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Cooks, Restaurant

Food Preparation & Servicevery lowaugment
BLS 2024-34: +6%
Median Wage: $33,150
Employment: 1.5M

Overall Exposure

8+3

2025 vs 2023

Theoretical Exposure

12

What AI could do

Observed Exposure

3

What AI actually does

Automation Risk Score

6

Displacement risk

3-Year Outlook (2025 → 2028)

Projected changes in AI automation metrics over the next 3 years based on estimated data.

Overall Exposure

814
+6

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Theoretical Exposure

1218
+6

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Observed Exposure

38
+5

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Automation Risk

69
+3

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Exposure Metrics (2023 - 2028)

Detailed Metrics Table

YearOverallTheoreticalObservedRiskData Type
202351015actual
202461125actual
202581236actual
2026101447estimated
2027121668estimated
2028141889estimated

Task Breakdown

Prepare food
5%β 0

About This Occupation

If you work as a Cooks, Restaurant, AI is reshaping your profession. With an automation risk of 6/100 and overall exposure at 8%, this role faces low transformation. The highest-impact area is prepare food at 5% automation. This is classified as an 'augment' role. BLS projects +6% growth through 2034. Professionals who embrace AI tools will see their capabilities significantly amplified.

Frequently Asked Questions

With an automation risk score of 6%, Cooks, Restaurant has a low risk of AI replacement. Most tasks in this role require skills that are difficult for AI to replicate, such as complex decision-making, physical dexterity, or deep interpersonal interaction. AI is more likely to serve as a supportive tool.

The AI automation risk score for Cooks, Restaurant is 6% (2025 data). Overall AI exposure is 8%, with 12% theoretical exposure and 3% observed exposure. The risk trend from 2023 to 2025 is +1 points.

The tasks with the highest automation potential for Cooks, Restaurant are: Prepare food (5%). These rates reflect how much of each task current AI systems can handle, based on research data from Anthropic and academic sources.

The BLS projects +6% employment change for Cooks, Restaurant from 2024 to 2034. Combined with an overall AI exposure of 8%, this occupation is experiencing both traditional labor market shifts and AI-driven transformation. Workers should monitor both employment trends and AI capability growth.

Since AI primarily augments capabilities in this role, professionals in Cooks, Restaurant should embrace AI as a productivity multiplier. Focus on learning to use AI tools effectively, developing higher-order analytical and creative skills, and positioning yourself as someone who can leverage AI to deliver greater value.