There are currently an estimated 871,100 food preparation workers in the United States. The food preparation worker job market is expected to grow by 7.9% between 2016 and 2026.

How employable are food preparation workers?

CareerExplorer rates food preparation workers with a B- employability rating, meaning this career should provide good employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 77,300 food preparation workers. That number is based on 68,600 additional food preparation workers, and the retirement of 8,700 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
Rhode Island 3,670
Nebraska 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