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Will AI replace food preparation and serving related jobs?

The 16 food preparation and serving related jobs in the index score 14 out of 100 on average, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks the field #17 of 22, where #1 is the most exposed. Together these jobs employ about 17,430,830 people in the US.

All 16 food preparation and serving related jobs, most exposed first

Scores run from 0 (AI can speed up almost none of the tasks) to 100 (almost all of them). How scores work.

#JobExposureLevelUS workersMedian pay
1First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersFood Preparation and Serving Related51Elevated1,223,240$44,080
2Chefs and Head CooksFood Preparation and Serving Related26Moderate200,040$62,470
3Cooks, Private HouseholdFood Preparation and Serving Related24Moderate1,100$47,940
4Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopFood Preparation and Serving Related23Moderate432,690$31,200
5BartendersFood Preparation and Serving Related19Low756,390$34,340
6Waiters and WaitressesFood Preparation and Serving Related18Low2,270,910$35,230
7BaristasFood Preparation and Serving Related13Low3,854,050$31,200
8Food Servers, NonrestaurantFood Preparation and Serving Related13Low293,900$35,360
9Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaFood Preparation and Serving Related12Low441,050$37,450
10Cooks, RestaurantFood Preparation and Serving Related9Low1,409,890$37,390
11Fast Food and Counter WorkersFood Preparation and Serving Related6Low3,854,050$31,200
12Food Preparation WorkersFood Preparation and Serving Related4Low893,600$35,320
13Cooks, Fast FoodFood Preparation and Serving Related0Low641,070$30,890
14Cooks, Short OrderFood Preparation and Serving Related0Low138,650$35,880
15Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersFood Preparation and Serving Related0Low542,750$33,980
16DishwashersFood Preparation and Serving Related0Low477,450$34,810

Questions about food preparation and serving related jobs and AI

Will AI replace food preparation and serving related jobs?

Not as a whole. The 16 food preparation and serving related jobs in the index have an average AI exposure score of 14 out of 100 (low), #17 of 22 fields. Exposure means parts of the work are likely to change, not that the jobs will disappear.

Which food preparation and serving related jobs are most exposed to AI?

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (51/100), Chefs and Head Cooks (26/100), Cooks, Private Household (24/100).

Which food preparation and serving related jobs are safest from AI?

Dishwashers (0/100), Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (0/100), Cooks, Short Order (0/100).

How many people work in food preparation and serving related jobs?

About 17,430,830 people in the US work in the jobs listed here (BLS, May 2025).

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