Food Service Careers
16 careers in Food Preparation and Serving Related (SOC group 35), with BLS median pay and the education most workers have.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
| # | Career | Median pay | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baristas | $31,200Broader BLS group | High school |
| 2 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,200 | High school |
| 3 | Waiters and Waitresses | $35,230 | High school |
| 4 | Cooks, Restaurant | $37,390 | High school |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,080 | High school |
| 6 | Food Preparation Workers | $35,320 | High school |
| 7 | Bartenders | $34,340 | High school |
| 8 | Cooks, Fast Food | $30,890 | High school |
| 9 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $33,980 | High school |
| 10 | Dishwashers | $34,810 | High school |
| 11 | Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,450 | High school |
| 12 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | High school |
| 13 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,360 | High school |
| 14 | Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,470 | Training or associate |
| 15 | Cooks, Short Order | $35,880 | High school |
| 16 | Cooks, Private Household | $47,940 | Training or associate |
- 1Baristas
$31,200 (broader group) · High school
- 2Fast Food and Counter Workers
$31,200 · High school
- 3Waiters and Waitresses
$35,230 · High school
- 4Cooks, Restaurant
$37,390 · High school
- 5First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
$44,080 · High school
- 6Food Preparation Workers
$35,320 · High school
- 7Bartenders
$34,340 · High school
- 8Cooks, Fast Food
$30,890 · High school
- 9Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
$33,980 · High school
- 10Dishwashers
$34,810 · High school
- 11Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
$37,450 · High school
- 12Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
$31,200 · High school
- 13Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
$35,360 · High school
- 14Chefs and Head Cooks
$62,470 · Training or associate
- 15Cooks, Short Order
$35,880 · High school
- 16Cooks, Private Household
$47,940 · Training or associate
How this list is made: All careers in this BLS occupation group that have full data, most common jobs first (BLS employment). Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025 national median.