Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
How to read this profile
BLS projects U.S. employment for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria to increase by 2.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 454,000 to 466,600 jobs. Its estimate of 62,900 annual openings includes replacement needs, so it does not represent current vacancies, contract postings, or freelance demand. The wage ($37,450), education (No formal educational credential), and related experience (None) figures on this profile describe typical U.S. employees. O*NET skills describe the occupation; they do not assess an individual worker's proficiency.
Base employment (2024)
454,000
Projected employment (2034)
466,600
Projected change (2024–2034)
3%
Annual openings (projected average)
62,900
Pay & Preparation
$37,450
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
Essential Skills
Judgment and Decision Making (3.12/5) • Service Orientation (3.12/5) • Speaking (3.12/5) • Operations Monitoring (3.12/5) • Monitoring (3.12/5) • Quality Control Analysis (3.12/5)
O*NET describes occupational requirements; these ratings do not measure current job-posting frequency or an individual worker’s proficiency.
BLS projections are long-term estimates; annual openings include growth and replacement needs and are not current vacancies.
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