Line Cook
Cook dishes to order on a busy restaurant line.
- $37,390
- 1–6 months on the job
Hospitality, Food & Tourism career
Cafeteria Cook
Also called: Institutional Cook · School Cook · Hospital Cook · Food Service Cook
What cafeteria cooks do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a cafeteria cook do?
Cooks, institution and cafeteria, prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions such as schools, hospitals and cafeterias. The median pay is $37,450 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few weeks on the job, and employment is projected to grow +2.8% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$37,450$18.01/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+2.8%2025–35, about as fast as average
- Openings per year62,900Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationNo formal educational credentialBLS classification
- Time to trainA few weeks on the jobTypical program length
- U.S. jobs454,000Employment, 2025
What cafeteria cooks do
Cafeteria cooks feed large groups. They follow standardized recipes, cook in big batches, meet nutrition rules and special diets, serve lines and keep kitchens clean in schools, hospitals, prisons and corporate cafeterias.
No formal education is required, and training is short. BLS projects about average growth.
Typical duties
- Cook large batches
- Follow standardized recipes
- Meet nutrition rules
- Prepare special diets
- Serve meals
- Track temperatures
- Clean kitchens
Work environment and schedule
Cooks work in institutional kitchens.
Schedule: Day shifts, often weekdays at schools.
A day in the life
- Start breakfast.
- Serve breakfast.
- Prep lunch.
- Cook entrées.
See a full day in the life of a cafeteria cook →
Cafeteria Cook salary
Half of cafeteria cooks earned more than $37,450 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $28,480 for the lowest 10% to $49,670 for the top 10%.
Full cafeteria cook pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a cafeteria cook
- Apply
- Get a food handler card
- Learn recipes
- Earn SNA certificate
- Advance
No formal educational credential is required.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a cafeteria cook →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Batch cooking
- Recipe scaling
- Special diets
- Food safety
- Serving lines
People skills
- Reliability
- Teamwork
- Organization
- Care
All cafeteria cook skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Regular hours
- School calendar options
- Steady jobs
- Benefits at institutions
Cons
- Repetitive menus
- Heavy pots
- Hot kitchens
- Modest pay
Certifications and licenses
- Food handler card: Required.
- ServSafe: Helpful.
- School nutrition certificate: SNA.
- Allergen training: Helpful.
Career path
- Cook: Entry.
- Lead Cook: Lead.
- Kitchen Manager: Manage.
- Food Service Director: Lead programs.
Learn the job before day one
Our Cafeteria Cook training (6 hours, $59.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as scale a recipe for 300 servings and serve correct portions, safety and how to land your first job.
Related careers
Prep Cook
Prepare the ingredients that make every kitchen service possible.
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- 1–4 weeks
Food Service Supervisor
Lead food service shifts, crews and quality at restaurants and cafeterias.
- $44,080
- 6–12 months of experience
Dietetic Technician
Help dietitians plan meals and teach people healthier eating.
- $37,640
- 2 years
Compare: Cafeteria Cook vs. Line Cook · Cafeteria Cook vs. Prep Cook · Cafeteria Cook vs. Food Service Supervisor · Cafeteria Cook vs. Diet Tech
Cafeteria Cook FAQ
Do I need experience?
No.
Do school cooks work summers?
Often not.
Is the job growing?
BLS projects about average growth.
How much does a cafeteria cook make?
The median annual wage for cafeteria cooks was $37,450 ($18.01 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $28,480 and the highest 10% earned more than $49,670.
How long does it take to become a cafeteria cook?
Most people need about A few weeks on the job of training. No formal educational credential is required.
Do you need a degree to be a cafeteria cook?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.
More cafeteria cook questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 35-2012 (Cooks, institution and cafeteria).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Cooks, institution and cafeteria (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.