As of August 2026, Cooks, Restaurant has an AI-exposure score of 40/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Score inputs for this role: This role starts from O*NET 29.1 occupational descriptors and is empirically grounded by Penn/OpenAI GPTs are GPTs study, Anthropic Economic Index (June 26, 2026), Felten, Raj and Seamans AIOE index. BLS labor-market figures are separate context, not score inputs.

AI Exposure Score for

Cooks, Restaurant

40/100
Moderate exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 9% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$37,390. About 250,700 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 - growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) - your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

Will AI replace Cooks, Restaurant?

No exposure score can predict whether AI will replace this role. The 40/100 score means our current model estimates moderate task exposure from the sources listed on this page. It does not predict an employer decision, headcount, or an individual outcome. The task map below shows the work assessed and where human judgment remains important.

Early-career context (study ages 22-25)

This role is in our Moderate exposure band, not our highest-exposure bands. The study's 16% finding should not be applied directly to this role.

The November 2025 revision reports a 16% relative employment decline for workers ages 22-25 in the most AI-exposed U.S. occupations, after firm-level controls, relative to workers in less-exposed fields and more experienced workers in the same occupations.

Use the task map to identify durable work and the skills worth building early.

Stanford Digital Economy Lab, Canaries in the Coal Mine - November 2025 revision

This is group-level U.S. payroll evidence, not a personal forecast. The authors do not claim that AI alone caused the change, and this context does not alter the exposure score.

How this role compares to similar Food Service roles

Cooks, Restaurant (this role)
40
Waiters and Waitresses
39
Cooks, Fast Food
42
Cooks, Private Household
38
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
37
Cooks, Short Order
36
See all roles by exposure →
Data sources, not endorsements: O*NET and curated role data; empirical AI signals where matched; BLS employment, pay, and demand as separate context.Methodology Data sources
Role snapshot

What this role usually involves

O*NET 29.1 exact occupation

Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.

Common titles
CookGrill CookLine CookPrep Cook (Preparation Cook)Back Line CookBanquet Cook
O*NET job-zone preparation
Job Zone 2 · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.

Broad guidance for this preparation level; exact requirements vary by role and employer.

Skills and knowledge
Critical ThinkingMonitoringSpeakingTime ManagementFood ProductionEnglish Language
Work context
Indoor controlled settingFrequent contact with othersDecision latitudeRepeating tasks

Source: O*NET 29.1 exact occupation - Cooks, Restaurant, SOC 35-2014.00. Context describes the role; the AI-exposure score remains a separate task-exposure estimate.

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Cooks, Restaurant tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable
  • Keep records and accounts.
Augmentable
  • Estimate expected food consumption, requisition or purchase supplies, or procure food from storage.
  • Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.
12 more augmentable tasks locked in the report.
Durable
  • Wash, peel, cut, and seed fruits and vegetables to prepare them for consumption.
  • Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices.
3 more durable tasks locked in the report.

We analyzed all 20 Cooks, Restaurant tasks - 1 automatable, 14 augmentable and 5 durable. The full task map - every task with exactly what to do about each - is in your Career Report.

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Full task map

Every task scored with what to automate, augment, or protect.

Adjacent path comparison

Related roles with exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability. Lower-exposure options appear only when the data supports them.

30/60/90 plan + PDF

A keepable roadmap plus resume and LinkedIn repositioning.

Grounded in O*NET-linked or curated role data, with Penn, Anthropic Economic Index, and AIOE signals where matched. BLS labor-market context is separate - not generic advice.

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Adjacent career paths

This role is already among lower-exposure work. The adjacent paths below are shown for opportunity and skill transfer, not as lower-exposure alternatives.

Cooks, Short Order
80% skills overlap; 4 points lower - similar exposure within the 5-point model resolution; Low band; ~US$35,880
View path
36
7 more adjacent paths with exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability in your Career Report.
Agent Reality Check (on-site workflow preview)

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Your AI-Safe Career Report

Every task scored with what to do about it; adjacent paths with honest exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability; a skill-gap map; a 30/60/90-day roadmap; Agent Reality Check; plus a résumé and LinkedIn rewrite and professional PDF.
Grounded in O*NET-linked or curated role data, with Penn, Anthropic Economic Index, and AIOE signals where matched. BLS labor-market context is separate.

Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium - adapting pays. - PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.

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Cooks, Restaurant - median pay by US state (BLS OEWS, USD)

California: US$44,880New York: US$43,680Florida: US$37,020Texas: US$34,760

Median annual wage, in USD. US national: US$37,390. More states are being added.

More Food Service roles

Chefs and Head Cooks First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers Cooks, Fast Food Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Cooks, Private Household Cooks, Short Order
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