Fast Food and Counter Workers
Tasks Include:
- 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.
- 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.
more »
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™; US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet28)
Projections Quick View:
Virginia: No Data
National: +7.6%
Education
Less than a High School Diploma
Job Zone:
One: Little or No Preparation Needed
Income Range:
Mid Range ($28,000 - $35,999)
Median Earnings:
National
$27,930.00
State
$26,220.00
Regional
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Description
Career Cluster: | Hospitality & Tourism |
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.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Education
Required Level of Education
- Less than a High School Diploma = 53.60%
- High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) = 26.77%
- Some College Courses = 15.48%
- Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) = 3.21%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) = 0.61%
- Doctoral Degree = 0.33%
Related Work Experience
- None = 53.75%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 11.89%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 9.99%
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 8.86%
- Up to and including 1 month = 8.55%
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 3.61%
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 3.20%
- Over 10 years = 0.15%
On-Site or In-Plant Training
- Up to and including 1 month = 43.28%
- None = 38.75%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 8.12%
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 5.71%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 3.71%
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 0.42%
On-the-Job Training
- Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month = 54.33%
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 17.34%
- None or short demonstration = 14.74%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 7.96%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 5.20%
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 0.43%
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Tasks
Core Tasks Include:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Perform personnel activities, such as supervising and training employees.
Supplemental Tasks Include:
- Take customers' orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders.
- 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.
- Deliver orders to kitchens, and pick up and serve food when it is ready.
- Arrange tables and decorations according to instructions.
- Plan, prepare, and deliver meals to individuals with special dietary needs.
- Arrange reservations for patrons of dining establishments.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Knowledge
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
80.75 | 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. |
78.00 | Food Production | Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques. |
72.50 | 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. |
68.25 | English Language | Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
63.75 | 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. |
59.25 | Production and Processing | Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. |
56.50 | Mathematics | Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
55.00 | Administration and Management | Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Skills
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
56.25 | Service Orientation | Actively looking for ways to help people. |
53.00 | 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. |
53.00 | Social Perceptiveness | Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
50.00 | Coordination | Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Abilities
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
59.50 | Oral Comprehension | The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
56.25 | Speech Recognition | The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
56.25 | Oral Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
53.00 | Speech Clarity | The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
53.00 | Near Vision | The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Work Activities
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
71.25 | Getting Information | Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
65.25 | Performing for or Working Directly with the Public | Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. |
60.75 | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates | Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
55.25 | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events | Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
55.00 | Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others | Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. |
54.75 | Training and Teaching Others | Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
52.50 | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials | Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
52.00 | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings | Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
51.75 | Coaching and Developing Others | Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. |
50.75 | Assisting and Caring for Others | Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Work Styles
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
85.00 | Self-Control | Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. |
82.25 | Dependability | Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. |
81.25 | Cooperation | Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. |
81.00 | Adaptability/Flexibility | Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
78.75 | Attention to Detail | Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. |
78.50 | Initiative | Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. |
78.50 | Stress Tolerance | Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. |
77.00 | Integrity | Job requires being honest and ethical. |
74.75 | Persistence | Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. |
74.50 | Concern for Others | Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
74.25 | Independence | Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. |
70.50 | Social Orientation | Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. |
70.00 | Leadership | Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. |
66.50 | Achievement/Effort | Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. |
62.75 | Innovation | Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. |
52.75 | Analytical Thinking | Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Work Values
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
58.33 | 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. |
50.00 | 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. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Work Context
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
99.60 | Spend Time Standing | How much does this job require standing? |
94.60 | Contact With Others | How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? |
92.40 | Face-to-Face Discussions | How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? |
89.40 | Work With Work Group or Team | How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? |
85.00 | Deal With External Customers | How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? |
81.40 | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | How much does this job require making repetitive motions? |
80.20 | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? |
79.60 | Physical Proximity | To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? |
79.20 | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? |
78.00 | Coordinate or Lead Others | How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? |
76.20 | Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? |
75.80 | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? |
74.60 | Spend Time Walking and Running | How much does this job require walking and running? |
74.20 | Responsible for Others' Health and Safety | How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? |
73.60 | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? |
72.60 | Frequency of Decision Making | How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? |
71.80 | Time Pressure | How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? |
70.60 | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? |
68.00 | Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People | How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements? |
66.40 | Responsibility for Outcomes and Results | How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers? |
61.60 | Freedom to Make Decisions | How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? |
60.40 | Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable | How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable? |
59.40 | Structured versus Unstructured Work | To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? |
59.00 | Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings? |
58.80 | Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body | How much does this job require bending or twisting your body? |
56.20 | Level of Competition | To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures? |
54.20 | Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures? |
52.40 | Frequency of Conflict Situations | How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job? |
49.80 | Consequence of Error | How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable? |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
- Overall Experience
- 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.
