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Cook and waitress/waiter education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, cook and waitresses/waiter don't need a college education. The most common degree for cook and waitresses/waiter is high school diploma with 42% graduates, with only 25% cook and waitress/waiter graduates earning bachelor's degree. Cook and waitresses/waiter who decided to graduate from college often finish Central State University or University of Phoenix. Some good skills to have in this position include food handling, customer service and waiter.

What education do you need to become a cook and waitress/waiter?

What degree do you need to be a cook and waitress/waiter?

The most common degree for cook and waitresses/waiter is high school diploma, with 42% of cook and waitresses/waiter earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 25% and bachelor's degree degree at 18%.
  • High School Diploma, 42%
  • Bachelor's, 25%
  • Associate, 18%
  • Diploma, 9%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a cook and waitress/waiter?

You should major in business to become a cook and waitress/waiter. 21% of cook and waitresses/waiter major in business. Other common majors for a cook and waitress/waiter include general studies and criminal justice.

Best majors for cook and waitresses/waiter

RankMajorPercentages
1Business20.9%
2General Studies13.8%
3Criminal Justice10.1%
4Culinary Arts9.0%
5Psychology5.3%

20 best online courses for cook and waitresses/waiter

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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. 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...

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

udemy
4.4
(960)

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

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. 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...

7. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

udemy
4.5
(941)

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

8. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

udemy
4.7
(18,204)

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

9. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

udemy
4.6
(2,666)

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

10. Customer Service: 6 Keys To Exceptional Customer Service

udemy
4.6
(601)

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

11. Customer Service

udemy
4.6
(11,267)

How to Approach New Customers and Maintain Existing Ones...

12. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

udemy
4.5
(3,822)

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

13. [2023] Customer Service 2.0: Learn Digital Customer Service

udemy
4.5
(3,956)

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

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

udemy
4.5
(2,276)

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

15. The Customer: Build a Customer Service Strategy (BITE SIZE)

udemy
4.5
(10,168)

For you and your team to be successful in providing great customer service, start by putting your customer first...

16. Customer Service: Keep 'em coming back!

udemy
4.5
(3,150)

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

17. Your Customer Service Toolbox: Best Practices for Beginners

udemy
4.5
(4,101)

Excel as a front-line customer service agent using problem-solving & relationship-building skills, etiquette, and more...

18. 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...

19. Brilliant Customer Service: How to Impress your Customers!

udemy
4.7
(12,891)

Enhance your customer support and truly differentiate yourself from your competition!...

20. Food Photography: Capturing Food in Your Kitchen

udemy
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!...

Average cook and waitress/waiter salary by education level

Cook and waitresses/waiter with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $30,566 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, cook and waitresses/waiter earn a median annual income of $29,821 compared to $28,736 for cook and waitresses/waiter with an Associate degree.
Cook and waitress/waiter education levelCook and waitress/waiter salary
Master's Degree$30,566
High School Diploma or Less$27,692
Bachelor's Degree$29,821
Some College/ Associate Degree$28,736

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.

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