Will AI replace そば・うどん調理人?AI replacement risk 23% and how the work is changing

Japan Food Service Confidence ★★★★★

Average annual pay
¥3.79M
≈ $24,107
Top pay (est.)
¥6.18M
Top 10% ¥5.38M
Pay in 5 years
¥4.50Mest.
2031
Pay in 10 years
¥5.35Mest.
¥4.60M–¥6.21M
Outlook score
64/100
★★★☆☆ Average
AI replacement risk
23%
Low
Labor demand
Very high
Openings-to-applicants 2.38x

Will AI replace そば・うどん調理人? AI replacement risk

23%
Low
Ranked #104 safest from AI among all Japanese occupations
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

How AI is changing this job

A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.

AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using the MHLW job tag survey on work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →

Skills, education and requirements for そば・うどん調理人

Key skills

Active Listening
2.9
Instructing
2.6
Social Perceptiveness
2.5
Reading Comprehension
2.5
Speaking
2.5
Negotiation
2.3
Active Learning
2.3
Service Orientation
2.2

Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.

Key knowledge areas

Customer and Personal Service
2.6
Sales and Marketing
1.8
Production and Processing
1.5
Personnel and Human Resources
1.4
Administrative
1.3
Administration and Management
1.3
Economics and Accounting
1.2
Food Production
1.0

What the work involves

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkHandling and Moving ObjectsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeoplePerforming General Physical ActivitiesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Important abilities

Problem SensitivityStaminaStatic StrengthWrist-Finger SpeedSpeed of Limb MovementOral Expression

Licenses and certifications (Japan)

Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.

Education of workers

Training before entry

Related work experience

Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience, licenses)

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), Population Census and Hello Work employment statistics as published on the MHLW job tag site (retrieved Nov 1, 2026); Occupational Information Database (JILPT). Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.