35-2021.00

Food Preparation Workers

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

8.6OUT OF 10SAFEHIGH RISK
High Risk

The robots are coming for your paycheck

More at risk than 83% of occupations we track

Frey & Osborne (2013) estimated 87% probability of automation for this role
paper →
83%
of jobs safer
169
jobs riskier than this
-3.4%
projected growth

Disruption Vector

Disruption Type

Physical Robots

Physical robotics, autonomous machines, and automated equipment are the main threat to the physical tasks in this occupation.

Food Preparation Workers in pre-production roles—chopping, portioning, mixing—face growing automation from robot cutting systems and AI-guided food processing equipment in large commissary and institutional kitchens. For casual dining and fast-casual restaurants, AI-assisted prep workflows are improving efficiency. The 2025-2027 period will see selective automation of the most repetitive, high-volume prep tasks in large operations, while smaller kitchen environments retain human flexibility for varied menu items.

Disrupted byBoston DynamicsAmazon RoboticsTesla Optimus

Salary & Job Outlook

Median Annual Pay
$34,220
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
10-Year Job Growth
-3.4%
Little or no change
Education Required
No formal educational credential
Job Zone 2 / 5

AI Risk Timeline

8.6
9.3
10.0
10.0
Today
5 Years
10 Years
20 Years

Projection model: Based on current AI capability growth rates. High-risk occupations are projected to see compounding automation pressure, while human-centric roles show slower risk accumulation. These are statistical projections, not guarantees.

Skills Analysis — AI Vulnerability

AI can replicate (0)
AI-resistant (1)
Mixed
Active Listening65%
Speaking60%
Coordination62%
Monitoring58%
Time Management55%

Career Pivot Paths

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Food Preparation Workers

8.6
/ 10
High Risk
86% automation risk

"Let's just say your LinkedIn is about to get very busy."

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FOOD PREPARATION WORKERS
8.6

/ 10

HIGH RISK

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You're more at risk than a Regulatory Affairs Managers (score: 3.6). Maybe it's time to rethink.

This analysis is for informational purposes only and is based on statistical models and academic research. It does not constitute career advice and is not a guarantee of future employment outcomes. AI impact varies significantly by employer, region, and individual circumstances. Learn about our methodology →