Food Preparation Workers

What the job really is

Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.

At a glance

• Sector: Food Preparation & Serving
• O*NET-SOC code: 35-2021
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
• Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
• Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
• Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
• Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
• Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
• Weigh or measure ingredients.
• Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.
• Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.
• Wash, peel, and cut various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to prepare for cooking or serving.
• Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures.
• Assemble meal trays with foods in accordance with patients' diets.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial, Belt conveyors, Blenders, Bread slicers, Brick ovens, CBORD Foodservice Suite, CBORD NetRecipe, Cappuccino machines, Charbroilers, Choppers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Cooks, Restaurant
• Cooks, Short Order
• Fast Food and Counter Workers
• Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
• Butchers and Meat Cutters
• Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
• Bakers
• Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Food Preparation Workers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.