# Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

US SOC code 35-3041. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/35-3041

Also called: Dietary aide, Hospital food service worker, Patient dining associate, Tray line worker, Cafeteria server.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **293,900** US nonrestaurant food servers, with median pay of **$35,360** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby%27s_Pig_Stand) of **500** from 1924, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for nonrestaurant food servers: Barcode tray verification and EHR-integrated diet orders, 2005 to 2020.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=35-3041&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **11.1%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Food Servers, Nonrestaurant employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1921
- Latest US employment: 293,900 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [5]
- Latest US median pay: $35,360 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [8]
- Outlook: +4.5% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [19]

### All 28 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1924 | 500 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Kirby's Pig Stand [1] |
| 1950 | 80,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., American Hospital Association [2] |
| 1955 | n/a | $1,900 (estimate) | Est., US Department of Labor [6] |
| 1970 | 180,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook [3] |
| 2000 | 199,600 | $14,710 | BLS OEWS 2000 [4] |
| 2003 | 194,260 | $15,910 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [5] |
| 2004 | 186,770 | $16,540 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [5] |
| 2005 | 188,750 | $17,210 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [5] |
| 2006 | 183,700 | $18,090 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [5] |
| 2007 | 185,530 | $18,850 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [5] |
| 2008 | 188,390 | $19,380 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [5] |
| 2009 | 194,950 | $19,590 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [5] |
| 2010 | 205,330 | $19,430 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [5] |
| 2011 | 221,000 | $19,550 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [5] |
| 2012 | 237,740 | $19,640 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [5] |
| 2013 | 244,820 | $19,920 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [5] |
| 2014 | 250,840 | $19,900 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [5] |
| 2015 | 257,070 | $20,420 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [5] |
| 2016 | 261,520 | $21,240 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [5] |
| 2017 | 264,630 | $22,320 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [5] |
| 2018 | 266,190 | $23,290 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [5] |
| 2019 | 277,580 | $24,430 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [5] |
| 2020 | 254,650 | $25,910 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [5] |
| 2021 | 243,030 | $28,730 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [5] |
| 2022 | 248,870 | $30,300 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [5] |
| 2023 | 267,840 | $33,110 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [5] |
| 2024 | 271,780 | $34,460 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [5] |
| 2025 | 293,900 | $35,360 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [5] |

## Sources (81)

### Employment series

1. [Kirby's Pig Stand — Wikipedia (Pig Stands Co. history: 50,000 sandwiches/week from ten locations by 1924)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby%27s_Pig_Stand), Wikipedia
2. [American Hospital Association — AHA Annual Survey historical data; Barnes Hospital Becker Library — "A Hospital Food Revolution" (hospital dietary staffing context, 1950)](https://becker.wustl.edu/news/hospital-food-revolution/), Washington University Becker Medical Library
3. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers (historical context for nonrestaurant food service sector growth)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/food-and-beverage-serving-and-related-workers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
5. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

6. [US Department of Labor — History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates (1938 to present)](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/history), US Department of Labor
7. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
8. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Tool eras

9. [Kirby's Pig Stand — Wikipedia (first carhop service 1921, running board delivery, tray hook service)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby%27s_Pig_Stand), Wikipedia
10. [Carhop — Wikipedia (history of carhop service, aluminum window tray, Sonic Drive-In)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carhop), Wikipedia
11. [Becker Medical Library — "A Hospital Food Revolution" (Barnes Hospital 1949-1950: centralized tray assembly, temperature complaints, early innovation)](https://becker.wustl.edu/news/hospital-food-revolution/), Washington University Becker Medical Library
12. [Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — "History Snapshot: Dietetics Student Experience in the 1940s" (hospital foodservice structure, dietary department staffing, 45-hour work weeks)](https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672%2814%2901221-0/fulltext), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
13. [Smithsonian Magazine — "The Timely Return of the Drive-In Restaurant" (drive-in culture history, carhop tradition, Sonic)](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/timley-return-drive-in-restaurant-180974973/), Smithsonian Magazine
14. [Foodservice Equipment and Supplies — "Hospital Hospitality: Room Service Delivers" (rethermalization and modern hospital foodservice delivery models)](https://fesmag.com/topics/the-latest-news/17110-hospital-hospitality-room-service-delivers), Foodservice Equipment and Supplies
15. [Computrition — Nutrition Services Software: Tray InMotion Elite (wristband scanning for patient ID and tray verification, EHR diet-order integration, wrong-patron error detection)](https://www.computrition.com/product-solutions/nutrition-services-software/), Computrition
16. [MealSuite — EHR integration with foodservice software (real-time allergen alerts and diet-order updates pushed to serving staff)](https://www.mealsuite.com/ehr-integration-with-foodservice-software), MealSuite
17. [Aethon — Hospital Robots: Healthcare (TUG robot meal delivery statistics; 31,000+ deliveries, 50% time reduction at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital)](https://aethon.com/hospital-robots-healthcare/), Aethon
18. [KQED Future of You — "Robots Are Here, And Working at Your Local Hospital" (UCSF TUG deployment: 25 robots, 100 miles/day, 30 fewer hires during expansion)](https://www.kqed.org/futureofyou/121043/hospital-uses-robots-instead-of-people-to-cart-things-around), KQED

