Short Order Food Preparer Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
The American Culinary Federation accredits more than 200 formal academic training programs and sponsors apprenticeship programs around the country. Typical apprenticeships last for 2 years and combine classroom training and work experience. Accreditation is an indication that a culinary program meets recognized standards regarding course content, facilities and quality of instruction.
Courses offered by high school or vocational school programs are basic food safety and handling procedures, cooking and general business and computer classes. Many school districts, in cooperation with State departments of education, provide on-the-job training and summer workshops for cafeteria kitchen workers who want to become chefs. Food service management companies or hotel and restaurant chains also offer paid internships and summer jobs to those starting out in the field.
Training and Education
Education or job training for employees typically involves short-term on-the-job training. At least 5% of short order food preparers had a degree of four or more years. About 19% of workers had some college below a bachelor's degree. An estimated 77% of employees had just a high-school diploma.
Job Overview
Short order food preparers prepare a wide range of dishes in restaurants and coffee shops, which require fast service and quick food preparation. They grill and garnish hamburgers, prepare sandwiches, fry eggs and cook French fries, often working on several orders at the same time. They work on a limited number of items on the menu. While there is not much rush, they prepare food for quick delivery. They may slice meat or vegetables and prepare soups or salads. They may even have to clean the grill, counters and floors. They may also accept payment and make change.
Job Requirements
No formal education is required for becoming short order food preparers. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school degree or equivalent. Experience working as a cook or kitchen worker in a restaurant is helpful.
Short order food preparers should be efficient, quick and work well in a team. They should have some creativity and an intense sense of taste and smell. Personal cleanliness is essential because most states require health certificates indicating workers are free from communicable diseases.
Nature of Work
Short order food preparers work in diverse environments depending on the type and quantity of food prepared and also on the local laws governing food service operations. Restaurant kitchens usually have modern equipment, air conditioning and convenient working conditions. They often experience minor injuries like slips and falls and cuts and burn.
Area Job Conditions
The cities with the most short order food preparers per capita are Ocean City (New Jersey), Lancaster (Pennsylvania), and Athens (Georgia), while the worst cities are Lexington (Kentucky), Elkhart (Indiana), and Sarasota (Florida).
The highest salaries for workers are in and around Asheville (North Carolina), New Haven (Connecticut), and Oakland (California). The lowest-paying areas are Jackson (Mississippi), McAllen (Texas), and Houma (Louisiana).
Part-Time and Self Employment
An estimated 30% of short order food preparers work part-time. An estimated 2% of workers were self-employed.
Career Videos
Short Order Food Preparers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $23,000 | 250 | +58% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $23,000 | 2,580 | +48% |
| Tucson | $20,000 | 1,040 | +213% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $19,000 | 30 | -74% |
| Hot Springs | $18,000 | 30 | 0% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford | $24,000 | 40 | +42% |
| Los Angeles | $23,000 | 4,520 | +13% |
| Madera | $23,000 | 50 | +90% |
| Merced | $24,000 | 100 | +102% |
| Napa | $24,000 | 50 | -9% |
| Oakland | $24,000 | 1,560 | +58% |
