How to become an Institution and Cafeteria Cook
Official title: Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Also called: Cafeteria Cook, Cook, Dietary Cook, Dinner Cook, Food Service Specialist, Food Service Worker, Prep Cook (Preparatory Cook), School Cook, Sous Chef
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
Main tasks
- Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.
- Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
- Rotate and store food supplies.
- Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
- Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
- Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
- Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.
- Direct activities of one or more workers who assist in preparing and serving meals.
How to become one
Cooks typically learn their skills through on-the-job training and related work experience. Although no formal education is required, some cooks attend culinary school.
Typical education to start: No formal educational credential
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Cook (Any Ind) (Alternate Title: Nutrition Care Specialist).
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $37,450 a year The middle half earn $32,440 to $44,800.
- About 454,000 people work in this job now, and about 466,600 are projected by 2035. (+2.8%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Institution and Cafeteria Cook?
Cooks typically learn their skills through on-the-job training and related work experience. Although no formal education is required, some cooks attend culinary school.
How much does an Institution and Cafeteria Cook earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $37,450 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $32,440 to $44,800.
Is an Institution and Cafeteria Cook a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 454,000 to about 466,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become an Institution and Cafeteria Cook?
Usually not. Only 7% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Cook (Any Ind) (Alternate Title: Nutrition Care Specialist).
Will AI change the work of an Institution and Cafeteria Cook?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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.