Fast Food and Counter Workers

Food Preparation & Service

AI exposure

  • Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08

    Moderate· relative

    LowFour relative bandsVery high

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)

    831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band

    Source dataset (XLSX download)

  • Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03

    0.000

    0.000Range of values carried here0.745
    Scale, basis and source

    Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published

    Mapped onto O*NET tasks

    Source dataset

  • Data source: ILOPublished: 2025

    0.24

    0.09Range of values carried here0.70

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published

    ISCO-08 unit group — every occupation sharing the code gets this value

    Computed by this site, not published by the ILO: of the 1,012 occupations this site links to the ILO dataset, 79% score at or above this value.

    Source dataset

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

Exposed tasks only
TaskClaude.aiRaw / share %
Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.

35-3021

0.011245.3
Cook food or prepare food items, such as sandwiches, salads, and ice cream dishes, using standard formulas or following directions.

35-3022

0.008534.2
Describe menu items to customers or suggest products that might appeal to them.

35-3022

0.005120.5
Not observed on any surface — 54 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states.
Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.
—0
Request and record customer orders, and compute bills using cash registers, multi counting machines, or pencil and paper.
—0
Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food.
—0
Prepare and serve cold drinks, or frozen milk drinks or desserts, using drink-dispensing, milkshake, or frozen custard machines.
—0
Select food items from serving or storage areas and place them in dishes, on serving trays, or in take-out bags.
—0
Notify kitchen personnel of shortages or special orders.
—0
Cook or reheat food items such as french fries.
—0
Wash dishes, glassware, and silverware after meals.
—0
Collect and return dirty dishes to the kitchen for washing.
—0
Relay food orders to cooks.
—0
Clean and organize eating, service, and kitchen areas.
—0
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.
—0
Perform personnel activities such as supervising and training employees.
—0
Monitor and order supplies or food items and restock as necessary to maintain inventory.
—0
Distribute food to servers.
—0
Serve food and beverages to guests at banquets or other social functions.
—0
Provide caterers with assistance in food preparation or service.
—0
Pack food, dishes, utensils, tablecloths, and accessories for transportation from catering or food preparation establishments to locations designated by customers.
—0
Arrange tables and decorations according to instructions.
—0
Plan, prepare, and deliver meals to individuals with special dietary needs.
—0
Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment.
—0
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.
—0
Replenish foods at serving stations.
—0
Wrap menu item such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout.
—0
Prepare bills for food, using cash registers, calculators, or adding machines, and accept payment or make change.
—0
Brew coffee and tea, and fill containers with requested beverages.
—0
Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.
—0
Perform cleaning duties such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.
—0
Take customers' orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders.
—0
Deliver orders to kitchens, and pick up and serve food when it is ready.
—0
Serve salads, vegetables, meat, breads, and cocktails, ladle soups and sauces, portion desserts, and fill beverage cups and glasses.
—0
Add relishes and garnishes to food orders, according to instructions.
—0
Carve meat.
—0
Order items needed to replenish supplies.
—0
Set up dining areas for meals and clear them following meals.
—0
Arrange reservations for patrons of dining establishments.
—0
Prepare or serve hot or cold beverages, such as coffee, espresso drinks, blended coffees, or teas.
—0
Clean or sanitize work areas, utensils, or equipment.
—0
Clean service or seating areas.
—0
Check temperatures of freezers, refrigerators, or heating equipment to ensure proper functioning.
—0
Order, receive, or stock supplies or retail products.
—0
Provide customers with product details, such as coffee blend or preparation descriptions.
—0
Receive and process customer payments.
—0
Serve prepared foods, such as muffins, biscotti, or bagels.
—0
Stock customer service stations with paper products or beverage preparation items.
—0
Take customer orders and convey them to other employees for preparation.
—0
Take out garbage.
—0
Weigh, grind, or pack coffee beans for customers.
—0
Wrap, label, or date food items for sale.
—0
Create signs to advertise store products or events.
—0
Demonstrate the use of retail equipment, such as espresso machines.
—0
Prepare or serve menu items, such as sandwiches or salads.
—0
Set up or restock product displays.
—0
Slice fruits, vegetables, desserts, or meats for use in food service.
—0

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

Occupation information

Recent Changes Affecting This Occupation

Mar 2026: Evergreen blog post published analyzing automation risks for fast food workers

[Source: AI Changing Work Blog]