Shigoto Zukan
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Food Preparation Workers job outlookprojected pay in 10 years $46,600 · outlook score 42/100 · BLS employment projections

United States Food Service Confidence ★★★★★

Median annual pay
$35,320
25th–75th pct. $29,950–$38,550
Top pay (est.)
$58,900
Top 10% $45,340
Pay in 5 years
$40,500est.
2031
Pay in 10 years
$46,600est.
$40,000–$54,000
Outlook score
42/100
★★☆☆☆ Below average
AI replacement risk
30%
Low
Job growth (10 yr)
−3.0%
136K openings / yr

Projected pay for Food Preparation Workers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.

Today $35,320 → in 3 years $38,400 → in 5 years $40,500 → in 10 years $46,600 (10-year range $40,000–$54,000). The model assumes pay growth of +2.8% per year.

$35,320
Now
2026
$38,400
In 3 yrs
2029
$35,400–$41,800
$40,500
In 5 yrs
2031
$36,500–$45,200
$46,600
In 10 yrs
2036
$40,000–$54,000

What drives the annual growth rate

Base wage growth +3.0%Labor demand -0.35%AI impact +0.15%Total +2.8% / yr

Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →

Outlook score for Food Preparation Workers

42/100
★★☆☆☆
Below average · ranked #636 of all U.S. occupations
Pay level
3 pts
AI resistance
70 pts
Entry barrier
28 pts
Annual openings
86 pts
Projected growth
18 pts

Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.

Labor demand for Food Preparation Workers

Employment
894K
BLS OEWS
Projected employment
881K
2025–35
Projected change
−3.0%
ranked #669 for growth
Annual openings
136K
growth + replacement needs
Demand score
Average
54/100
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Work experience
None
in a related occupation
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training

Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.

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: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.