Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Median pay
- $37,450
- Doing it now
- 454,000
- By 2035
- Up 2.8%
- Usually needs
- No formal educational credential
a year
across the country
62,900 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
- Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
- Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
- Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.
- Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
- Direct activities of one or more workers who assist in preparing and serving meals.
- Bake breads, rolls, or other pastries.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- Foods, Nutrition, and Related ServicesSee 122 colleges that teach it
- Culinary Arts and Related ServicesSee 40 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Hands-on and practical
Organised and precise
Helping and teaching
Careers like this one
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $37,450 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.