What Does a Concessions Worker Do?
Ninety minutes before kickoff, the popcorn machines are running and the cups are stacked high at the stadium's food stands. Concessions workers staff those stands at arenas, theaters, parks and fairgrounds, taking orders, handling cash and cards and serving popcorn, hot dogs and drinks, then balancing the drawer when the gates close. Shifts are short and busy.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Cafe Server, Cafeteria Server, Cafeteria Worker, Counter Worker, Deli Worker (Delicatessen Worker), Dietary Aide, Food Server, Food Service Worker.
Concessions Worker Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a concessions worker include:
- Take orders at the stand and suggest combos or larger sizes when it fits.
- Handle cash, cards and mobile payments and balance the drawer at the end of each shift.
- Pop popcorn, heat hot dogs and pretzels and fill drinks to the stand's portion standards.
- Restock cups, napkins, condiments and candy before gates open and during breaks in play.
- Clean counters, fryers, soda fountains and floors to health department standards.
- Check IDs and follow venue rules for any beer or wine sales.
- Log product counts and waste so managers can reorder for the next event.
- Serve guests quickly during rushes such as halftime, intermissions and the minutes before a film starts.
- Set up and break down the stand, including equipment, signage and menu boards.
- Follow allergy and food safety procedures when handling ready-to-eat items.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a concessions worker, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Quick, accurate cash handling
- Point-of-sale terminals and card readers
- Food handler card where the county requires one
- Friendly service during long lines
- Stamina for hours on your feet
- Basic food safety and hygiene
- Teamwork in a cramped space
- Flexibility to work nights, weekends and holidays
Education and Training
Whether you have run a register before or this is your first job, most venues still rely on a short interview to judge your reliability, availability and manner with customers. Venues rarely ask for a diploma. Some states and counties require food workers to hold a food handler card, which usually takes a short course and test.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $27,700 - $36,070 per year, with a median of $31,200.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Fast Food and Counter Workers.
Fast food and counter workers, the BLS group that includes concessions workers, are projected to grow in number by about 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. In fact, the group should see roughly 827,400 openings a year, according to BLS, since so many people hold these jobs for a season or while in school. Venue work is seasonal and tied to event calendars. It suits students and anyone who wants extra evening or weekend income.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Fast food and counter workers.
Concessions Worker Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $22,840 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $27,700 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $31,200 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $36,070 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $42,650 |
Highest-Paying States for Concessions Workers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are California ($42,280), Washington ($37,710), District of Columbia ($37,430), Colorado ($36,270), Vermont ($36,030). Pay is lowest in Oklahoma ($23,430), Louisiana ($22,800), Mississippi ($22,610).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $23,700 |
| Alaska | $33,280 |
| Arizona | $34,230 |
| Arkansas | $26,250 |
| California | $42,280 |
| Colorado | $36,270 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 |
| Delaware | $31,300 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| Florida | $29,080 |
| Georgia | $26,920 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 |
| Idaho | $28,940 |
| Illinois | $33,910 |
| Indiana | $28,790 |
| Iowa | $28,390 |
| Kansas | $27,580 |
| Kentucky | $27,130 |
| Louisiana | $22,800 |
| Maine | $34,710 |
| Maryland | $33,660 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 |
| Michigan | $28,930 |
| Minnesota | $31,370 |
| Mississippi | $22,610 |
| Missouri | $30,390 |
| Montana | $29,090 |
| Nebraska | $29,000 |
| Nevada | $31,950 |
| New Hampshire | $31,590 |
| New Jersey | $34,150 |
| New Mexico | $28,700 |
| New York | $35,250 |
| North Carolina | $28,570 |
| North Dakota | $30,080 |
| Ohio | $28,430 |
| Oklahoma | $23,430 |
| Oregon | $35,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,570 |
| Rhode Island | $31,490 |
| South Carolina | $27,520 |
| South Dakota | $29,490 |
| Tennessee | $27,470 |
| Texas | $27,740 |
| Utah | $28,670 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Virginia | $30,110 |
| Washington | $37,710 |
| West Virginia | $26,070 |
| Wisconsin | $28,600 |
| Wyoming | $27,860 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as fast food and counter workers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 91% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 86% spend more than half the workday on their feet
- 81% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
- 73% have a lot of freedom to make decisions
- 69% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 68% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 63% spend more than half the day walking or moving around
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school | 56% |
| High school diploma or GED | 24% |
| Some college | 17% |
Tools and Software Concessions Workers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Monitoring, Speaking.
Knowledge areas used most: Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Food Production, Mathematics, Computers and Electronics.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 1 of 5, which means little or no preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Concessions Worker Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 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. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.