There are currently an estimated 902,700 food preparation workers in the United States. The food preparation worker job market is expected to shrink by 3.4% between 2024 and 2034.
How employable are food preparation workers?
CareerExplorer rates food preparation workers with a C employability rating, meaning this career should provide moderate employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will lose -30,900 food preparation workers.
What’s the supply of food preparation workers?
The food preparation worker industry is concentrated in California, Texas, Florida
Food Preparation Worker job market by state
| State Name | Employed Food Preparation Workers |
|---|---|
| California | 112,750 |
| Texas | 81,280 |
| Florida | 73,100 |
| New York | 62,380 |
| Illinois | 34,820 |
| Louisiana | 30,920 |
| Georgia | 26,450 |
| North Carolina | 24,960 |
| New Jersey | 24,730 |
| Minnesota | 24,620 |
| Tennessee | 19,780 |
| Washington | 19,510 |
| Ohio | 19,480 |
| Wisconsin | 17,990 |
| Pennsylvania | 17,940 |
| Alabama | 17,680 |
| Michigan | 17,380 |
| Arizona | 16,590 |
| Virginia | 16,340 |
| Indiana | 16,200 |
| Kentucky | 15,390 |
| South Carolina | 14,460 |
| Missouri | 13,650 |
| Massachusetts | 13,620 |
| Maryland | 13,280 |
| Connecticut | 12,250 |
| Colorado | 12,080 |
| Oregon | 11,860 |
| Nevada | 11,420 |
| Utah | 10,530 |
| Mississippi | 7,870 |
| Kansas | 7,680 |
| Oklahoma | 7,430 |
| Nebraska | 6,890 |
| New Mexico | 6,850 |
| Hawaii | 5,950 |
| Arkansas | 5,500 |
| Idaho | 4,670 |
| Maine | 4,560 |
| Iowa | 4,170 |
| District of Columbia | 3,970 |
| New Hampshire | 3,420 |
| South Dakota | 3,270 |
| Montana | 2,990 |
| West Virginia | 2,960 |
| Rhode Island | 2,830 |
| Alaska | 2,800 |
| Delaware | 2,400 |
| Wyoming | 1,620 |
| Vermont | 1,350 |
| North Dakota | 980 |