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Life As a Food Preparation Worker
Example of Food Preparation Worker Job Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
List of Food Preparation Worker Job Duties
- Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
- Butcher and clean fowl, fish, poultry, and shellfish to prepare for cooking or serving.
- Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
- Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.
- Load dishes, glasses, and tableware into dishwashing machines.
- Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.
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Skills Needed to be a Food Preparation Worker
When polled, Food Preparation Workers 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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Salad Bar Clerk
- Deli Slicer
- Coffee Brewer
- Food Service Worker
- Kitchen Team Crew Member
Food Preparation Worker Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 871,100 jobs in the United States for Food Preparation Worker. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 68,600 new jobs for Food Preparation Worker by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 157,700 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Food Preparation Worker are Arizona, Utah, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Ohio, or West Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Food Preparation Workers Salary
The typical yearly salary for Food Preparation Workers is somewhere between $18,040 and $33,670.
Food Preparation Workers who work in District of Columbia, Washington, or Nevada, make the highest salaries.
How much do Food Preparation Workers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $22,010 |
| Alaska | $29,550 |
| Arizona | $25,000 |
| Arkansas | $22,810 |
| California | $27,910 |
| Colorado | $27,500 |
| Connecticut | $28,940 |
| Delaware | $22,360 |
| District of Columbia | $31,510 |
| Florida | $24,190 |
| Georgia | $21,550 |
| Hawaii | $28,660 |
| Idaho | $22,910 |
| Illinois | $25,200 |
| Indiana | $22,070 |
| Iowa | $22,930 |
| Kansas | $21,360 |
| Kentucky | $22,340 |
| Louisiana | $18,820 |
| Maine | $25,690 |
| Maryland | $25,530 |
| Massachusetts | $29,980 |
| Michigan | $24,080 |
| Minnesota | $27,450 |
| Mississippi | $19,310 |
| Missouri | $22,340 |
| Montana | $22,600 |
| Nebraska | $24,290 |
| Nevada | $28,910 |
| New Hampshire | $24,560 |
| New Jersey | $24,450 |
| New Mexico | $22,440 |
| New York | $28,520 |
| North Carolina | $22,490 |
| North Dakota | $26,160 |
| Ohio | $23,090 |
| Oklahoma | $20,750 |
| Oregon | $26,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $23,100 |
| Rhode Island | $29,730 |
| South Carolina | $23,400 |
| South Dakota | $22,710 |
| Tennessee | $22,160 |
| Texas | $23,540 |
| Utah | $24,520 |
| Vermont | $27,220 |
| Virginia | $22,200 |
| Washington | $30,340 |
| West Virginia | $22,060 |
| Wisconsin | $23,010 |
| Wyoming | $23,780 |
What Tools & Technology do Food Preparation Workers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Food Preparation Workers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- YouTube
- Culinary Software Services ChefTec
- ValuSoft MasterCook
- EGS CALCMENU
- iPro
- Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial
How do I Become a Food Preparation Worker?
Individuals working as a Food Preparation Worker have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Food Preparation Worker?
Who Employs Food Preparation Workers?
Food Preparation Workers work in the following industries:
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Those who work as a Food Preparation Worker sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.