Cooks, Fast Food
Machines can already do 23% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 63%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Cooks, Fast Food in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 23% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 63% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 641,070 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $30,890 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 73% for contact with people.
- Also called: Cook, Cook Line Worker, Fast Food Cook, Food Cook.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles | 15% | 30% to 75% | |
| Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously | 15% | 20% to 60% | |
| Prepare specialty foods, such as pizzas, fish and chips, sandwiches, or tacos, following specific methods that usually require short preparation time | 12% | 20% to 60% | |
| Clean food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils | 8% | 20% to 60% | |
| Cook and package batches of food, such as hamburgers or fried chicken, prepared to order or kept warm until sold | 7% | 30% to 75% | |
| Read food order slips or receive verbal instructions as to food required by patron, and prepare and cook food according to instructions | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Wash, cut, and prepare foods designated for cooking | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Clean, stock, and restock workstations and display cases | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills cooks, fast food use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,650
- Butchers and Meat Cutters60% of tasks by 2035 · US median $40,140
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $38,020
- Etchers and Engravers62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $43,310
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Cooks, Fast Food?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of cooks, fast food?
Machines can do 23% of the tasks of cooks, fast food today and 63% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 35-2011.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Cooks, Fast Food: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/cooks-fast-food/