Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria: Job Description
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
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What Do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Do?
Typical responsibilities of cooks, institution and cafeteria include:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top cooks, institution and cafeteria rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Boarding House Cook
- Cafeteria Cook
- Camp Cook
- Cook
- Culinary Specialist
- Dietary Aide
- Dietary Cook
- Dinner Cook
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 395,074 cooks, institution and cafeteria working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +0.1% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $30,453 |
| Hourly median | $14.64 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $24,252 |
| 75th percentile | $36,655 |
| 90th percentile | $42,856 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $48,260 |
| Hawaii | $47,250 |
| Alaska | $46,900 |
| Massachusetts | $46,280 |
| Connecticut | $45,870 |
| California | $45,680 |
| District of Columbia | $45,600 |
| Rhode Island | $45,450 |
| New Hampshire | $45,280 |
| New York | $45,160 |
| New Jersey | $44,050 |
| Delaware | $43,490 |
| Minnesota | $42,180 |
| Oregon | $41,870 |
| Vermont | $41,020 |
| Colorado | $40,890 |
| Maine | $39,810 |
| Arizona | $39,470 |
| North Dakota | $39,060 |
| Maryland | $38,900 |
| Nevada | $38,550 |
| Wisconsin | $37,840 |
| Utah | $37,740 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,830 |
| Montana | $36,690 |
| Illinois | $36,430 |
| Virginia | $36,260 |
| Ohio | $36,250 |
| Michigan | $35,870 |
| Wyoming | $35,650 |
| Florida | $35,640 |
| Nebraska | $35,630 |
| South Dakota | $35,360 |
| Indiana | $35,080 |
| Georgia | $34,960 |
| North Carolina | $34,590 |
| Iowa | $34,560 |
| New Mexico | $34,240 |
| Idaho | $33,880 |
| Guam | $33,640 |
| Texas | $32,780 |
| Tennessee | $31,910 |
| South Carolina | $31,730 |
| Kansas | $30,920 |
| Missouri | $30,920 |
| Kentucky | $30,770 |
| Virgin Islands | $29,940 |
| Arkansas | $29,700 |
| West Virginia | $28,790 |
| Oklahoma | $28,710 |
| Alabama | $26,780 |
| Louisiana | $26,410 |
| Mississippi | $25,830 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,380 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for cooks, institution and cafeteria differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $45,520 | 10.7% | 0.75 |
| New England | $44,851 | 3.9% | 0.87 |
| Middle Atlantic | $41,007 | 12.2% | 0.97 |
| Rocky Mountains | $38,145 | 5.0% | 1.29 |
| Great Lakes | $36,257 | 17.8% | 1.28 |
| Plains States | $34,529 | 10.2% | 1.60 |
| Southwest | $32,843 | 12.5% | 1.20 |
| Southeast | $32,157 | 26.0% | 1.23 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $54,840 | 210 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $50,290 | 5,740 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $49,850 | 180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $48,940 | 1,880 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $48,050 | 250 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $48,000 | 250 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | CA | $47,920 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $47,920 | 4,040 |
Which Industries Hire Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Most cooks, institution and cafeteria work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 172,560 | $37,280 |
| Educational Services | 144,720 | $34,010 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 86,900 | $37,560 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 6,300 | $35,010 |
| Retail Trade | 6,200 | $29,410 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 3,600 | $36,880 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3,520 | $36,210 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1,590 | $38,880 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of cooks, institution and cafeteria reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Standing
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How to Become Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Food Service Managers (Primary-Long)
- Dietetic Technicians (Supplemental)
- Chefs and Head Cooks (Primary-Short)
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (Primary-Long)
- Cooks, Fast Food (Primary-Long)
- Cooks, Private Household (Primary-Short)
- Cooks, Restaurant (Primary-Short)
- Cooks, Short Order (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Future cooks, institution and cafeteria often complete programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
3 programs across 1 majors
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 35-2012.00 (Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria).
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