Cooks, Restaurant

Cooks, Restaurant score 9 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #758 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 20 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 3 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 4 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

9/ 100

Low

Rank: #758of 923 jobs
US workers: 1,409,890BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $37,390a year
In real AI use: 4 of 20tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (5%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 3 (15%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 16 (80%)

Keep records and accounts.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Estimate expected food consumption, requisition or purchase supplies, or procure food from storage.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Consult with supervisory staff to plan menus, taking into consideration factors such as costs and special event needs.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Plan and price menu items.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Turn or stir foods to ensure even cooking.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Observe and test foods to determine if they have been cooked sufficiently, using methods such as tasting, smelling, or piercing them with utensils.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Wash, peel, cut, and seed fruits and vegetables to prepare them for consumption.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Substitute for or assist other cooks during emergencies or rush periods.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Prepare relishes and hors d'oeuvres.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Carve and trim meats such as beef, veal, ham, pork, and lamb for hot or cold service, or for sandwiches.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Bake breads, rolls, cakes, and pastries.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Butcher and dress animals, fowl, or shellfish, or cut and bone meat prior to cooking.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about cooks, restaurant and AI

Will AI replace cooks, restaurant?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Cooks, Restaurant score 9 out of 100 (low exposure), #758 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 4 of the job's 20 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 16 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which cooks, restaurant tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Keep records and accounts".

Which cooks, restaurant tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices"; "Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock"; "Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 4 of the 20 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as cooks, restaurant, and what do they earn?

About 1,409,890 people in the US, with median pay of $37,390 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.