Career-PathGPS
← All education and training
Career

Fast Food and Counter Workers

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $31,200 Median per year · $15.00/hr Most earn $22,840–$42,650

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Set up dining areas for meals, and clear them following meals.
  • Set up dining areas for meals, and clear them following meals.
  • Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.
  • Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.
  • Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.
  • Prepare and serve cold drinks, frozen milk drinks, or desserts, using drink-dispensing, milkshake, or frozen-custard machines.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth; Numerous Job Openings

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 827,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Special food services3.8%
  • Grocery and specialty food retailers3.5%
  • Full-service restaurants2.9%
  • Elementary and secondary schools2.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start with just a high school diploma and no prior experience, so you can begin right after school or while you're still in it. Your pay range near you and nationally is on this career's page.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school and build basic skills in math, reading, and customer communication, which are what employers look for in this job.

  2. Fast Food and Counter Worker

    Ongoing, often starting right away

    Take customer orders, serve food and drinks, and handle payments. Learning to work quickly and stay friendly during busy shifts is the main skill you build here.

Where it can lead

  1. Shift Supervisor

    6 months to 2 years of experience first

    You take charge of a shift, train new workers, and help keep the line running smoothly. Showing reliability and good teamwork usually gets you considered.

  2. Assistant Restaurant Manager

    1 to 3 years as a shift supervisor of experience first

    You help manage the whole restaurant, including schedules, inventory, and staff. This usually takes strong leadership and a track record of handling busy shifts well.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and a business or family consumer science classBasic math helps with making change and tracking orders, and these classes often teach food handling and customer service.
  • Get a part-time or weekend job at a restaurant or storeEven a few hours a week gives you real experience with customers and fast-paced work.
  • Volunteer at a food bank or community kitchenVolunteering shows you can work as part of a team and handle food safely, which you can list on applications.
  • Join a club or team that involves public speaking or teamworkClubs like FFA, DECA, or a sports team build the communication and reliability employers look for.
  • Learn basic food safety on your ownReading up on how to handle food safely prepares you for the job and makes your first shift easier.

In college

  • Keep a part-time job in food service or retailSteady shifts build speed, teamwork, and customer skills, and they show future employers you're dependable.
  • Earn a food handler or food safety certificateMany local health departments offer short courses that are a simple, affordable credential for this kind of work.
  • Take a customer service or public speaking classClear communication helps you take orders accurately and handle complaints calmly, which is useful for moving into supervisor roles.
  • Join a campus student organization that runs events or fundraisersHelping plan and run events builds the organizing and leadership skills needed to become a shift supervisor.
  • Look for a campus job at a dining hall or caféCampus food service jobs are often flexible around class schedules and give you real experience in a busy kitchen or counter.

Tips for getting started

  • Get any food safety or handling certificate your local health department or employer offers. It's a simple way to stand out when you apply.
  • Ask for a job with flexible hours if you're still in school, and keep your grades up. Many employers like working with students who can balance both.
  • Practice your customer service skills everywhere you go, like at a store or in group projects. Employers often hire for attitude and reliability more than experience.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

Related careers