Time Walking or Running — 38% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 30% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Telephone Conversations — 22% responded “Never.”
  • Health and Safety of Other Workers — 40% responded “Moderate responsibility.”
  • Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers — 41% responded “High responsibility.”
  • Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — 32% responded “Never.”
  • Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings — 29% responded “Every day.”
  • Conflict Situations — 42% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 19% responded “Minor results.”

Experience Requirements

Job Zone

Title
Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
Education
Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Related Experience
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
Job Zone Examples
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include agricultural equipment operators, dishwashers, floor sanders and finishers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, baristas, and maids and housekeeping cleaners.
SVP Range
(Below 4.0)

Training & Credentials

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Worker Requirements

Skills

  • Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
  • Food Production — Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
  • Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:

  • 56%
     
    Less than high school diploma required
  • 24%
     
    High school diploma or equivalent required
  • 17%
     
    Some college, no degree required

Worker Characteristics

Abilities

  • Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Interests

Interest code: RCE
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  • Realistic — Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
  • Conventional — Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
  • Enterprising — Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Work Styles

  • Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
  • Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
  • Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
  • Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  • Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
  • Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
  • Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
  • Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
  • Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Workforce Characteristics

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wages (2024)
$14.65 hourly, $30,480 annual
State wages
Local wages
Employment (2024)
3,796,000 employees
Projected growth (2024-2034)
Faster than average (5% to 6%)
Projected job openings (2024-2034)
904,300
State trends
Top industries (2024)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 wage data and 2024-2034 employment projections . “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2024-2034). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Job Openings on the Web

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Professional Associations

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