Rankings β†’ Will AI Replace…

Will AI Replace Cooks, Fast Food?

69/100 β€” High Risk
SOC 35-2011

πŸ’‘ Cooks, Fast Food have a composite risk score of 69/100 (Frey-Osborne probability: 81%, GenAI exposure: 31/100). With 668,230 workers in the US, this is one of the most AI-vulnerable occupations. Full occupation profile β†’

🎯 The Verdict

Likely for many tasks. The role will look very different in 5–10 years.

With 668,230 workers and a median wage of $30K,cooks, fast food represent a significant portion of the US workforce. Their GenAI exposure index is 31%, meaning a minority of their core tasks overlap with current generative AI capabilities.

Risk Score

69/100

Employment

668,230

Median Wage

$30K

GenAI Exposure

31%

⚠️ Top Risk Factors

1.

Self-ordering kiosks and mobile app displacement

2.

Robotic food delivery within establishments

3.

Automated dishwashing and kitchen cleaning systems

4.

Automated food preparation and cooking robotics

πŸ›‘οΈ Tasks AI Can't Easily Replace

βœ“

Hospitality and personalized guest experiences

βœ“

Adapting to real-time dietary and allergy requests

βœ“

Food presentation requiring artistic and tactile skill

πŸ”„ Career Transition Paths

Related occupations with lower AI risk and high skills overlap:

Education Administrators, All Other

61% skills overlap Β· $89K median wage

21/100

Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, and Sales Managers

56% skills overlap Β· $145K median wage

16/100

Tour and Travel Guides

69% skills overlap Β· $37K median wage

27/100

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Will AI completely replace cooks, fast food?

Likely for many tasks. The role will look very different in 5–10 years.

What is the AI risk score for cooks, fast food?

Cooks, Fast Food have a composite AI automation risk score of 69 out of 100, classified as "High Risk".

How many cooks, fast food are there in the US?

There are approximately 668,230 cooks, fast food employed in the United States.

What do cooks, fast food earn?

The median annual wage for cooks, fast food is $30K.

What skills should cooks, fast food develop?

Focus on tasks AI can't easily replicate: hospitality and personalized guest experiences, adapting to real-time dietary and allergy requests, food presentation requiring artistic and tactile skill. These human-centric skills will become more valuable as routine tasks are automated.