Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Cooks in institutions and cafeterias prepare meals in large-scale settings that serve many people each day. Nationally, about 466,000 people work in this occupation, indicating a substantial existing workforce. The projected employment growth of 2.0% suggests that demand is expected to continue, with around 70,000 annual openings providing a steady flow of opportunities for new and experienced workers. The national median annual salary is $36,450, with higher pay available in certain states and metro areas. This role emphasizes a blend of practical, hands-on skills such as physical strength and stamina, fine motor ability, and mechanical aptitude, combined with interpersonal and customer service strengths. Leadership, project management, adaptability, and attention to detail also play an important part in success. With no formal educational credential typically required, this career can be accessible to individuals entering the workforce, changing careers, or seeking stable employment that rewards reliability and skill development over time.
Cooks in institutions and cafeterias earn a national median annual salary of $36,450, but pay varies considerably by location. Several states offer higher median salaries, including Washington at $49,670, Massachusetts at $47,790, California at $46,390, and New York at $45,880. Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands out with a median salary of $51,880, followed by Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $48,530 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $49,140. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro also offers a median salary of $46,870. These figures show that workers in certain states and large metro areas can earn significantly more than the national median, which may influence where job seekers choose to focus their search. Overall, earnings potential in this field is closely tied to geographic location and local job markets.
The employment outlook for cooks in institutions and cafeterias shows steady, ongoing demand. National employment stands at about 466,000 workers, reflecting a large occupational group. Projected employment growth is 2.0%, indicating that the total number of jobs is expected to increase over time. In addition to growth, there are approximately 70,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect a mix of new positions created by growth and opportunities that arise as people change jobs, advance to other roles, or leave the workforce. Together, the sizable current employment base, positive projected growth rate, and high number of annual openings suggest that people entering or advancing in this occupation can expect a consistent flow of job possibilities across the country, with further variation by specific states and metro areas highlighted by opportunity scores.
Location plays an important role in opportunities for cooks in institutions and cafeterias. Among states, California ranks strongly with an opportunity score of 67.38, median salary of $46,390, and employment of 31,660. Massachusetts and New York also stand out, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78 and median salaries of $47,790 and $45,880, respectively. Washington has the highest state-level median salary listed at $49,670, while Colorado offers a median salary of $42,500 and an opportunity score of 56.97. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA posts the highest opportunity score at 77.42 and a median salary of $51,880. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro closely follows with a 77.27 opportunity score and $46,870 median salary. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also provide relatively strong combinations of salary and opportunity scores, giving job seekers several attractive geographic options.
The typical education requirement for cooks in institutions and cafeterias is no formal educational credential, making this occupation accessible to people who may not have completed traditional postsecondary programs. Instead of formal education, success in this field relies heavily on a mix of practical and interpersonal skills. Key strengths include physical strength and stamina, fine motor abilities, and mechanical aptitude, which support the hands-on nature of the work. Mathematics skills can also be important, as can being detail oriented. On the people side, interpersonal abilities, customer service, leadership, and adaptability all contribute to effective performance in institutional or cafeteria settings. Project management capability can help with organizing tasks, timing, and coordination. Together, these skills allow individuals without formal educational credentials to build a solid career path in this occupation by focusing on reliability, skill development, and day-to-day performance on the job.
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