| Oxnard | 440 | +53% | |
| Sacramento | $23,000 | 930 | +9% |
| San Diego | $23,000 | 2,710 | +110% |
| San Francisco | $24,000 | 1,510 | +54% |
| San Luis Obispo | 240 | +185% | |
| Santa Ana | $22,000 | 830 | -42% |
| Santa Rosa | $23,000 | 320 | +94% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $21,000 | 960 | -22% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | $25,000 | 480 | -15% |
| New Haven | $28,000 | 530 | +102% |
| Norwich | $24,000 | 110 | -3% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $22,000 | 110 | -65% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $25,000 | 2,360 | -2% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $22,000 | 320 | +74% |
| Lakeland | $19,000 | 80 | -55% |
| Miami | $21,000 | 320 | -67% |
| Orlando | $19,000 | 450 | -55% |
| Palm Bay | $20,000 | 30 | -84% |
| Sarasota | $19,000 | 190 | -20% |
| Tampa | $21,000 | 450 | -60% |
| West Palm Beach | $25,000 | 110 | -78% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $21,000 | 6,270 | +174% |
| Brunswick | $18,000 | 70 | +102% |
| Columbus | $17,000 | 280 | +175% |
| Savannah | $27,000 | 180 | +28% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $29,000 | 1,380 | +221% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $21,000 | 410 | +63% |
| Coeur Dalene | $20,000 | 60 | +38% |
| Pocatello | $18,000 | 50 | +103% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $22,000 | 2,810 | -25% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart | $17,000 | 70 | -30% |
| Evansville | $18,000 | 140 | -14% |
| Fort Wayne | $19,000 | 150 | -23% |
| Indianapolis | $21,000 | 340 | -61% |
| Lafayette | $18,000 | 130 | +92% |
| Michigan City | $18,000 | 40 | +16% |
| Muncie | $18,000 | 90 | +132% |
| South Bend | $18,000 | 70 | -42% |
| Terre Haute | $18,000 | 60 | -1% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $21,000 | 190 | -41% |
| Sioux City | $19,000 | 60 | -7% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $19,000 | 750 | +169% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $19,000 | 1,080 | +81% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $17,000 | 1,480 | +308% |
| Houma | $20,000 | 180 | +108% |
| Lake Charles | $18,000 | 240 | +200% |
| New Orleans | $19,000 | 1,190 | +129% |
| Shreveport | $18,000 | 340 | +100% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $22,000 | 100 | +86% |
| Portland | $23,000 | 800 | +318% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $22,000 | 2,320 | +79% |
| Bethesda | $24,000 | 590 | +4% |
| Cumberland | $19,000 | 100 | +225% |
| Hagerstown | $20,000 | 90 | +2% |
| Salisbury | $17,000 | 50 | +8% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $22,000 | 1,980 | +15% |
| Leominster | $26,000 | 50 | +17% |
| Springfield | $23,000 | 280 | -3% |
| Worcester | $29,000 | 360 | +49% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $26,000 | 190 | +20% |
| Detroit | $21,000 | 1,000 | +52% |
| Flint | $23,000 | 310 | +155% |
| Grand Rapids | $20,000 | 250 | -32% |
| Holland | $20,000 | 60 | -32% |
| Jackson | $19,000 | 90 | +115% |
| Kalamazoo | $19,000 | 240 | +89% |
| Lansing | $20,000 | 190 | +0% |
| Monroe | $18,000 | 60 | +97% |
| Niles | $22,000 | 40 | -21% |
| Warren | $21,000 | 1,360 | +28% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $19,000 | 240 | +98% |
| Minneapolis | $21,000 | 1,460 | -17% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $21,000 | 140 | +41% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City | $18,000 | 60 | -9% |
| Kansas City | $19,000 | 1,010 | +1% |
| St Louis | $20,000 | 1,650 | +25% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $19,000 | 170 | +12% |
| Omaha | $21,000 | 790 | +71% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City | $23,000 | 50 | +139% |
| Las Vegas | $27,000 | 2,200 | +163% |
| Reno | $25,000 | 270 | +48% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $19,000 | 100 | +5% |
| Nashua | $21,000 | 150 | +17% |
