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What Does it Take to Be a Fast Food Cook?
Occupation 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.
Life As a Fast Food Cook: What Do They Do?
- Read food order slips or receive verbal instructions as to food required by patron, and prepare and cook food according to instructions.
- Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.
- Order and take delivery of supplies.
- Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.
- Mix ingredients, such as pancake or waffle batters.
- Serve orders to customers at windows, counters, or tables.
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Fast Food Cook Skills
When polled, Fast Food Cooks say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles
- Pizza Baker
- Fryline Attendant
- Pizza Maker
- Restaurant Worker
- Pancake Professional
Job Demand for Fast Food Cooks
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 517,600 jobs in the United States for Fast Food Cook. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Fast Food Cook. The BLS estimates 67,200 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Fast Food Cook are Washington, Alaska, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, West Virginia, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Fast Food Cook
The average yearly salary of a Fast Food Cook ranges between $17,390 and $29,290.
Fast Food Cooks who work in Hawaii, Washington, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Fast Food Cooks make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $19,220 |
Alaska | $26,420 |
Arizona | $23,620 |
Arkansas | $20,840 |
California | $25,330 |
Colorado | $24,130 |
Connecticut | $27,040 |
Delaware | $21,450 |
District of Columbia | $29,220 |
Florida | $22,550 |
Georgia | $20,430 |
Hawaii | $28,160 |
Idaho | $19,360 |
Illinois | $21,690 |
Indiana | $20,000 |
Iowa | $20,500 |
Kansas | $19,760 |
Kentucky | $20,670 |
Louisiana | $19,440 |
Maine | $23,700 |
Maryland | $24,830 |
Massachusetts | $28,620 |
Michigan | $22,580 |
Minnesota | $24,370 |
Mississippi | $18,270 |
Missouri | $20,800 |
Montana | $22,550 |
Nebraska | $22,490 |
Nevada | $22,230 |
New Hampshire | $22,400 |
New Jersey | $23,410 |
New Mexico | $20,840 |
New York | $26,210 |
North Carolina | $19,020 |
North Dakota | $25,000 |
Ohio | $21,630 |
Oklahoma | $19,380 |
Oregon | $26,350 |
Pennsylvania | $20,530 |
Rhode Island | $24,950 |
South Carolina | $19,810 |
South Dakota | $22,280 |
Tennessee | $20,490 |
Texas | $21,000 |
Utah | $23,750 |
Vermont | $25,660 |
Virginia | $20,320 |
Washington | $28,960 |
West Virginia | $21,330 |
Wisconsin | $22,780 |
Wyoming | $20,210 |
What Tools do Fast Food Cooks Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Fast Food Cooks may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
- Point of sale POS software
- Plexis Software Plexis POS
- RestaurantPlus PRO
- Aldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants Pro
- Foodman Home-Delivery
How to Become a Fast Food Cook
What education or degrees do I need to become a Fast Food Cook?
What work experience do I need to become a Fast Food Cook?
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Fast Food Cook might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.