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Skilled Trades

Food Preparation Workers

Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.

Median salary (BLS)

$35,320

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$26k – $45k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Food Preparation Workers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Food Preparation Workers

    Entry / Junior

    $25,810

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Food Preparation Workers

    Established

    $35,320

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Food Preparation Workers

    Senior

    $40,330

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
  • •Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
  • •Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
  • •Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
  • •Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.