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Food Counter Attendants

On the Job

Food Counter Attendants serve food to diners at a counter or from a steam table. They may work in cafeterias, concession stands, or coffee shops. They do not serve customers at tables (see Waiters and Waitresses).

Physical Demands

This career requires time standing, walking, or running.

Typical Work Tasks

People who work in this career often:

Communicate dining or order details to kitchen personnel.
Cook foods.
Cut cooked or raw foods.
Package food or supplies.
Prepare hot or cold beverages.
Stock serving stations or dining areas with food or supplies.
Store supplies or goods in kitchens or storage areas.
Clean food service areas.
Clean tableware.
Remove trash.

Typical Working Conditions

Frequent contact with others.
Standing.
Working with a group or team.
Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people.
Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
The freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals.
Responsibility for others' health and safety.
Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.

This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.

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Food Counter Attendants

On the Job

Physical Demands

Typical Work Tasks

Typical Working Conditions