Food Service · SOC 35-2015
Short-order cooking is fast, physical, and low-margin — automation is possible but deployment at scale is slow.
Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
Timeline: Payment automation is already displacing cash handling; cooking automation in diner-style environments lags behind fast food and is unlikely to displace most workers before 2032.
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$34,220 median pay
$44,530 median pay
$32,670 median pay
$30,160 median pay
$36,830 median pay
$34,460 median pay
AI job-risk card
Cooks, Short Order is resilient on AIFear. Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Cooks, Short Order is 22/100 (Resilient). Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
22 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Processing payments and making change, Basic order tracking. Harder to automate: Grilling, frying, and cooking to order, Restocking kitchen and rotating food, Cleaning kitchen and dining areas, Adapting to fluctuating customer flow.
Lean into Short-order cooking technique, Food safety compliance, Inventory and stock rotation, Speed and kitchen efficiency. Consider roles such as Line Cook in Full-Service Restaurant or Kitchen Supervisor or Catering Cook.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.