Career Profile: Cooks, Fast Food

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 792,300 people employed as cooks, fast food in the United States. The median annual salary is $24,180. Entry level employees earn approximately $18,050 per year and senior employees earn approximately $31,420 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Order and take delivery of supplies.
• Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.
• Prepare specialty foods, such as pizzas, fish and chips, sandwiches, or tacos, following specific methods that usually require short preparation time.
• Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.
• Wash, cut, and prepare foods designated for cooking.
• Prepare and serve beverages, such as coffee or fountain drinks.
• Clean food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils.
• Read food order slips or receive verbal instructions as to food required by patron, and prepare and cook food according to instructions.
• Serve orders to customers at windows, counters, or tables.
• Clean, stock, and restock workstations and display cases.
• Maintain sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas.
• Cook and package batches of food, such as hamburgers or fried chicken, which are prepared to order or kept warm until sold.
• Prepare dough, following recipe.
• Take food and drink orders and receive payment from customers.
• Verify that prepared food meets requirements for quality and quantity.
• Pre-cook items, such as bacon, to prepare them for later use.
• Measure ingredients required for specific food items being prepared.
• Mix ingredients, such as pancake or waffle batters.
• Schedule activities and equipment use with managers, using information about daily menus to help coordinate cooking times.

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