Food Preparation Workers
SOC Code: 35-2021 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
Advertisement
Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Food Preparation Workers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $34,362 | $40,643 | $46,946 | $53,227 |
| Napa, CA | $36,088 | $40,123 | $44,179 | $48,214 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $33,176 | $37,918 | $42,661 | $47,403 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $38,272 | $41,163 | $44,034 | $46,925 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $31,928 | $36,920 | $41,891 | $46,883 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $34,944 | $38,875 | $42,806 | $46,738 |
| Boulder, CO | $35,776 | $39,416 | $43,056 | $46,696 |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $32,760 | $37,024 | $41,288 | $45,552 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $35,880 | $39,042 | $42,224 | $45,386 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $35,963 | $39,000 | $42,037 | $45,074 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Time Management | 3.0 | |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | |
| Speaking | 2.9 | |
| Coordination | 2.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 2.8 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.6 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.6 | |
| Monitoring | 2.5 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.4 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.3 |
| Food Production | 2.9 |
| Production and Processing | 2.7 |
| English Language | 2.4 |
| Administration and Management | 2.3 |
| Psychology | 1.8 |
| Education and Training | 1.8 |
| Public Safety and Security | 1.8 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 69.5% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 22.4% |
| Post-first professional | 4.2% |
| Less than high school | 2.7% |
| Some college | 1.2% |
Typical Tasks
- Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
- Portion and wrap food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
- Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.
- Weigh or measure ingredients.
- Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
- Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.
- Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.
- Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial CBORD Foodservice Suite CBORD NetRecipe Culinary Software Services ChefTec EGS CALCMENU Master Cook Deluxe Professional Cook Mealmaster Cookbook Wizard MicroBlast Recipe Wizard for Windows Quizlet Recipe software ValuSoft MasterCook YouTube iPro
Calculate your wage level for Food Preparation Workers →
Advertisement
H-1B Guides & Resources
Looking for an H-1B immigration attorney?
Find experienced immigration lawyers in our attorney directory.