- Job Training
- 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.
- Examples
- 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.
- Education
- Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Earnings Benefits*
Region | Entry Level | Median | Experienced |
---|---|---|---|
United States | $21,150.00 | $27,930.00 | $31,480.00 |
Virginia | $22,880.00 | $26,220.00 | $28,760.00 |
Region | Entry Level | Median | Experienced |
Alexandria/Arlington | $27,076.11 | $30,311.03 | $34,219.06 |
Bay Consortium | $24,892.67 | $29,637.92 | $32,450.57 |
Capital Region Workforce Partnership | $23,915.40 | $26,236.81 | $29,079.78 |
Central VA/Region2000 | $23,914.36 | $23,914.36 | $26,691.48 |
Crater Area | $23,914.36 | $25,617.00 | $28,942.85 |
Greater Peninsula | $23,914.36 | $24,701.40 | $27,930.05 |
Hampton Roads | $23,914.36 | $26,087.35 | $28,997.20 |
New River/Mt. Rogers | $23,914.36 | $23,918.54 | $26,577.55 |
Northern Virginia | $27,046.85 | $30,395.69 | $34,845.14 |
Piedmont Workforce | $24,265.55 | $28,181.94 | $31,191.10 |
Shenandoah Valley | No Data | No Data | No Data |
South Central | $23,914.36 | $24,219.56 | $26,837.80 |
Southwestern Virginia | $23,914.36 | $23,914.36 | $26,193.96 |
West Piedmont | $23,914.36 | $23,914.36 | $26,269.21 |
Western Virginia | $23,914.36 | $24,448.46 | $27,488.97 |
* Earnings Calculations:
Regional Earnings:
Entry = Annual mean of the lower 1/3 wage distribution;
Experienced = Annual mean of the upper 2/3 wage distribution.
National and State Earnings:
Entry = Annual 10th percentile wage;
Experienced = Annual 75th percentile wage.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Employment Projections
Current | Projected | % Change | |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 3,195,600 | 3,438,800 | +7.6% |
Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Region | Current* | Projected | % Change |
Alexandria/Arlington | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Bay Consortium | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Capital Region Workforce Partnership | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Central VA/Region2000 | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Crater Area | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Greater Peninsula | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Hampton Roads | No Data | No Data | No Data |
New River/Mt. Rogers | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Northern Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Piedmont Workforce | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Shenandoah Valley | No Data | No Data | No Data |
South Central | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Southwestern Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
West Piedmont | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Western Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Related Occupations
Related Occupations
The related occupations here have similar general capabilities and interests; career explorers may also be interested in the related occupations:- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Food Preparation Workers
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
- Cooks, Short Order
- Baristas
- Waiters and Waitresses
- Cooks, Restaurant
- Dishwashers
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
- Cooks, Fast Food
- Chefs and Head Cooks
- Food Service Managers
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
- Bartenders
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
- Bakers
- Cooks, Private Household
- Butchers and Meat Cutters
- Food Batchmakers
- Cashiers
Careers in Restaurants and Food/Beverage Services Pathway:
- Bakers
- Baristas
- Bartenders
- Chefs and Head Cooks
- Cooks, All Other
- Cooks, Fast Food
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
- Cooks, Private Household
- Cooks, Restaurant
- Cooks, Short Order
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Dishwashers
- Fast Food and Counter Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other
- Food Preparation Workers
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
- Food Service Managers
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
- Waiters and Waitresses
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
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Overview
Occupations
The data sources for the information displayed here include: New York State Department of Labor; New Jersey Department of Labor; California Occupational Information Coordinating Committee; CareerOneStop. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Military Training
There are no related military occupations for this occupation.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Defense Manpower Data Center. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Proficiency Ratings
These proficiencies are scored on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being not
important to the job and 5 being extremely important to the job.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Related Schools
There are no Related Schools at this time.The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)