Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Food Preparation and Serving · SOC 35-9099 · O*NET 35-9099.00
All food preparation and serving related workers not listed separately.
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other fall under the Food Preparation and Serving category in the U.S. occupational classification. Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other earn a median salary of $34,830 per year, ranking in the top 96% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +6.4% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do food preparation and serving related workers, all other earn?
The median annual wage for food preparation and serving related workers, all other is $34,830. That puts food preparation and serving related workers, all other at #774 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $24,040 |
| 25th percentile | $29,890 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $34,830 |
| 75th percentile | $38,860 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,360 |
| Median hourly wage | $16.74/hr |
Is food preparation and serving related workers, all other a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for food preparation and serving related workers, all other is +6.4%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 90K positions in 2024 to 96K in 2034, a net change of 6K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What education does my child need to become food preparation and serving related workers, all other?
Many food preparation and serving related workers, all other enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about food preparation and serving related workers, all other
What is the median salary for food preparation and serving related workers, all other?
The median annual salary for food preparation and serving related workers, all other is $34,830 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is food preparation and serving related workers, all other a growing career?
BLS projects +6.4% growth for food preparation and serving related workers, all other from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become food preparation and serving related workers, all other?
The typical entry path requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to food preparation and serving related workers, all other?
Related occupations within the Food Preparation and Serving category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.