Cafeteria Worker Education Requirements And Courses

Cafeteria worker education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, cafeteria workers don't need a college education. The most common degree for cafeteria workers is high school diploma with 45% graduates, with only 18% cafeteria worker graduates earning associate degree. Cafeteria workers who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Michigan State University. Some good skills to have in this position include food handling, kitchen equipment and food preparation.

Popular cafeteria worker certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate , Certified Food Manager (CFM), or Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS). To improve cafeteria worker qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in cafeteria worker education paths.

What education do you need to become a cafeteria worker?

What degree do you need to be a cafeteria worker?

The most common degree for cafeteria workers is high school diploma, with 45% of cafeteria workers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 17%.

High School Diploma, 45%

Associate, 18%

Bachelor's, 17%

Diploma, 11%

Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a cafeteria worker?

You should major in business to become a cafeteria worker. 18% of cafeteria workers major in business. Other common majors for a cafeteria worker include general studies and health care administration.

Business, 18%

General Studies, 9%

Health Care Administration, 7%

Criminal Justice, 7%

Other Majors, 59%

Best majors for cafeteria workers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	18.4%
2	General Studies	9.3%
3	Health Care Administration	7.0%
4	Criminal Justice	6.9%
5	Medical Assisting Services	5.9%

Show more common cafeteria worker majors

20 best online courses for cafeteria workers

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1. Fun food safety and sanitation course

4.6

(539)

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

2. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

4.4

(976)

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

3. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

4.3

(489)

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

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

4.6

(1,644)

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

5. SAP Customer Service (CS/SM) - Service Management module

4.4

(960)

Real World SAP CS and SD, Repair Orders, Service Orders, Service Contracts...

6. Blockchain applications in Food Safety, Healthcare & Pharma

4.5

(3,019)

Best course to learn about Blockchain Business Applications in Pharma, Food Safety, Healthcare and Insurance Industries...

7. Food Photography: Capturing Food in Your Kitchen

4.7

(3,133)

With DIY Food Photography, you'll be taking better photos in no time with what you have in your own kitchen!...

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

4.4

(618)

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

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

4.5

(2,583)

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

10. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

4.5

(941)

Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

11. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

4.7

(18,204)

Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...

12. Customer Service: 6 Keys To Exceptional Customer Service

4.6

(601)

Master Customer Satisfaction & Astonish Your Customers With A+ Customer Service...

13. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

4.6

(2,666)

Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...

14. [2023] Customer Service 2.0: Learn Digital Customer Service

4.5

(3,956)

Used by Chase®, Intel®, & more! Learn soft skills, social media customer service, diagnosing user problems, & more...

15. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

4.5

(3,822)

Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...

16. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

4.5

(1,881)

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

17. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

4.5

(958)

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

18. Customer Service: Keep 'em coming back!

4.5

(3,150)

How to give the best customer service in your industry and keep those customers raving about your business...

19. Customer Service Success: Take Your Skills to the Next Level

4.5

(2,276)

3-in-1 Customer Service Training: Levels 1, 2, 3 Improve Your Soft Communication Skills, Customer Support & Experience...

20. Occupational Health & Safety Training

4.4

(1,198)

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

Average cafeteria worker salary by education level

According to our data, cafeteria workers with a High School Diploma degree earn the highest average salary, at $25,400 annually. Cafeteria workers with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $25,223.

Cafeteria worker education level	Cafeteria worker salary
High School Diploma or Less	$25,400
Some College/ Associate Degree	$25,223