Career profile · 35-2012
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
What the work can involve
- 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.
Selected core tasks from O*NET 31.0. Responsibilities vary by employer, specialization and experience.
Preparation and entry routes
This broad O*NET group commonly involves some prior preparation and on-the-job learning. Check the specific employer, occupational credential and state requirements.
Check the route for the specific occupation where you plan to work. Education, employer experience requirements, occupational licensing and industry certification can be separate steps.
Understand the different credentials →Skills used in this occupation
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Knowledge to build
- English Language
- Food Production
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Common work activities
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Training subjects to investigate
The federal education-to-occupation crosswalk connects this role to the subjects below. These links do not endorse a school or guarantee that any particular award qualifies a graduate for the job.
Working conditions to consider
These are the most common published responses to selected O*NET work-setting questions. They describe occupation-level survey findings, not every employer or a particular job.
| Work-setting question | Most common response | Share giving that response |
|---|---|---|
| Contact With Others | Constant contact with others | 77.1%08/2019 · sample 49 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | Never | 54.5%08/2019 · sample 49 |
| Exposed to Disease or Infections | Never | 53.8%08/2019 · sample 48 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | Never | 71.8%08/2019 · sample 49 |
| Spend Time Sitting | Never | 58.0%08/2019 · sample 49 |
| Spend Time Standing | Continually or almost continually | 79.4%08/2019 · sample 49 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | Continually or almost continually | 69.8%08/2019 · sample 48 |
| Time Pressure | Every day | 82.8%08/2019 · sample 48 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | Every day | 66.4%08/2019 · sample 49 |
| Work Schedules | Regular (established routine, set schedule) | 94.5%08/2019 · sample 49 |
O*NET 31.0 Work Context, selected topics. Only unsuppressed source responses with sample size at least 10 are shown. A most-common response need not be a majority. Sampling uncertainty applies; source dates vary. Ask employers about actual schedules, accessibility, protective equipment and working conditions.
Software used in the workplace
Use these O*NET examples to ask how a course builds practical digital skills. They are workplace examples, not a required shopping list or confirmation of a school’s curriculum.
- Analytical or scientific software: GNOME Gnutrition
- Data base user interface and query software: Meals Plus
- Point of sale POS software: PCS Revenue Control Systems FASTRAK School Meal Software
- Spreadsheet software: IBM Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word
Selected categories and examples from O*NET 31.0 Software Skills. Products and employer requirements change. These examples are not endorsements; check the complete official occupation profile.
Physical demands and schedule evidence
BLS surveyed jobs in the broader occupation Cooks, institution and cafeteria (SOC 35-2012). These preliminary 2025 estimates describe work requirements across surveyed employers. Individual workplaces, adjustments and duties differ.
