Jobs Similar to Food Preparation Workers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to food preparation workers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Cooks (Fast Food), Butchers and Meat Cutters and Cooks (Short Order).
Food Preparation Workers: $35,320 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Food Preparation Workers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooks, Fast FoodSame group | 81% | $30,890−13% | High school |
| 2 | Butchers and Meat Cutters | 78% | $40,140+14% | High school |
| 3 | Cooks, Short OrderSame group | 78% | $35,880+2% | High school |
| 4 | Cooks, RestaurantSame group | 78% | $37,390+6% | High school |
| 5 | Bakers | 76% | $37,160+5% | High school |
| 6 | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 76% | $35,510+1% | High school |
| 7 | Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaSame group | 75% | $37,450+6% | High school |
| 8 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | 75% | $35,3600% | High school |
| 9 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 74% | $33,980−4% | High school |
| 10 | Baristas | 73% | $31,200Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 11 | Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 73% | $40,130+14% | High school |
| 12 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 73% | $31,200−12% | High school |
| 13 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 72% | $37,330+6% | High school |
| 14 | Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | 72% | $35,730+1% | High school |
| 15 | Dishwashers | 70% | $34,810−1% | High school |
| 16 | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 70% | $38,300+8% | High school |
| 17 | Packers and Packagers, Hand | 70% | $36,280+3% | High school |
| 18 | Cooks, Private HouseholdSame group | 69% | $47,940+36% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Bartenders | 69% | $34,340−3% | High school |
| 20 | Chefs and Head Cooks | 69% | $62,470+77% | Training or associate |
- 1Cooks, Fast Food
81% similar · $30,890 (−13%) · High school · Same group
- 2Butchers and Meat Cutters
78% similar · $40,140 (+14%) · High school
- 3Cooks, Short Order
78% similar · $35,880 (+2%) · High school · Same group
- 4Cooks, Restaurant
78% similar · $37,390 (+6%) · High school · Same group
- 5Bakers
76% similar · $37,160 (+5%) · High school
- 6Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
76% similar · $35,510 (+1%) · High school
- 7Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
75% similar · $37,450 (+6%) · High school · Same group
- 8Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
75% similar · $35,360 (0%) · High school
- 9Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
74% similar · $33,980 (−4%) · High school
- 10Baristas
73% similar · $31,200 (broader group) · High school
- 11Slaughterers and Meat Packers
73% similar · $40,130 (+14%) · High school
- 12Fast Food and Counter Workers
73% similar · $31,200 (−12%) · High school
- 13Stockers and Order Fillers
72% similar · $37,330 (+6%) · High school
- 14Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
72% similar · $35,730 (+1%) · High school
- 15Dishwashers
70% similar · $34,810 (−1%) · High school
- 16Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
70% similar · $38,300 (+8%) · High school
- 17Packers and Packagers, Hand
70% similar · $36,280 (+3%) · High school
- 18Cooks, Private Household
69% similar · $47,940 (+36%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 19Bartenders
69% similar · $34,340 (−3%) · High school
- 20Chefs and Head Cooks
69% similar · $62,470 (+77%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than food preparation workers.
- Butchers and Meat Cutters78% similar · $40,140 (+14%)
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers73% similar · $40,130 (+14%)
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers70% similar · $38,300 (+8%)
- Cooks, Restaurant78% similar · $37,390 (+6%)
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria75% similar · $37,450 (+6%)
- Stockers and Order Fillers72% similar · $37,330 (+6%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for food preparation workers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where food preparation workers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like food preparation workers
What jobs are most similar to food preparation workers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Cooks (Fast Food) (81% similar), Butchers and Meat Cutters (78% similar), Cooks (Short Order) (78% similar), Cooks (Restaurant) (78% similar) and Bakers (76% similar).
Which jobs like food preparation workers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Chefs and Head Cooks ($62,470, +77%; usually training or an associate degree), Cooks (Private Household) ($47,940, +36%; usually training or an associate degree) and Butchers and Meat Cutters ($40,140, +14%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with food preparation workers ($35,320). Without more preparation than food preparation workers usually need: Butchers and Meat Cutters, Slaughterers and Meat Packers and Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.