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Skilled Trades

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

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

Median salary

$36,450

Typical range

$27k – $48k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Entry / Junior

    $26,800

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Established

    $36,450

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Senior

    $42,385

Key skills

A typical day

  • 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.

Fields of study

Any field

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