UK AI Job-Risk Index · SOC 2010 9272
Ranks #246 of 293 for AI exposure (1 = most exposed)
How exposed to AI are kitchen and catering assistants?
21/100
AI exposure score (percentile across all 365 occupations DfE scored)
Low#246
of 293 UK occupations (1 = most exposed)
£17,356
median full-time pay (ONS ASHE 2020) · 439,000 employee jobs
Kitchen and catering assistants sits in the low exposure band: its abilities overlap with current AI applications more than about 21% of the 365 UK occupations the Department for Education scored. Lower exposure usually means more of the work depends on physical, practical or in-person abilities that current AI applications do not cover well. It does not mean the job will be untouched by technology.
Underlying scores: AIOE (all AI) -1.01, LLM exposure -0.77 (standardised; 0 is the average occupation). Skill level: Level 1. Pay and job counts are 2020 figures, so use them to compare occupations rather than as current salaries.
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Job titles in this occupation
Titles the ONS SOC 2010 coding index places in unit group 9272 (30 of 81 shown). If your job title is here, this page uses the right figures for you.
barista · messman · tea boy · glassman · tea lady · mess hand · silverman · tea maker · pantry man · table maid · tea barman · tea masher · buffet maid · café worker · coffee maid · cook's mate · counterhand · dish washer · galley hand · kitchen man · meal server · pantry maid · tea barmaid · canteen hand · canteen help · kitchen hand · kitchen help · kitchen maid · meals server · mess orderly
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Lower-risk related jobs
Occupations in the same SOC 2010 sub-major group with a lower AI exposure score, highest-paid first. Pay difference is against £17,356 (ONS ASHE 2020 median, full-time). Switching usually needs retraining; this is a starting point, not advice.
| Occupation | Exposure | Median pay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postal workers, mail sorters, messengers and couriers | 18/100 | £24,019 | +£6,663 |
| Refuse and salvage occupations | 16/100 | £20,628 | +£3,272 |
| Street cleaners | 6/100 | £20,244 | +£2,888 |
| Vehicle valeters and cleaners | 2/100 | £19,976 | +£2,620 |
| Bar staff | 10/100 | £18,144 | +£788 |
Occupations with similar exposure
- Assemblers (electrical and electronic products) (21/100)
- Food, drink and tobacco process operatives (21/100)
- Housekeepers and related occupations (21/100)
- Printing machine assistants (22/100)
← #245 Assemblers (electrical and electronic products) · #247 Metal working machine operatives →
FAQ: Kitchen and catering assistants and AI
Will AI replace kitchen and catering assistants?
The index does not predict job losses. Kitchen and catering assistants has an AI exposure score of 21/100 (low band), ranking #246 of 293 UK occupations, where 1 is the most exposed. Lower exposure means more of the work relies on abilities current AI applications cover less well.
How does this compare with similar jobs?
Kitchen and catering assistants is one of 16 occupations in its SOC 2010 sub-major group in the index; 8 of the others are more exposed to AI.
How much do kitchen and catering assistants earn?
Median gross annual pay for full-time employees was £17,356 in ONS ASHE 2020 (Table 14), across about 439,000 employee jobs. These are 2020 figures, so use them to compare jobs rather than as current salaries.
Which related jobs are less exposed to AI?
In the same sub-major group, lower-exposure occupations include Postal workers, mail sorters, messengers and couriers (18/100, £24,019), Refuse and salvage occupations (16/100, £20,628), Street cleaners (6/100, £20,244).
Where does this data come from?
AI exposure uses Department for Education (2023) AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) scores; pay and job counts come from ONS ASHE 2020. Job titles come from the ONS SOC 2010 coding index.
Source: Department for Education (2023), The impact of AI on UK jobs and training (AIOE scores); ONS ASHE 2020 Table 14; job titles from the ONS SOC 2010 coding index (v7). Exposure is not a prediction of job loss. Methodology · Embed this data
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