Explore 50 occupational requirement estimates
| Requirement | Share of workers | Standard error |
|---|---|---|
| Workers that had work schedule variability required | 28.0% | 6.2 percentage points |
| Workers that had the ability to pause work | 25.9% | 10.7 percentage points |
| Workers that had the ability to telework Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that required on-the-job training This estimate is the mode for the category group. | 92.9% | 3.0 percentage points |
| Workers that required prior work experience | 40.0% | 7.5 percentage points |
| Workers that were not exposed to extreme cold This estimate is the mode for the category group. | 63.0% | 6.8 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to extreme cold, seldom | 29.9% | 6.4 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to extreme cold, occasionally | 7.1% | 2.1 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to extreme cold, frequently Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that were exposed to extreme cold, constantly Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that were exposed to extreme cold | 37.0% | 6.8 percentage points |
| Workers that were not exposed to extreme heat This estimate is the mode for the category group. | 73.7% | 10.8 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to extreme heat, seldom | 6.7% | 1.9 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to extreme heat, occasionally | 16.9% | 9.1 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to extreme heat, frequently | 2.0% | 0.9 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to extreme heat, constantly | 0.7% | Not published Standard error is less than 0.5. |
| Workers that were exposed to extreme heat | 26.3% | 10.8 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to quiet noise Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that were exposed to moderate noise This estimate is the mode for the category group. | 98.3% | 0.7 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to loud noise | 1.3% | 0.6 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to very loud noise Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that used personal protective equipment to mitigate exposure to noise Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that were not exposed to outdoors This estimate is the mode for the category group. | 85.3% | 3.9 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to outdoors, seldom | 13.4% | 3.8 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to outdoors, occasionally | 1.4% | 0.7 percentage points |
| Workers that were exposed to outdoors, frequently Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that were exposed to outdoors, constantly Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that were exposed to outdoors | 14.7% | 3.9 percentage points |
| Workers that were allowed the choice of sitting or standing Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that were not allowed the choice of sitting or standing Estimate is greater than 99.5 percent. This estimate is the mode for the category group. | >99.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that required climbing ladders, ropes, or scaffolds, seldom | 1.0% | 0.7 percentage points |
| Workers that required climbing ladders, ropes, or scaffolds, occasionally Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that required climbing ladders, ropes, or scaffolds, frequently Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that required climbing ladders, ropes, or scaffolds, constantly Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that required climbing ladders, ropes, or scaffolds | 1.0% | 0.7 percentage points |
| Workers that required driving Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that required low postures, seldom | 16.8% | 3.6 percentage points |
| Workers that required low postures, occasionally This estimate is the mode for the category group. | 72.4% | 5.3 percentage points |
| Workers that required low postures, frequently Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that required low postures, constantly Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that required work in low postures | 89.5% | 2.7 percentage points |
| Workers that could choose to crawl when in low postures Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that could choose to stoop when in low postures This estimate is the mode for the category group. | 70.5% | 11.2 percentage points |
| Workers that could choose to kneel when in low postures | 30.2% | 6.3 percentage points |
| Workers that could choose to crouch when in low postures This estimate is the mode for the category group. | 44.3% | 7.4 percentage points |
| Workers that required a sedentary strength level Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
| Workers that required a light strength level | 44.9% | 6.7 percentage points |
| Workers that required a medium strength level This estimate is the mode for the category group. | 53.3% | 6.8 percentage points |
| Workers that required a heavy strength level | 1.8% | 0.9 percentage points |
| Workers that required a very heavy strength level Estimate is less than 0.5 percent. | <0.5% | Not published The standard error is not available for this estimate. |
Use this evidence to ask about the actual work environment and available accommodations. It is not a medical assessment or a reason to rule yourself out of an occupation.
BLS Occupational Requirements Survey, preliminary 2025, released January 16, 2026; samples collected August 2023–July 2025. Source bounds such as “less than” are preserved. Categories are not necessarily additive. Understanding standard errors.
Pay & employment outlook
Salary estimates for cooks, institution and cafeteria
The median divides workers into two equally sized groups by pay. It is not a starting salary, a school’s graduate outcome or a promise of employment. Lower percentiles are not automatically new graduates.
National outlook: 2025–2035
- Typical education for entry
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- Typical on-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
BLS national employment projections, 2025–2035. Openings include people leaving occupations or the labor force; these are not advertised vacancies. Education categories describe typical entry, not legal eligibility or a guarantee that any specific program is sufficient.
