As of June 2026, Fast Food and Counter Workers has an AI-exposure score of 48/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Fast Food and Counter Workers
More exposed than 29% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$31,200. About 904,300 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Food Service roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
No automatable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as durable (60%).
- Monitor and order supplies or food items, and restock as necessary to maintain inventory.
- Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.
- Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.
- Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.
- Select food items from serving or storage areas and place them in dishes, on serving trays, or in take-out bags.
- Notify kitchen personnel of shortages or special orders.
- Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.
- Wrap menu items such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout.
- Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment.
- Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.
- Prepare daily food items, and cook simple foods and beverages, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, or coffee, using proper safety precautions and sanitary measures.
- Collect and return dirty dishes to the kitchen for washing.
- Wash dishes, glassware, and silverware after meals.
- Clean and organize eating, service, and kitchen areas.
- Brew coffee and tea, and fill containers with requested beverages.
- Replenish foods at serving stations.
- Prepare and serve cold drinks, frozen milk drinks, or desserts, using drink-dispensing, milkshake, or frozen-custard machines.
- Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food.
- Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars.
- Perform personnel activities, such as supervising and training employees.
Safer adjacent roles
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Fast Food and Counter Workers — median pay by US state (BLS OEWS, USD)
Median annual wage, in USD. US national: US$31,200. More states are being added.