Cooks, restaurant
SOC Code: 35-2014
Cooks, restaurant carries a 41% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $36,830 and +14.9% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 1,460,200 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Cooks, restaurant (SOC 35-2014) carries an AI exposure score of 41%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 1,460,200 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +14.9% change through 2034 — a strong growth outlook that compensates meaningfully for automation risk. Median annual compensation stands at $36,830, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires No formal educational credential, plus Less than 5 years of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Cooks, restaurant. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.
- 2. Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices.
- 3. Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons.
- 4. Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.
- 5. Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.
- 6. Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff.
- 7. Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods.
- 8. Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment.
- 9. Turn or stir foods to ensure even cooking.
- 10. Observe and test foods to determine if they have been cooked sufficiently, using methods such as tasting, smelling, or piercing them with utensils.
Key Skills Required
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Time Management
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Coordination
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Social Perceptiveness
Knowledge Areas
- Food Production
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Sales and Marketing
- Mechanical
- Chemistry
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Cooks, restaurant?
Cooks, restaurant has an AI exposure score of 41%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Cooks, restaurant?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Cooks, restaurant is projected to grow by 14.9% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 1,460,200 workers.
What skills are needed for Cooks, restaurant?
Key skills for Cooks, restaurant include Speaking, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Cooks, restaurant earn?
The median annual wage for Cooks, restaurant is $36,830, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Cooks, restaurant?
The typical entry-level education for Cooks, restaurant is No formal educational credential. Employers generally expect Less than 5 years of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Cooks, restaurant?
Cooks, restaurant roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
Explore More on PlainWorkforce
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).