Cooks, short order
SOC Code: 35-2015
Cooks, short order carries a 29% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $35,620 and -5.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 151,100 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 29% AI exposure, Cooks, short order sits 8 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 27% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Cooks, short order sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Cooks, short order has ai exposure of 29%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Cooks, short order vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Cooks, short order is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Cooks, short order (SOC 35-2015) carries an AI exposure score of 29%, placing it in the Medium 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 below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 151,100 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -5.6% change through 2034 - a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $35,620, 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 None 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, short order. 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. Clean food preparation equipment, work areas, and counters or tables.
- 2. Grill and garnish hamburgers or other meats, such as steaks and chops.
- 3. Restock kitchen supplies, rotate food, and stamp the time and date on food in coolers.
- 4. Complete orders from steam tables, placing food on plates and serving customers at tables or counters.
- 5. Plan work on orders so that items served together are finished at the same time.
- 6. Grill, cook, and fry foods such as french fries, eggs, and pancakes.
- 7. Perform food preparation tasks, such as making sandwiches, carving meats, making soups or salads, baking breads or desserts, and brewing coffee or tea.
- 8. Perform general cleaning activities in kitchen and dining areas.
- 9. Take orders from customers and cook foods requiring short preparation times, according to customer requirements.
- 10. Order supplies and stock them on shelves.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Time Management
- Speaking
- Coordination
- Service Orientation
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Complex Problem Solving
Knowledge Areas
- Food Production
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Communications and Media
- Chemistry
- Public Safety and Security
- Foreign Language
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Cooks, short order?
Cooks, short order has an AI exposure score of 29%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Cooks, short order?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Cooks, short order is projected to decline by 5.6% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 151,100 workers.
What skills are needed for Cooks, short order?
Key skills for Cooks, short order include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Time Management, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Cooks, short order earn?
The median annual wage for Cooks, short order is $35,620, 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, short order?
The typical entry-level education for Cooks, short order is No formal educational credential. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Cooks, short order?
Cooks, short order 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
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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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).