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Cooks, Fast Food

The short answer

This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to shrink over the next decade, with about 3,088 openings expected each year.

Step 1

Where your job stands

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.

How much AI could touch this job

Least exposedband 1 of 5
least exposedmost exposed

Looking at the job itself, AI could help with a small part of this job's tasks.

What this means

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.

Step 2

What AI can and can’t help with in this job

This job is in the least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.

Almost none of this job's tasks are the kind AI can help with or automate.

Tasks AI can't do much of

  1. Order and take delivery of supplies.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  2. Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  3. Prepare specialty foods, such as pizzas, fish and chips, sandwiches, or tacos, following specific methods that usually require short preparation time.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  4. Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  5. Wash, cut, and prepare foods designated for cooking.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

Step 3

Jobs you could switch to

If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.

See related jobs in

The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.

  • Cooks, Restaurant

    Very similar work
    +22% pay12,822 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 22% more—$44,784 vs your $36,681 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, with less than 5 years of experience, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Information Ordering
    • English Language
    • Speech Recognition

    New skills to build

    • Control Precision
    • Food Production
    • Perceptual Speed
  • Food Preparation Workers

    Very similar work
    slightly less pay9,882 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$36,515 vs your $36,681 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Near Vision
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Speech Recognition
    • Trunk Strength

    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Fast Food and Counter Workers

    Very similar work
    slightly less pay51,611 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$36,144 vs your $36,681 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Oral Comprehension
    • English Language
    • Near Vision
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Speech Recognition

    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers

    Similar work
    +3% pay10,109 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 3% more—$37,671 vs your $36,681 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • English Language
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Near Vision
    • Speech Recognition
    • Oral Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Food Production
  • Dishwashers

    Similar work
    slightly less pay6,093 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$36,343 vs your $36,681 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • English Language
    • Trunk Strength
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Near Vision
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness

    New skills to build

    • Extent Flexibility
  • Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers

    Somewhat similar work
    +4% pay293 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 4% more—$38,183 vs your $36,681 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Administration and Management
    • Transportation
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Near Vision
    • Customer and Personal Service

    New skills to build

    • Food Production
    • Production and Processing
    • Mechanical
    • Mathematics
    • Chemistry