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Retail

Fast Food and Counter Workers

Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.

Annual openings

19,888

Median wage

$36,270

Typical education

Education not reported

Growth 2026–2032

+8%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Education not reported

Credential requirement

No certification is required or expected for this job.

Work experience

This is an entry-level role so no experience is required.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenNo
  • On a computerNo
  • OutdoorsNo
  • With your handsYes

Interests it draws on

  • Hospitality and Tourism
  • Culinary

Automation exposure

High exposure

Many tasks are repeatable, so technology could reshape the day-to-day over time.

A typical day

  1. Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.
  2. Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.
  3. Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.
  4. Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.
  5. Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars.
  6. Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.
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