| Portsmouth | $19,000 | 80 | +59% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $27,000 | 60 | -56% |
| Camden | $21,000 | 1,230 | +139% |
| Edison | $21,000 | 1,270 | +25% |
| Newark | $20,000 | 880 | -11% |
| Ocean City | $23,000 | 150 | +332% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $20,000 | 410 | +9% |
| Las Cruces | $18,000 | 70 | +24% |
| Santa Fe | $23,000 | 50 | -9% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $23,000 | 400 | -9% |
| Binghamton | $21,000 | 260 | +150% |
| Glens Falls | $22,000 | 40 | -12% |
| Nassau | $28,000 | 850 | -32% |
| New York | $27,000 | 7,470 | +45% |
| Poughkeepsie | $24,000 | 320 | +35% |
| Rochester | $20,000 | 890 | +79% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $20,000 | 310 | +16% |
| Fayetteville | $18,000 | 190 | +61% |
| Goldsboro | $16,000 | 180 | +427% |
| Greensboro | $20,000 | 420 | +21% |
| Hickory | $21,000 | 290 | +110% |
| Wilmington | $17,000 | 700 | +448% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $21,000 | 70 | +21% |
| Fargo | $20,000 | 200 | +76% |
| Grand Forks | $20,000 | 170 | +310% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $20,000 | 990 | -1% |
| Cleveland | $19,000 | 1,160 | +15% |
| Columbus | $20,000 | 1,340 | +47% |
| Dayton | $20,000 | 490 | +31% |
| Steubenville | $18,000 | 40 | +14% |
| Toledo | $17,000 | 550 | +93% |
| Youngstown | $18,000 | 390 | +79% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $19,000 | 470 | -17% |
| Tulsa | $20,000 | 260 | -38% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $22,000 | 140 | +151% |
| Medford | $23,000 | 50 | -28% |
| Portland | $22,000 | 970 | -4% |
| Salem | $21,000 | 150 | +7% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $23,000 | 310 | -8% |
| Altoona | $18,000 | 60 | +12% |
| Erie | $21,000 | 160 | +34% |
| Harrisburg | $23,000 | 570 | +83% |
| Lancaster | $20,000 | 710 | +214% |
| Lebanon | $22,000 | 80 | +106% |
| Philadelphia | $24,000 | 2,740 | +45% |
| Pittsburgh | $18,000 | 1,080 | -5% |
| Reading | $20,000 | 390 | +147% |
| State College | $21,000 | 240 | +334% |
| Williamsport | $20,000 | 130 | +191% |
| York | $23,000 | 120 | -28% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $23,000 | 1,110 | +103% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $20,000 | 1,110 | +225% |
| Greenville | $18,000 | 600 | +107% |
| Myrtle Beach | $21,000 | 340 | +238% |
| Spartanburg | $19,000 | 350 | +227% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $19,000 | 150 | +15% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport | $17,000 | 190 | +68% |
| Knoxville | $21,000 | 140 | -57% |
| Memphis | $18,000 | 630 | +4% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $19,000 | 150 | +53% |
| Austin | $20,000 | 1,590 | +105% |
| Beaumont | $19,000 | 80 | -47% |
| Corpus Christi | $18,000 | 390 | +130% |
| Dallas | $18,000 | 2,890 | +39% |
| Houston | $20,000 | 3,390 | +30% |
| Killeen | $17,000 | 230 | +92% |
| Longview | $17,000 | 120 | +37% |
| Mcallen | $18,000 | 150 | -32% |
| San Antonio | $21,000 | 310 | -64% |
| Texarkana | $18,000 | 40 | -15% |
| Tyler | $20,000 | 80 | -3% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $20,000 | 460 | -23% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | $19,000 | 100 | -32% |
| Virginia Beach | $21,000 | 790 | +6% |
| Winchester | $18,000 | 60 | +40% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $23,000 | 100 | +52% |
| Kennewick | $20,000 | 30 | -67% |
| Olympia | $23,000 | 60 | -34% |
| Seattle | $26,000 | 910 | -34% |
| Yakima | $22,000 | 40 | -47% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg | $17,000 | 100 | +65% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $22,000 | 190 | +79% |
| Eau Claire | $22,000 | 130 | +96% |
| Fond | $17,000 | 50 | +38% |
| Green Bay | $22,000 | 280 | +76% |
| Janesville | $19,000 | 70 | +26% |
| La Crosse | $24,000 | 180 | +181% |
| Milwaukee | $20,000 | 1,020 | +24% |
| Sheboygan | $19,000 | 140 | +187% |
| Wausau | $22,000 | 80 | +36% |