Life As an Institution and Cafeteria Cook
Position Description Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
A Day in the Life of an Institution & Cafeteria Cook
- Determine meal prices, based on calculations of ingredient prices.
- Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.
- Take inventory of supplies and equipment.
- Requisition food supplies, kitchen equipment, and appliances, based on estimates of future needs.
- Compile and maintain records of food use and expenditures.
- Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
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Things an Institution & Cafeteria Cook Should Know How to Do
When polled, Institution and Cafeteria Cooks say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Food Service Worker
- Cook
- Food and Nutrition Services Assistant
- Dietary Cook
- Ship’s Cook
Is There Job Demand for Institution and Cafeteria Cooks?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 424,800 jobs in the United States for Institution and Cafeteria Cook. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 32,600 new jobs for Institution and Cafeteria Cook by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 64,400 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Institution & Cafeteria Cook are Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Alabama, Wyoming, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does an Institution & Cafeteria Cook Make?
The typical yearly salary for Institution and Cafeteria Cooks is somewhere between $18,840 and $39,880.

Institution and Cafeteria Cooks who work in Connecticut, Hawaii, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Institution and Cafeteria Cooks make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $22,100 |
Alaska | $37,670 |
Arizona | $28,120 |
Arkansas | $22,320 |
California | $35,680 |
Colorado | $29,630 |
Connecticut | $38,580 |
Delaware | $32,620 |
District of Columbia | $37,270 |
Florida | $27,280 |
Georgia | $26,160 |
Hawaii | $38,110 |
Idaho | $24,960 |
Illinois | $27,550 |
Indiana | $25,200 |
Iowa | $27,110 |
Kansas | $24,190 |
Kentucky | $25,630 |
Louisiana | $21,990 |
Maine | $30,910 |
Maryland | $33,010 |
Massachusetts | $37,300 |
Michigan | $28,410 |
Minnesota | $32,810 |
Mississippi | $20,460 |
Missouri | $24,900 |
Montana | $27,060 |
Nebraska | $26,950 |
Nevada | $32,780 |
New Hampshire | $33,100 |
New Jersey | $34,050 |
New Mexico | $25,020 |
New York | $34,800 |
North Carolina | $25,240 |
North Dakota | $31,370 |
Ohio | $27,260 |
Oklahoma | $21,650 |
Oregon | $31,920 |
Pennsylvania | $29,180 |
Rhode Island | $36,060 |
South Carolina | $22,960 |
South Dakota | $26,230 |
Tennessee | $25,580 |
Texas | $24,770 |
Utah | $27,870 |
Vermont | $31,380 |
Virginia | $29,400 |
Washington | $34,230 |
West Virginia | $24,200 |
Wisconsin | $28,960 |
Wyoming | $30,580 |
What Tools & Technology do Institution and Cafeteria Cooks Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Institution and Cafeteria Cooks:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Data entry software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Point of sale POS software
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- GNOME Gnutrition
How to Become an Institution & Cafeteria Cook
Learn what Institution and Cafeteria Cook education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Institution and Cafeteria Cooks Are Employed

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being an Institution and Cafeteria Cook may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Institution and Cafeteria Cook in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: U.S. Army Europe Images via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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