### Forecasts and exposure studies

19. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 35-3041 Food servers, nonrestaurant (2025: 296.3 thousand; 2035: 309.6 thousand; +4.5%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=35-3041&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
20. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 35-3041.00, human-rated β 0.111)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

21. [Kirby's Pig Stand — Wikipedia (founding 1921, carhop origin, expansion to 50,000 sandwiches/week by 1924)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby%27s_Pig_Stand), Wikipedia
22. [Carhop — Wikipedia (WWII gender shift: women replace male carhops, post-war transition)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carhop), Wikipedia
23. [Becker Medical Library — "A Hospital Food Revolution" (Barnes Hospital 1949: temperature complaint documentation, innovations that followed)](https://becker.wustl.edu/news/hospital-food-revolution/), Washington University Becker Medical Library
24. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers (healthcare and social assistance as dominant employer sector for nonrestaurant food servers)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/food-and-beverage-serving-and-related-workers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
25. [KQED Future of You — "Robots Are Here, And Working at Your Local Hospital" (UCSF TUG deployment statistics: 25 robots, 100 miles/day, 160,000+ annual deliveries)](https://www.kqed.org/futureofyou/121043/hospital-uses-robots-instead-of-people-to-cart-things-around), KQED
26. [Bear Robotics — Servi robots for hospitals: NSF-certified contactless patient meal delivery during COVID (hospital deployment context)](https://www.bearrobotics.ai/hospitals), Bear Robotics

### Predecessors & successors

27. [BLS OOH — Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers (common pathway: workers move between restaurant and nonrestaurant food service based on scheduling and setting preferences)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/food-and-beverage-serving-and-related-workers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
28. [Kirby's Pig Stand — Wikipedia (carhop tradition: young men and later women as first workers)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby%27s_Pig_Stand), Wikipedia

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 : Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (35-3041.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/35-3041.00), accessed 2026-06-05
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook : Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers (2024-34 projections)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/food-and-beverage-serving-and-related-workers.htm), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 : GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Goldman Sachs : How Will AI Affect the Global Workforce? (2023; physical labor excluded from core LLM exposure)](https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/how-will-ai-affect-the-global-workforce), accessed 2026-06-05
- [IntelMarketResearch : Hospital Food Service Software Market Outlook 2026-2034 (USD 2.15B in 2025, CAGR 5.5%)](https://www.intelmarketresearch.com/global-hospital-food-service-software-forecast-market-27028), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Aethon : TUG hospital robots: automated meal delivery to patient floors and dirty tray return; Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital halved meal delivery times (30 min to 15 min) across 31,000+ deliveries](https://aethon.com/hospital-robots-healthcare/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Bear Robotics : Servi robots for hospitals: NSF-certified contactless patient meal delivery, alleviating repetitive back-and-forth transport for staff](https://www.bearrobotics.ai/hospitals), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Volante Systems : 5 Ways AI Can Transform Hospital Retail Dining: self-service kiosks cut wait times 40%, increase check size 15-20%](https://www.volantesystems.com/blog/5-powerful-ways-ai-can-transform-hospital-retail-dining-operations/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [HungerBox : Future of Healthcare Dining: mobile apps and QR menus enable contactless ordering in hospitals](https://www.hungerbox.ai/blog/future-of-healthcare-dining-hospital-cafeterias/), accessed 2026-06-05

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.