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Fast Food Cook

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What You Need to Know About Fast Food Cook

Fast Food Cook Definition Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.

Fast Food Cook Responsibilities

  • Wash, cut, and prepare foods designated for cooking.
  • Prepare dough, following recipe.
  • Clean food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils.
  • Take food and drink orders and receive payment from customers.
  • Verify that prepared food meets requirements for quality and quantity.
  • Prepare and serve beverages, such as coffee or fountain drinks.

Skills Needed to be a Fast Food Cook

Fast Food Cooks state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

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.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

  • Pizza Baker
  • Specialty Cook
  • Fast Food Fry Cook
  • Fast Food Cook
  • Pizza Cook

Job Demand for Fast Food Cooks

In the United States, there were 517,600 jobs for Fast Food Cook in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Fast Food Cook. The BLS estimates 67,200 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Fast Food Cook are Washington, Alaska, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, West Virginia, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Fast Food Cooks Make A Lot Of Money?

Fast Food Cooks make between $17,390 and $29,290 a year.

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Fast Food Cooks who work in Hawaii, Washington, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.

How much do Fast Food Cooks make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $19,220
Alaska $26,420
Arizona $23,620
Arkansas $20,840
California $25,330
Colorado $24,130
Connecticut $27,040
Delaware $21,450
District of Columbia $29,220
Florida $22,550
Georgia $20,430
Hawaii $28,160
Idaho $19,360
Illinois $21,690
Indiana $20,000
Iowa $20,500
Kansas $19,760
Kentucky $20,670
Louisiana $19,440
Maine $23,700
Maryland $24,830
Massachusetts $28,620
Michigan $22,580
Minnesota $24,370
Mississippi $18,270
Missouri $20,800
Montana $22,550
Nebraska $22,490
Nevada $22,230
New Hampshire $22,400
New Jersey $23,410
New Mexico $20,840
New York $26,210
North Carolina $19,020
North Dakota $25,000
Ohio $21,630
Oklahoma $19,380
Oregon $26,350
Pennsylvania $20,530
Rhode Island $24,950
South Carolina $19,810
South Dakota $22,280
Tennessee $20,490
Texas $21,000
Utah $23,750
Vermont $25,660
Virginia $20,320
Washington $28,960
West Virginia $21,330
Wisconsin $22,780
Wyoming $20,210

What Tools do Fast Food Cooks Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Fast Food Cooks:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Point of sale POS software
  • Plexis Software Plexis POS
  • RestaurantPlus PRO
  • Aldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants Pro
  • Foodman Home-Delivery

Becoming a Fast Food Cook

What education or degrees do I need to become a Fast Food Cook?

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What work experience do I need to become a Fast Food Cook?

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Where Fast Food Cooks Work

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Fast Food Cook may also be interested in:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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