Fast Food and Counter Workers
Machines can already do 27% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 64%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Fast Food and Counter Workers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 27% 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 64% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 3,854,050 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $31,200 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 88% for contact with people.
- Also called: Cafe Server, Cafeteria Server, Cafeteria Worker, Counter Worker.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare daily food items, and cook simple foods and beverages, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, or coffee, using proper safety precautions and sanitary measures | 14% | 20% to 60% | |
| Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper | 10% | 65% to 92% | |
| Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary | 8% | 30% to 75% | |
| Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints | 6% | 20% to 40% | |
| Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food | 4% | 20% to 60% | |
| Monitor and order supplies or food items, and restock as necessary to maintain inventory | 4% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills fast food and counter workers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $33,980
- Cooks, Short Order61% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,880
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers54% of tasks by 2035 · US median $32,910
- Manicurists and Pedicurists41% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,760
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Fast Food and Counter Workers?
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 fast food and counter workers?
Machines can do 27% of the tasks of fast food and counter workers today and 64% 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 35-3023.00 (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). Fast Food and Counter Workers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/fast-food-and-counter-workers/