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Food Preparation Worker

What is a Food Preparation Worker?

Career Description 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

  • Butcher and clean fowl, fish, poultry, and shellfish to prepare for cooking or serving.
  • Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.
  • Make special dressings and sauces as condiments for sandwiches.
  • Portion and wrap the food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
  • Mix ingredients for green salads, molded fruit salads, vegetable salads, and pasta salads.
  • Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.

Things a Food Preparation Worker Should Know How to Do

Food Preparation Workers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

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.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

  • Raw Shellfish Preparer
  • Kitchen Food Assembler
  • Food Service Aide
  • Seafood Preparer
  • Parer

Is There Job Demand for Food Preparation Workers?

There were about 871,100 jobs for Food Preparation Worker in 2016 (in the United States). 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. The BLS estimates 157,700 yearly job openings in this field.

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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.

How Much Does a Food Preparation Worker Make?

The salary for Food Preparation Workers ranges between about $18,040 and $33,670 a year.

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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 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

Becoming a Food Preparation Worker

Are there Food Preparation Workers education requirements?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Food Preparation Worker?

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Those interested in being a Food Preparation Worker may also be interested in:

Career changers with experience as a Food Preparation Worker sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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