Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Career, Salary and Skills
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $37,450 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 441,050. Wage data is published for 445 locations.
Occupation description
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
O*NET code
35-2012.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$37,450
Hourly median
$18.01
Employment
441,050
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.12 | 2.38 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.12 | 2.50 |
| Service Orientation | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.
Technology
- GNOME Gnutrition
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- Meals Plus
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- PCS Revenue Control Systems FASTRAK School Meal Software
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in CAMedian $46,390 · Employment 31,660
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in FLMedian $36,250 · Employment 25,100
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in TXMedian $35,360 · Employment 24,740
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in PAMedian $36,540 · Employment 24,490
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in OHMedian $36,720 · Employment 23,440
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in ILMedian $37,440 · Employment 22,840
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in NYMedian $45,880 · Employment 17,670
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in New York, NYMedian $46,870 · Employment 15,270
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $38,290 · Employment 14,010
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in MIMedian $36,870 · Employment 13,500
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in MOMedian $34,900 · Employment 13,130
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in KYMedian $31,550 · Employment 11,540
Related careers
- Waiters and WaitressesNational median $35,230
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and TendersNational median $44,810
- BaristasNational median $31,200
- DishwashersNational median $34,810
- Food BatchmakersNational median $42,290
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersNational median $41,590
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNational median $33,980
- Dietetic TechniciansNational median $37,640
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.