Career Explorer Food and hospitality
Human edge, steady
Cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
More resilient than most: more resilient than 74% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by +2.8% by 2035, slower than average.
AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.
- Median pay (2025)
- $37,450
- Job growth to 2035
- +2.8%
- Openings a year
- 62,900
- People doing it (2025)
- 454,000
- Usual route in
- No formal credential, then short on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Prepare foods or beverages
- Develop recipes or menus
- Purchase goods or services
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance
- Inspect facilities or equipment
- Maintain operational records
What the work looks like
- Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.
- Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
- Rotate and store food supplies.
- Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
- Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Animal caretakersHuman edge, growing, Index 77, +12.1%
- Food servers, nonrestaurantHuman edge, growing, Index 76, +4.5%
- Highway maintenance workersHuman edge, steady, Index 84, +3.4%
- Shuttle drivers and chauffeursHuman edge, growing, Index 87, +7.1%
Also known as: Cafeteria Cook, Cook, Dietary Cook, School Cook, Dinner Cook, Food Service Specialist, Food Service Worker, Prep Cook (Preparatory Cook).
Is this career on your child's list?
Build a free Career Playbook matched to your child, or get a 90-day Action Plan with dated next steps, written for your child by name.
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.