Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
AI Impact Summary
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 30/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 34% of all analyzed occupations. Of 17 analyzed tasks, 6 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
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AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path
by Pluralsight
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Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
by Case Western Reserve University
Estimated Impact
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
17 tasks analyzed
Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.
Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
Monitor use of government food commodities to ensure that proper procedures are followed.
Direct activities of one or more workers who assist in preparing and serving meals.
Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
Compile and maintain records of food use and expenditures.
Take inventory of supplies and equipment.
Bake breads, rolls, or other pastries.
Monitor menus and spending to ensure that meals are prepared economically.
Determine meal prices, based on calculations of ingredient prices.
Train new employees.
Plan menus that are varied, nutritionally balanced, and appetizing, taking advantage of foods in season and local availability.
Requisition food supplies, kitchen equipment, and appliances, based on estimates of future needs.
Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure safety of food.
Rotate and store food supplies.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry. | 64.12Observed | 34.7% | 15% | |
| Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 8% | |
| Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 20% | |
| Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 10% | |
| Monitor use of government food commodities to ensure that proper procedures are followed. | 85Estimated | 83.2% | 2% | |
| Direct activities of one or more workers who assist in preparing and serving meals. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 5% | |
| Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 8% | |
| Compile and maintain records of food use and expenditures. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 3% | |
| Take inventory of supplies and equipment. | 80Estimated | 81.2% | 3% | |
| Bake breads, rolls, or other pastries. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 5% | |
| Monitor menus and spending to ensure that meals are prepared economically. | 75Estimated | 57.0% | 2% | |
| Determine meal prices, based on calculations of ingredient prices. | 63.9Observed | 74.8% | 2% | |
| Train new employees. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 3% | |
| Plan menus that are varied, nutritionally balanced, and appetizing, taking advantage of foods in season and local availability. | 80Estimated | 59.0% | 4% | |
| Requisition food supplies, kitchen equipment, and appliances, based on estimates of future needs. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 2% | |
| Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure safety of food. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 3% | |
| Rotate and store food supplies. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 5% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 27.9%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$36,450
per year
Mean Wage
$37,310
per year
Employment
448K
workers
Wage Range
$26,800 - $48,320
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsButchers and Meat Cutters
27%Median salary: $38,960
Higher risk than 24% of other occupations
Cooks, Restaurant
29%Median salary: $36,830
Higher risk than 30% of other occupations
Cooks, Short Order
31%Median salary: $35,620
Higher risk than 40% of other occupations
Dietetic Technicians
35%Median salary: $37,040
Higher risk than 65% of other occupations
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
38%Median salary: $42,010
Higher risk than 77% of other occupations
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
42%Higher risk than 86% of other occupations
Food Batchmakers
43%Median salary: $40,790
Higher risk than 90% of other occupations
Bakers
45%Median salary: $36,650
Higher risk than 92% of other occupations
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
45%Median salary: $34,460
Higher risk than 92% of other occupations
Cooks, Fast Food
46%Median salary: $30,160
Higher risk than 93% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 19% of other occupations
Sales Managers
26%Higher risk than 19% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
29%Higher risk than 30% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
29%Higher risk than 33% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 36% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 1 scoring run
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