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Quick service restaurant crew member

Also called snack maker, crepes maker, pancakes maker

Quick service restaurant crew members prepare, cook and serve food and beverages in a quick service operation.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospectsShortage in 14 countries now. 45 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Food preparation assistantsWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €800 (Bulgaria) to €3,700 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Food preparation assistantsWhat do I need to study?Basic schooling5 in 10 have basic schooling only. 4 in 10 train through vocational routes.Food preparation assistantsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Fast food preparers · ILO

What you'd do

Fast food preparers · ILO
  • Preparing simple or pre-prepared foods and beverages such as sandwiches, hamburgers, pizzas, fish and chips, salads and coffee
  • Washing, cutting, measuring and mixing foods for cooking
  • Operating large-volume single-process cooking equipment such as grills, deep-fat fryers or griddles
  • Re-heating pre-prepared food
  • Cleaning food preparation areas, cooking surfaces and utensils
  • Taking and serving food and beverage orders in eating places that specialize in fast service and carry-out food
  • Ordering and taking delivery of fast food ingredients
  • Maintaining sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas
  • Verifying that prepared food meets requirements for quality and quantity
Work in a hospitality teamCheck deliveries on receiptClean surfacesPrepare ordersComply with food safety and hygiene+ 11 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually under 40 hours a week
  • Few deadlines
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Fast Food and Counter Workers"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

14 EU countries are short of fast food preparers now, and many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as food preparation assistants in the EU
1.38m1.65m2.06m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
325,000 new jobs 459,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Food preparation assistants45
All jobs29
Right now
14 of 27 countries report a shortage of fast food preparers, 2 a surplus.
Fast food preparers · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €800 a month (Bulgaria) to €3,700 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among elementary occupations in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Elementary occupations · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Basic schooling

Most people start with basic schooling and learn on the job.

Highest qualification of food preparation assistants (EU, 2025)
Degree 10%Vocational 30%General secondary 15%Basic schooling 45%
Field that teaches it
Occupational health and safety
Vocational route, EU
4 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.18 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 9 tasks
Taking and serving food and beverage orders in eating places that specialize in fast service and carry-out food0.25
Ordering and taking delivery of fast food ingredients0.23
Maintaining sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas0.23
Verifying that prepared food meets requirements for quality and quantity0.20
Operating large-volume single-process cooking equipment such as grills, deep-fat fryers or griddles0.17
Preparing simple or pre-prepared foods and beverages such as sandwiches, hamburgers, pizzas, fish and chips, salads and coffee0.15
Washing, cutting, measuring and mixing foods for cooking0.14
Cleaning food preparation areas, cooking surfaces and utensils0.14
Re-heating pre-prepared food0.13

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for fast food preparers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).