Food Preparation Workers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Food Preparation Workers fall under the Food Preparation and Serving category in the U.S. occupational classification. Food Preparation Workers earn a median salary of $34,220 per year, ranking in the top 98% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -3.4% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. 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 workers earn?

The median annual wage for food preparation workers is $34,220. That puts food preparation workers at #790 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.

Is food preparation workers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for food preparation workers is -3.4%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 902K positions in 2024 to 871K in 2034, a net change of -31K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do food preparation workers do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working food preparation workers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures.
2. 2.Stir and strain soups and sauces.
3. 3.Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
4. 4.Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
5. 5.Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
6. 6.Weigh or measure ingredients.
7. 7.Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.
8. 8.Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.

Top skills for food preparation workers

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become food preparation worker?

Many food preparation workers 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

• Chefs and Head Cooks
  $60,990 median
• Cooks, Private Household
  $44,530 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
  $42,010 median
• Cooks, Restaurant
  $36,830 median
• Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
  $36,450 median
• Cooks, All Other
  $36,210 median

Common questions parents ask about food preparation workers