As of June 2026, Cooks, Short Order has an AI-exposure score of 43/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

Cooks, Short Order

43/100
Moderate exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 15% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$35,880. About 20,600 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.

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How this role compares to similar Food Service roles

Cooks, Short Order (this role)
43
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
43
Cooks, Restaurant
42
Food Preparation Workers
41
Cooks, Private Household
41
Bartenders
41
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Data sources, not endorsements: O*NET task data, BLS employment/pay/demand, and Anthropic Economic Index signals.Methodology Data sources
Role snapshot

What this role usually involves

O*NET 29.1 exact occupation

Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables.

Common titles
CookGrill CookLine CookShort Order CookCatererDeli Cook (Delicatessen Cook)
Typical preparation
Some Preparation Needed: These occupations usually require a high school diploma. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Skills and knowledge
CoordinationCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionService OrientationSpeakingTime Management
Tools and technology
Aldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants ProFoodman Home-DeliveryInventory control softwarePlexis Software Plexis POSPoint of sale POS softwareRestaurantPlus PRO
Work context
Frequent contact with othersFace-to-face discussionsExternal customersTelephoneDecision latitude

Source: O*NET 29.1 exact occupation - Cooks, Short Order, SOC 35-2015.00. Context describes the role; the AI-exposure score remains a separate task-exposure estimate.

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Cooks, Short Order tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable

No automatable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as durable (73%).

Augmentable
  • Plan work on orders so that items served together are finished at the same time.
  • Order supplies and stock them on shelves.
1 more augmentable task locked in the report.
Durable
  • Complete orders from steam tables, placing food on plates and serving customers at tables or counters.
  • Grill, cook, and fry foods such as french fries, eggs, and pancakes.
6 more durable tasks locked in the report.

We analyzed all 11 Cooks, Short Order tasks — 3 augmentable and 8 durable. The full task map — every task with exactly what to do about each — is in your Career Report.

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5-10 adjacent roles with salary, demand, and reachability.

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Safer adjacent roles

Cooks, Restaurant
80% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$37,390
42
7 more safer roles with salary, demand & a reachability map — in your Career Report.
AI-augmentation kit (prompt preview) You are my AI copilot for "Plan work on orders so that items served together are finished at the same time.". I'll paste the inputs; draft the first version and flag exactly what needs my judgment, then iterate until…
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Your AI-Safe Career Report

Every task scored with what to do about it · 5–10 safer roles with salary, demand & reachability · skill-gap map · a 30/60/90-day roadmap · plus a résumé & LinkedIn rewrite · PDF.
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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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