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For Educators: Military Resources
For Educators: Military Resources

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

Median Salary
35,320
Job Outlook
+6%

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.

What is the job outlook?

Overall employment of cooks is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. About 441,400 openings for cooks are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$22,970

10%

$35,320

Median

$46,610

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • High school

    71%

  • Post-secondary certificate

    14%

  • Bachelor's degree

    6%

  • Some college

    5%

  • Less than high school

    1%

Which college majors best prepare you for this role?

  • Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General
  • Foodservice Systems Administration/Management
  • Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant
  • Institutional Food Workers

Skills and Interest

Which skill sets are the most valuable to possess?

Skills

  • Verbal Skills

    Low

  • Leadership

    Mid

  • Math and Science Skills

    Mid

  • Technology Design and Control

    Mid

  • Equipment Operation and Maintenance

    Mid

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

    Mid

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Food Production
  • Administration and Management
  • Education and Training
  • Mathematics

What challenges will you likely face in the workplace?

Workplace

  • Time Pressure

    High

  • Responsibility

    High

  • Physical Activity

    High

  • Exposure to Job Hazards

    Mid

  • Decision Making

    Mid

  • Repetitiveness

    Low

  • Level Of Competition

    Low

What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Realistic

You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.

Conventional

You like structure, staying organized, and working with systems to get things done efficiently.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test