Fast Food and Counter Workers
Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.
How to read this profile
BLS projects U.S. employment for Fast Food and Counter Workers to increase by 5.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 3,855,900 to 4,079,100 jobs. Its estimate of 827,400 annual openings includes replacement needs, so it does not represent current vacancies, contract postings, or freelance demand. The wage ($31,200), education (No formal educational credential), and related experience (None) figures on this profile describe typical U.S. employees. O*NET skills describe the occupation; they do not assess an individual worker's proficiency.
Base employment (2024)
3,855,900
Projected employment (2034)
4,079,100
Projected change (2024–2034)
6%
Annual openings (projected average)
827,400
Pay & Preparation
$31,200
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
Essential Skills
Active Listening (3.38/5) • Service Orientation (3.38/5) • Speaking (3.25/5) • Service Orientation (3/5) • Social Perceptiveness (3/5) • Monitoring (3/5)
O*NET describes occupational requirements; these ratings do not measure current job-posting frequency or an individual worker’s proficiency.
BLS projections are long-term estimates; annual openings include growth and replacement needs and are not current vacancies.
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