Occupation

Cooks, Short Order

Human Advantage 68%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.7 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables.

Also Known As: Barbecue Cook, Bed and Breakfast Cook (B&B Cook), Breakfast Cook, Breakfast Line Cook, Caterer, Chuck Wagon Cook, Cook, Deli Cook (Delicatessen Cook) +21 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Clean food preparation equipment, work areas, and counters or tables.
  2. Perform food preparation tasks, such as making sandwiches, carving meats, making soups or salads, baking breads or desserts, and brewing coffee or tea.
  3. Perform general cleaning activities in kitchen and dining areas.
  4. Restock kitchen supplies, rotate food, and stamp the time and date on food in coolers.
  5. Grill, cook, and fry foods such as french fries, eggs, and pancakes.
  6. Plan work on orders so that items served together are finished at the same time.
  7. Take orders from customers and cook foods requiring short preparation times, according to customer requirements.
  8. Grill and garnish hamburgers or other meats, such as steaks and chops.
  9. Complete orders from steam tables, placing food on plates and serving customers at tables or counters.
  10. Order supplies and stock them on shelves.

Supplemental Tasks (1)

  1. Accept payments, and make change or write charge slips as necessary.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
55%
Less than a High School Diploma
34%
Some College Courses
11%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
1%

Technology & Tools

Software (6)

  • Aldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants Pro
  • Foodman Home-Delivery
  • Inventory control software
  • Plexis Software Plexis POS
  • Point of sale POS software
  • RestaurantPlus PRO

Tools & Equipment (57)

  • Apple corers
  • Bakers' peels
  • Blenders
  • Boning knives
  • Broilers
  • Cappuccino makers
  • Carbonated beverage dispensers
  • Cash registers
  • Chefs' knives
  • Colanders
  • Commercial coffeemakers
  • Commercial dishwashers
  • Commercial microwave ovens
  • Convection ovens
  • Deep fat fryers
  • Desktop computers
  • Double boilers
  • Dry or liquid measuring cups
  • Electric ovens
  • Electric stoves
  • Food processors
  • Fruit zesters
  • Gas ovens
  • Gas stoves
  • Graters
  • Grills
  • Hand scanners
  • Handheld calculators
  • Hot dog cookers
  • Ice-making machines
  • Instant-read pocket thermometers
  • Juice dispensers
  • Kitchen tongs
  • Knife sharpeners
  • Meat slicers
  • Melon ballers
  • Milkshake and smoothie machines
  • Mixers
  • Paring knives
  • Personal computers
  • Pizza ovens
  • Point of sale POS computer terminals
  • Portion scales
  • Rolling pins
  • Serrated blade knives
  • Sifters
  • Slicing machines
  • Soft-serve ice cream machines
  • Steam kettles
  • Steam tables
  • Steamers
  • Strainers
  • Toasters
  • Touch screen monitors
  • Vegetable brushes
  • Vegetable peelers
  • Waffle makers

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Culinary & Food Services Hospitality, Events, & Tourism

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