Cooks, Fast Food
SOC: 35-2011.00

Description:

Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.

National Salary Information:

Hourly Statistics:

Annual Statistics:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data.

Employment Projections:

Employment (2014):
524,400 employed

Projected (2024):
444,000 employed

Projected growth (2014-2024)


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 2014-2024 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Alternate Titles:

  • Cashier
  • Cook
  • Crew Member
  • Crew Person
  • Crew Trainer
  • Fast Food Cook
  • Fast Food Fry Cook
  • Fry Cook
  • Fryline Attendant
  • Grill Cook
  • Line Cook
  • Pancake Professional
  • Pizza Baker
  • Pizza Chef
  • Pizza Cook
  • Pizza Maker
  • Prep Cook
  • Restaurant Worker
  • Specialty Cook

    • Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed

    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.

    Education:

    Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.

    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.

    Required Skills:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Negotiation
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Troubleshooting
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Management of Material Resources
  • Management of Personnel Resources

    • Knowledge Used:

  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Production and Processing
  • Food Production
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Psychology
  • Geography
  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Foreign Language
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
  • Transportation

    • Tasks:

  • Maintain sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas.
  • Clean food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils.
  • Operate large-volume cooking equipment such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.
  • Verify that prepared food meets requirements for quality and quantity.
  • Take food and drink orders and receive payment from customers.
  • Read food order slips or receive verbal instructions as to food required by patron, and prepare and cook food according to instructions.
  • Wash, cut, and prepare foods designated for cooking.
  • Measure ingredients required for specific food items being prepared.
  • Cook and package batches of food, such as hamburgers and fried chicken, which are prepared to order or kept warm until sold.
  • Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.
  • Serve orders to customers at windows, counters, or tables.
  • Clean, stock, and restock workstations and display cases.
  • Prepare specialty foods such as pizzas, fish and chips, sandwiches, and tacos, following specific methods that usually require short preparation time.
  • Prepare dough, following recipe.
  • Schedule activities and equipment use with managers, using information about daily menus to help coordinate cooking times.
  • Prepare and serve beverages such as coffee and fountain drinks.
  • Mix ingredients such as pancake or waffle batters.
  • Order and take delivery of supplies.
  • Pre-cook items such as bacon, to prepare them for later use.

    • Tools & Technology:

  • Bakers' peels
  • Cappuccino makers
  • Carbonated beverage dispensers
  • Cash registers
  • Chefs' knives
  • Commercial coffeemakers
  • Convection ovens
  • Deep fat fryers
  • Electric ovens
  • Food scales
  • Food warmers
  • Gas ovens
  • Griddles
  • Grills
  • Hot dog cookers
  • Ice-making machines
  • Intercom systems
  • Juice dispensers
  • Milkshake and smoothie machines
  • Mixers
  • Pizza ovens
  • Point of sale POS computer terminals
  • Restaurant blenders
  • Restaurant food processors
  • Slicing machines
  • Soft-serve ice cream machines
  • Touch screen monitors
  • Aldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants Pro
  • Foodman Home-Delivery
  • Plexis Software Plexis POS
  • Point of sale POS software
  • RestaurantPlus PRO

    • food preparation and serving related

    industry stats

    SOC: 35-0000

    Total Employed: 12,577,080

    Average Annual Salary: $22,850