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




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

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC 20,170 184.04 2.10 $9.54 $19,850
Ocean City, NJ 5,910 162.89 1.86 $10.95 $22,780
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 128,880 159.90 1.83 $12.27 $25,520
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 20,510 153.42 1.75 $11.87 $24,690
Sandusky, OH 5,360 152.75 1.75 $9.17 $19,080
Flagstaff, AZ 7,970 142.92 1.63 $10.22 $21,270
Naples-Marco Island, FL 15,700 141.31 1.62 $11.78 $24,500
Lawrence, KS 6,280 138.44 1.58 $9.09 $18,900
Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach, FL 9,400 138.04 1.58 $9.18 $19,100
Punta Gorda, FL 5,220 133.45 1.53 $10.32 $21,460




Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 133,540 79.69 0.91 $12.84 $26,700
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division 94,610 98.59 1.13 $12.69 $26,400
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 109,900 80.24 0.92 $12.58 $26,170
Napa, CA 7,650 123.91 1.42 $12.56 $26,130
Peabody, MA NECTA Division 9,380 94.17 1.08 $12.42 $25,820
Barnstable Town, MA 11,840 126.31 1.44 $12.38 $25,750
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 348,570 68.86 0.79 $12.37 $25,740
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 128,880 159.90 1.83 $12.27 $25,520
Burlington-South Burlington, VT 8,610 77.27 0.88 $12.26 $25,490
Santa Fe, NM 6,750 113.20 1.29 $12.08 $25,120

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 31,930 83.85 0.96 $9.03 $18,770
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 24,450 88.70 1.01 $9.66 $20,080
Other North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 24,330 83.31 0.95 $9.14 $19,020
Other Ohio nonmetropolitan area 23,460 88.20 1.01 $9.65 $20,080
Hawaii / Maui / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 23,200 152.79 1.75 $13.06 $27,170

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

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Shoreham Town, Rhode Island nonmetropolitan area 80 180.77 2.07 $12.34 $25,660
Eastern Sierra Region of California nonmetropolitan area 2,340 171.06 1.96 $11.15 $23,190
Hawaii / Maui / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 23,200 152.79 1.75 $13.06 $27,170
North Central Colorado nonmetropolitan area 10,920 151.80 1.74 $12.20 $25,370
Nantucket Island and Martha's Vineyard nonmetropolitan area 2,050 148.24 1.70 $13.47 $28,020

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nantucket Island and Martha's Vineyard nonmetropolitan area 2,050 148.24 1.70 $13.47 $28,020
Hawaii / Maui / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 23,200 152.79 1.75 $13.06 $27,170
North Central Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 2,140 98.64 1.13 $12.55 $26,090
New Shoreham Town, Rhode Island nonmetropolitan area 80 180.77 2.07 $12.34 $25,660
North Central Colorado nonmetropolitan area 10,920 151.80 1.74 $12.20 $25,370


About May 2011 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OES estimates and related information:

May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order

List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order

Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012