Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

35-0000 Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations (Major Group)

This major group comprises the following occupations: Chefs and Head Cooks ; First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers ; Cooks, Fast Food ; Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria ; Cooks, Private Household ; Cooks, Restaurant ; Cooks, Short Order ; Cooks, All Other ; Food Preparation Workers ; Bartenders ; Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food ; Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop ; Waiters and Waitresses ; Food Servers, Nonrestaurant ; Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers ; Dishwashers ; Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop ; Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this major group:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
11,218,710 0.1 % $10.30 $21,430 0.2 %

Percentile wage estimates for this major group:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $7.78 $8.35 $9.09 $11.16 $14.65
Annual Wage (2) $16,180 $17,370 $18,900 $23,200 $30,460

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Full-Service Restaurants 4,275,140 93.92 $10.41 $21,660
Limited-Service Eating Places 3,614,590 88.12 $9.31 $19,360
Special Food Services 449,670 78.71 $11.23 $23,360
Traveler Accommodation 429,430 25.26 $12.43 $25,850
Elementary and Secondary Schools 402,750 4.80 $11.29 $23,480

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Full-Service Restaurants 4,275,140 93.92 $10.41 $21,660
Limited-Service Eating Places 3,614,590 88.12 $9.31 $19,360
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 296,030 85.28 $10.07 $20,940
Special Food Services 449,670 78.71 $11.23 $23,360
Rooming and Boarding Houses 4,730 42.75 $10.89 $22,650

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Rail Transportation 340 0.15 $20.44 $42,520
Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures 60 0.30 $18.85 $39,210
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 12,820 0.62 $18.39 $38,250
Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers 40 0.01 $15.74 $32,750
State Government (OES Designation) 17,420 0.77 $15.72 $32,700

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 1,246,720 88.80 1.02 $10.69 $22,240
Texas 887,810 86.16 0.99 $9.48 $19,710
Florida 731,220 102.24 1.17 $10.22 $21,250
New York 630,580 74.82 0.86 $11.45 $23,810
Pennsylvania 463,790 83.58 0.96 $10.56 $21,970




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nevada 160,920 144.61 1.65 $11.88 $24,700
Hawaii 70,380 121.93 1.39 $12.23 $25,440
Montana 44,280 104.17 1.19 $9.56 $19,880
Florida 731,220 102.24 1.17 $10.22 $21,250
South Dakota 38,590 98.27 1.12 $9.38 $19,510




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 44,110 68.42 0.78 $13.24 $27,550
Massachusetts 267,920 84.87 0.97 $12.27 $25,530
Hawaii 70,380 121.93 1.39 $12.23 $25,440
Washington 237,670 87.36 1.00 $12.06 $25,090
Vermont 23,180 79.70 0.91 $11.99 $24,940





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 348,570 68.86 0.79 $12.37 $25,740
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 321,710 84.15 0.96 $10.40 $21,630
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 270,100 75.39 0.86 $10.56 $21,970
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 205,560 80.56 0.92 $9.65 $20,080
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 188,230 84.48 0.97 $9.98 $20,760
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 175,450 75.94 0.87 $11.83 $24,610
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 163,200 79.81 0.91 $9.68 $20,130
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 151,370 89.11 1.02 $10.86 $22,600
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 139,650 76.95 0.88 $11.47 $23,860
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 137,690 80.46 0.92 $10.33 $21,490