Post job

Assistant cook education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, assistant cooks don't need a college education. The most common degree for assistant cooks is high school diploma with 37% graduates, with only 24% assistant cook graduates earning bachelor's degree. Assistant cooks who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Johnson & Wales University. Some good skills to have in this position include food handling, kitchen equipment and dishes.

Popular assistant cook certifications include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Medical Assistant, or Certified Food Manager (CFM). To improve assistant cook qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in assistant cook education paths.

What education do you need to become an assistant cook?

What degree do you need to be an assistant cook?

The most common degree for assistant cooks is high school diploma, with 37% of assistant cooks earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 24% and bachelor's degree degree at 23%.
  • High School Diploma, 37%
  • Bachelor's, 24%
  • Associate, 23%
  • Diploma, 10%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become an assistant cook?

You should major in culinary arts to become an assistant cook. 25% of assistant cooks major in culinary arts. Other common majors for an assistant cook include business and general studies.

Best majors for assistant cooks

RankMajorPercentages
1Culinary Arts24.6%
2Business15.7%
3General Studies8.2%
4Hospitality Management4.7%
5Accounting4.6%

20 best online courses for assistant cooks

Advertising disclosure

1. Cooking for Busy Healthy People

coursera

Cooking is one of the most powerful ways in which we can optimize our enjoyment of great quality food while protecting our health. Even on a tight budget, cooking can be a cost-effective, joyful and rewarding way to love the food that will love us back for a lifetime. In this course, you’ll learn some basic recipes from a home cook and two professional chefs who prioritize healthful eating. You’ll also learn some of the fundamentals of principle-based cooking that can help you break free from...

2. Cook Real Food: How to Make Simple Plant-Based Meals

udemy
4.6
(1,644)

Learn how to cook whole plant foods to make quick, easy, and healthy vegan meals for practical everyday eating...

3. Fun food safety and sanitation course

udemy
4.6
(539)

The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...

4. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

udemy
4.4
(976)

Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...

5. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

udemy
4.3
(489)

The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...

6. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

udemy
4.5
(1,881)

Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...

7. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)

udemy
4.5
(2,583)

Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...

8. Vegan Nutrition: Build Your Plant Based Diet & Meal Plan

udemy
4.8
(462)

Learn How To Set Up A Vegan Diet For Weight Loss, Building Muscle, Healthy Eating, Meal Planning & Vegan Bodybuilding...

9. Occupational Health & Safety Training

udemy
4.4
(1,198)

Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...

10. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

udemy
4.5
(958)

A Brief Safety Management Course for Current and Aspiring Safety Professionals...

11. Supervisor Leadership Skills for a Safe Workplace

udemy
4.5
(2,008)

Learn safety communication skills to foster safety accountability, responsibility and correct safety behaviours...

12. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.

udemy
4.5
(2,235)

How to implement and audit a health & safety management system and obtain certification to OHSAS 18001 Standard...

13. Basic Fire Safety Awareness

udemy
4.3
(776)

Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...

14. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert

udemy
4.3
(484)

Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...

15. OSHA Safety Pro: Trenching Excavation & Soil Mechanics

udemy
4.3
(727)

A quick yet detailed certification in OSHA safety with a focus on Trenching, Excavation, & Soil Mechanics...

16. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.

udemy
4.4
(478)

OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...

17. ISO 22000 (HACCP and PRPs) for Food Safety

udemy
4.4
(618)

Standards, analysis, control points, and risk management related to ISO 22000 for food industry professionals...

18. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning

udemy
4.4
(1,467)

Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...

19. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management

udemy
4.6
(465)

A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...

20. NEBOSH health and safety Management System

udemy
4.3
(448)

It Shows the Start point to Build your Health & safety Career and how to Join the field and becoming HSE Specialist...

Average assistant cook salary by education level

According to our data, assistant cooks with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $36,601 annually. Assistant cooks with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $35,722.
Assistant cook education levelAssistant cook salary
High School Diploma or Less$34,904
Bachelor's Degree$36,601
No Education$34,481
Some College/ Associate Degree$35,722

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs