Jobs in restaurants have an average Still needs a human score of 79.9 out of 100 (higher is safer), 5.9 points above the average for all jobs of 74.0 and 2nd of 37 among the sectors (1st is least exposed). The largest job here is fast food and counter workers (3,195,000 workers, 82/100 ↑ safer), and of the jobs more common here than across the economy, first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers is the most exposed (72/100 ↑ safer).
79.9/100↑ safer
0.2%
9.2%
+4.3%
How the work here could shift
The share of workers in this sector whose job would sit in each band, from today to 2060.
Today
63%
of workers in this sector are in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
0% are in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2045
6%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
34% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2060
6%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
89% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
Each job's score moves towards the bottom band (Largely: AI could largely do the job) by the year it could be largely automated, slowly at first and faster later, as adoption usually goes. Each job is run as ten scenarios across its replacement range, so every figure mixes early and late outcomes. The model stops at 2060. How the timeline works
Will AI replace the job?Largely.Mostly.Partly.A little.Nah.
Show the data
| Year | Largely | Mostly | Partly | A little | Nah |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today (2026) | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 37.1% | 62.7% |
| 2030 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 2.6% | 74.9% | 22.4% |
| 2035 | 1.3% | 2.8% | 35.3% | 54.0% | 6.6% |
| 2040 | 4.6% | 33.8% | 43.1% | 12.2% | 6.3% |
| 2045 | 34.1% | 38.2% | 17.8% | 3.6% | 6.3% |
| 2050 | 56.2% | 32.8% | 1.5% | 3.3% | 6.3% |
| 2055 | 80.0% | 10.4% | 0.0% | 3.3% | 6.3% |
| 2060 | 89.0% | 1.5% | 0.0% | 3.3% | 6.3% |
The largest jobs in restaurants
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 82↑ saferAI replace? Nah.workers of 2 related jobs | D | 2044–2060+ | 3,194,700 |
| 2 | Waiters and Waitresses | 79↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2044–2060+ | 1,843,300 |
| 3 | Cooks, Restaurant | 83↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 1,174,200 |
| 4 | First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2044–2060+ | 931,100 |
| 5 | Cooks, Fast Food | 83↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 614,600 |
| 6 | Food Preparation Workers | 85↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 433,000 |
| 7 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | 74↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2044–2060+ | 379,000 |
| 8 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 353,900 |
| 9 | Dishwashers | 88↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 349,000 |
| 10 | Bartenders | 83↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 338,400 |
Common jobs here that AI can do most of
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customer Service Representatives | 51↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2034–2041 | 14,400 |
| 2 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 17,200 |
| 3 | Office Clerks, General | 65↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2053 | 21,200 |
| 4 | Training and Development Specialists | 65↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 33,400 |
| 5 | Retail Salespersons | 69↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2054 | 17,000 |
| 6 | First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2044–2060+ | 931,100 |
| 7 | General and Operations Managers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2051 | 165,000 |
| 8 | Cashiers | 74↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2060+ | 299,500 |
| 9 | Food Service Managers | 74↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2037–2056 | 169,500 |
| 10 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | 74↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2044–2060+ | 379,000 |
Common jobs here that most need a human
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dishwashers | 88↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 349,000 |
| 2 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 39,100 |
| 3 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 353,900 |
| 4 | Food Preparation Workers | 85↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 433,000 |
| 5 | Cooks, Short Order | 83↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 92,200 |
| 6 | Cooks, Fast Food | 83↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 614,600 |
| 7 | Bakers | 83↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 61,400 |
| 8 | Bartenders | 83↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 338,400 |
| 9 | Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 83↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 26,900 |
| 10 | Cooks, Restaurant | 83↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 1,174,200 |
Related sectors: Accommodation and food services, Hotels and motels
How this is worked out
- The average weights every job's Still needs a human score by how many people do it in this sector, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' industry employment data. Jobs cover 99.4% of the sector's employment.
- Job scores are national: an accountant in retail scores the same as an accountant anywhere. The sector figure reflects its mix of jobs, not how its employers use AI; the Census figure shows that.