Occupation Details
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$30,030.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$31,790.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$34,820.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
163,510
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
292,950
+12,944 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
59,202
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.8%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Quick Start - High school or less
Experience Requirements
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Education Requirements
Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, floor sanders and finishers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
School Programs
School Programs information is not available for this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Food Production
Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Automatic dicers
- Automatic peelers
- Automatic slicers
- Barcode scanners
- Blenders
- Broilers
- Can openers
- Cappuccino makers
- Carbonated beverage dispensers
- Cash registers
- Chefs' knives
- Coffee makers
- Commercial coffee grinders
- Commercial coffeemakers
- Commercial cooking ovens
- Commercial dishwashers
- Commercial food slicers
- Commercial glasswashers
- Commercial kitchen grills
- Commercial microwave ovens
- Convection ovens
- Credit card scanners
- Deep wells
- Desktop computers
- Electric stoves
- Electric warming tables
- Espresso machines
- Food choppers
- Food conveyor belts
- Food processors
Technology
- Compris software
- MICROS Systems HSI Profits Series
- Menu and nutrition database software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Windows
- Point of sale POS software
- Quizlet
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- cook in quantity
- schedule restaurant reservations
- request customer order
- clean rooms or work areas
- clean rooms or work areas
- set or clear tables in dining areas
- arrange decorations or furniture for banquets or social functions
- mix drinks or flavors for mixed drinks
- package goods for shipment or storage
- wash dishes, glassware, or related utensils
- wash dishes, glassware, or related utensils
- prepare appetizers, salads, or cold dishes
- prepare appetizers, salads, or cold dishes
- carve meat or bone fish or fowl
- place food on dishes or trays or in takeout bags
- prepare beverages
- prepare beverages
- perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking
- cook food requiring short preparation time
- distribute food to waiters or waitresses to serve to customers
- use knowledge of food handling rules
- use knowledge of food handling rules
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use oral or written communication techniques
- operate cooking equipment
- operate food preparation equipment
- use cash registers
- use cash registers
- balance cash register
- prepare bill or check in restaurant or related food establishment
- prepare bill or check in restaurant or related food establishment
- calculate monetary exchange
- calculate monetary exchange
- order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
- replenish supplies of food, tableware or linen
- understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
- understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
- notify kitchen personnel of food orders, shortages, or special orders
- notify kitchen personnel of food orders, shortages, or special orders
- collect payment
- collect payment
- serve food or beverages
- serve food or beverages
- provide customer service
- provide customer service
- obtain information from individuals
- obtain information from individuals
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.
- Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.
- Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment.
- Take customers' orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders.
- Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.
- Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.
- Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.
- Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars.
- Prepare daily food items, and cook simple foods and beverages, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, or coffee, using proper safety precautions and sanitary measures.
- Clean and organize eating, service, and kitchen areas.
- Monitor and order supplies or food items, and restock as necessary to maintain inventory.
- Brew coffee and tea, and fill containers with requested beverages.
- Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food.
- Collect and return dirty dishes to the kitchen for washing.
- Wash dishes, glassware, and silverware after meals.
- Distribute food to servers.
- Set up dining areas for meals, and clear them following meals.
- Add relishes and garnishes to food orders, according to instructions.
- Wrap menu items such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout.
- Notify kitchen personnel of shortages or special orders.
- Prepare and serve cold drinks, frozen milk drinks, or desserts, using drink-dispensing, milkshake, or frozen-custard machines.
- Deliver orders to kitchens, and pick up and serve food when it is ready.
- Select food items from serving or storage areas and place them in dishes, on serving trays, or in take-out bags.
- Replenish foods at serving stations.
- Arrange tables and decorations according to instructions.
- Plan, prepare, and deliver meals to individuals with special dietary needs.
- Perform personnel activities, such as supervising and training employees.
- Arrange reservations for patrons of dining establishments.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Food and beverage serving and related workers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More