Compare wages across 51 state/DC estimates
| State | Annual median | Hourly median | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,120 | $13.04 | 8,780 |
| Alaska | $48,580 | $23.36 | 1,430 |
| Arizona | $39,660 | $19.07 | 7,170 |
| Arkansas | $30,240 | $14.54 | 6,530 |
| California | $46,390 | $22.31 | 31,660 |
| Colorado | $42,500 | $20.43 | 9,440 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 | $22.17 | 4,500 |
| Delaware | $44,080 | $21.19 | 2,680 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 | $21.85 | 1,500 |
| Florida | $36,250 | $17.43 | 25,100 |
| Georgia | $35,090 | $16.87 | 8,220 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 | $22.97 | 1,570 |
| Idaho | $35,600 | $17.11 | 3,650 |
| Illinois | $37,440 | $18.00 | 22,840 |
| Indiana | $35,980 | $17.30 | 11,130 |
| Iowa | $35,810 | $17.22 | 8,860 |
| Kansas | $31,950 | $15.36 | 7,570 |
| Kentucky | $31,550 | $15.17 | 11,540 |
| Louisiana | $25,490 | $12.26 | 5,740 |
| Maine | $43,490 | $20.91 | 1,790 |
| Maryland | $41,380 | $19.89 | 3,370 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 | $22.98 | 7,430 |
| Michigan | $36,870 | $17.72 | 13,500 |
| Minnesota | $43,460 | $20.90 | 7,890 |
| Mississippi | $27,390 | $13.17 | 6,420 |
| Missouri | $34,900 | $16.78 | 13,130 |
| Montana | $37,150 | $17.86 | 2,290 |
| Nebraska | $36,390 | $17.50 | 4,410 |
| Nevada | $39,430 | $18.96 | 1,650 |
| New Hampshire | $45,370 | $21.81 | 1,720 |
| New Jersey | $44,520 | $21.40 | 7,490 |
| New Mexico | $36,470 | $17.54 | 3,160 |
| New York | $45,880 | $22.06 | 17,670 |
| North Carolina | $36,140 | $17.38 | 11,170 |
| North Dakota | $39,490 | $18.99 | 1,820 |
| Ohio | $36,720 | $17.65 | 23,440 |
| Oklahoma | $29,270 | $14.07 | 10,790 |
| Oregon | $44,520 | $21.40 | 7,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,540 | $17.57 | 24,490 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 | $22.39 | 1,190 |
| South Carolina | $34,960 | $16.81 | 7,850 |
| South Dakota | $36,730 | $17.66 | 2,120 |
| Tennessee | $35,570 | $17.10 | 10,680 |
| Texas | $35,360 | $17.00 | 24,740 |
| Utah | $38,200 | $18.36 | 5,610 |
| Vermont | $46,370 | $22.29 | 1,330 |
| Virginia | $37,890 | $18.22 | 11,170 |
| Washington | $49,670 | $23.88 | 9,780 |
| West Virginia | $29,740 | $14.30 | 4,420 |
| Wisconsin | $38,650 | $18.58 | 9,890 |
| Wyoming | $36,940 | $17.76 | 1,570 |
Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan wages
Search the 528 published local-area estimates for this occupation. Metropolitan areas can cross state lines; a city’s postal name is not necessarily the statistical area’s name.
Sources: BLS May 2025 OEWS public downloads and 2025–2035 employment projections, retrieved September 9, 2026. Unpublished estimates stay unavailable. “+” means BLS’s upper reporting threshold ($239,200 annually or $115 hourly). Wages exclude self-employment and nonwage benefits. How to interpret these figures.
Compare the route and prepare for work
Questions to test the fit
- What does an entry-level working day look like, and how does it differ from the experienced role described here?
- Which tasks, work environments and schedules would I enjoy or find difficult?
- What education, supervised practice and credentials do local employers actually request?
- Can I speak with someone in the occupation or arrange a suitable workplace visit?
- How does the complete training cost compare with my realistic budget and available routes?
Related occupations to compare
- Chefs and Head Cooks→
- Cooks, All Other→
- Cooks, Private Household→
- Cooks, Restaurant→
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers→
Related through shared training-subject mappings. Entry requirements can differ substantially.
Sources and attribution
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. Trade School Guides selects and organizes the material and adds explanatory guidance. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. Occupation code: 35-2012.00.
Training connections: CIP 2020–SOC 2018 crosswalk. Snapshot: September 8, 2026. See the methodology.