There are currently an estimated 931,800 food preparation workers in the United States. The food preparation worker job market is expected to shrink by -4.8% between 2022 and 2032.
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 -35,900 food preparation workers. That number is based on the retirement of 8,900 existing food preparation workers.
What’s the supply of food preparation workers?
The food preparation worker industry is concentrated in California, Florida, New York
Food Preparation Worker job market by state
| State Name | Employed Food Preparation Workers |
|---|---|
| California | 108,890 |
| Florida | 62,530 |
| New York | 59,720 |
| Texas | 56,590 |
| Louisiana | 36,320 |
| Illinois | 32,680 |
| Georgia | 32,590 |
| New Jersey | 29,510 |
| Ohio | 26,820 |
| Pennsylvania | 22,820 |
| Washington | 20,090 |
| North Carolina | 19,640 |
| Virginia | 19,240 |
| Michigan | 17,880 |
| Tennessee | 17,280 |
| Maryland | 16,740 |
| Indiana | 16,520 |
| Massachusetts | 16,180 |
| Oregon | 14,270 |
| Missouri | 14,210 |
| Arizona | 13,360 |
| Connecticut | 12,160 |
| Colorado | 11,530 |
| Nevada | 10,390 |
| South Carolina | 9,770 |
| Oklahoma | 9,420 |
| Kansas | 9,200 |
| Minnesota | 8,740 |
| Mississippi | 8,720 |
| Wisconsin | 8,690 |
| Puerto Rico | 8,550 |
| Hawaii | 8,120 |
| Maine | 7,600 |
| Kentucky | 7,510 |
| Alabama | 7,440 |
| Iowa | 6,200 |
| Utah | 6,090 |
| Arkansas | 5,000 |
| Alaska | 4,650 |
| New Mexico | 4,410 |
| Nebraska | 3,670 |
| Rhode Island | 3,670 |
| District of Columbia | 3,630 |
| Idaho | 3,620 |
| Montana | 3,340 |
| New Hampshire | 2,920 |
| South Dakota | 2,890 |
| North Dakota | 2,570 |
| West Virginia | 2,150 |
| Delaware | 1,980 |
| Vermont | 1,470 |
| Wyoming | 1,340 |
| Guam | 640 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | 370 |