Food Preparation Workers Description OES Code: 650380 Food Preparation Workers perform a variety of food preparation duties, such as preparing cold foods and maintaining and cleaning kitchen work areas, equipment, and utensils. They perform simple tasks such as preparing shellfish or slicing meat. They may also brew coffee and tea, or chocolate or prepare sandwiches. They work in places such as restaurant kitchens or delicatessens. CA Wages/hour median range New, no experience: minimum minimum – $8.79 New, experienced: minimum minimum – $10.26 3 yrs+ experience: $7.73 minimum – $12.47 Most positions are part time, but many are also full time. Local Wages • CCOIS Survey • OES Survey Hours & Benefits Most jobs are part time for a few hours a day. Some staff work fewer than five days a week. Most full time staff get paid vacation and medical and dental insurance. Kitchen Workers are usually given one free meal during a work shift. The work week is 35-40 hours, five days a week and can start as early as 4 a.m. Some Kitchen Workers work split shifts (8 hours in a 12-hour period). Employees may work evening, night, or rotating shifts. Work clothing is often provided. Employment Trends Employment 1996 130,290 Projected Employment 2006 168,560 Growth Rate 1996-2006 29.4% Openings due to Separations 76,260 Employment Trends by California County Employment in the food service industry has been growing and is expected to continue to grow faster than the average for other jobs because of a better economy and a growing population which is eating out more. A lot of this growth will be in fast-food restaurants. Most jobs being filled are the result of people in permanent position leaving their positions. Advancement Food Preparation/Kitchen Workers promote to more responsible jobs such as making sandwiches or working in the pantry. Their chances for better jobs are improved as they get experience and prove that they are reliable and want to learn. Employers look for workers who work well as part of a team. A kitchen worker with ambition, ability, drive, and a good sense of smell and taste can get to be a short-order cook, fry cook, pantry cook, dinner cook, and, finally, a chef. Getting the Job & Other Information Almost all employers recruit for this position through in-house promotions or transfers. Most also use employee referrals and newspaper ads. For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Click arrow at bottom left of image to begin. Requires QuickTime Education and Training Dependability, good health, and high standards of cleanliness are a must. No training is needed to go into this work, but for those who want to go above the lowest level, a high-school education is preferred. Workers who handle food have to have a Food Handler's Certificate from the County Health Department. Employers report that most recent new hires had a high school diploma or the equivalent. Many employers indicate that sometimes work experience is required, but training is usually accepted as a substitute. Skills & Other Requirements Knowledge of food preparation is usually a pre-requisite. In terms of physical abilities, employees should have the ability to lift at least 30 lbs., have the ability to taste & smell and have good hand-eye coordination. Personal skills include having the willingness to work part time or on-call; the ability to work rapidly, good customer service skills/public contact skill and attention to detail. The ability to work under pressure, a willingness to work with close supervision is important in addition to the ability to work independently. Some basic skills include the ability to meet employer standards of cleanliness; the ability to meet employer grooming standards, the ability to read & follow instructions, the ability to follow oral instructions, the ability to interact well with others and also basic math skills. Some employers use drug tests and police record checks to screen applicants for this position. Many employers require their employees in this occupation to undergo a medical examination after they are hired. References Note: The references below (and/or on other parts of this page) will link to pages on the internet outside the Career Video system. California Occupational Guide: Kitchen Workers (Food Preparation Workers #331 Related Occupation: Cooks & Chefs #93 or Cooks, Short Order & Fast Food #366 Training: California State Training Inventory © State of California EDD/LMID, US Department of Labor Unless indicated otherwise, wage data is based on Statewide aggregated CCOIS survey responses between 1995 and 1997. Questions or Comments? Contact us.