Career Overview
Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables.
Also Known As
- Cook
- Grill Cook
- Line Cook
- Short Order Cook
Alternate Job Titles
- Barbecue Cook
- Bed and Breakfast Cook (B&B Cook)
- Breakfast Cook
- Breakfast Line Cook
- Broiler Cook
- Chuck Wagon Cook
- Cook
- Deli Cook (Delicatessen Cook)
- Food and Beverage Attendant
- Food Clerk
- Griddle Attendant
- Griddle Cook
- Grill Associate
- Grill Attendant
- Grill Cook
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Clean food preparation equipment, work areas, and counters or tables.
- Restock kitchen supplies, rotate food, and stamp the time and date on food in coolers.
- Complete orders from steam tables, placing food on plates and serving customers at tables or counters.
- Plan work on orders so that items served together are finished at the same time.
- Grill, cook, and fry foods such as french fries, eggs, and pancakes.
- Perform food preparation tasks, such as making sandwiches, carving meats, making soups or salads, baking breads or desserts, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Perform general cleaning activities in kitchen and dining areas.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Food Production
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Trunk Strength
- Manual Dexterity
- Information Ordering
- Selective Attention
- Control Precision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Finger Dexterity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Attention to Detail
- Self-Control
- Cooperation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Relationships
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Tools & Equipment
- Apple corers
- Bakers' peels
- Blenders
- Boning knives
- Broilers
- Cappuccino makers
- Carbonated beverage dispensers
- Cash registers
- Chefs' knives
- Colanders
- Commercial coffeemakers
- Commercial dishwashers
- Commercial microwave ovens
- Convection ovens
- Deep fat fryers
Work Environment
- Spend Time Standing
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Physical Proximity
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $23,770 |
| Median | $35,620 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $46,010 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 150,420
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Cooks, Restaurant
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $36,830
Cooks, Fast Food
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $30,160
Food Preparation Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $34,220
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $36,450
Bakers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $36,650
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

