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Cook/dietary aide vs cafeteria cook

The differences between cook/dietary aides and cafeteria cooks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a cook/dietary aide and a cafeteria cook. Additionally, a cafeteria cook has an average salary of $30,395, which is higher than the $27,490 average annual salary of a cook/dietary aide.

The top three skills for a cook/dietary aide include meal service, food handling and patients. The most important skills for a cafeteria cook are culinary, cleanliness, and kitchen equipment.

Cook/dietary aide vs cafeteria cook overview

Cook/Dietary AideCafeteria Cook
Yearly salary$27,490$30,395
Hourly rate$13.22$14.61
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs163,273130,702
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%High School Diploma, 50%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

Cook/dietary aide vs cafeteria cook salary

Cook/dietary aides and cafeteria cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.

Cook/Dietary AideCafeteria Cook
Average salary$27,490$30,395
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $34,000Between $25,000 And $36,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CAFalmouth, MA
Highest paying stateUtahUtah
Best paying companyAnn Storck CenterNational Pancake House
Best paying industryHospitalityHospitality

Differences between cook/dietary aide and cafeteria cook education

There are a few differences between a cook/dietary aide and a cafeteria cook in terms of educational background:

Cook/Dietary AideCafeteria Cook
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%High School Diploma, 50%
Most common majorCulinary ArtsCulinary Arts
Most common college--

Cook/dietary aide vs cafeteria cook demographics

Here are the differences between cook/dietary aides' and cafeteria cooks' demographics:

Cook/Dietary AideCafeteria Cook
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 25.9% Female, 74.1%Male, 39.0% Female, 61.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 8.5% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between cook/dietary aide and cafeteria cook duties and responsibilities

Cook/dietary aide example responsibilities.

  • Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
  • Maintain kitchen cleanliness and quality standards base on federal guidelines for license long-term care facilities.
  • Assist residents with menus, questions, complaints and concerns, with compassion.
  • Cook with close attention to dietary concerns, including allergies, diabetes, and kosher diets.
  • Inventory and restocking, cleaning, communicating with healthcare professionals about dietary needs (such as allergies )
  • Clean and operate ovens, grills, vats, boilers, tilt skillets, meat slicers, mixers and stovetops.
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Cafeteria cook example responsibilities.

  • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
  • Prepare and serve nutritional meals to the before and after school kids.
  • Inspect equipment for cleanliness in functional operation.
  • Supervise the culinary arts participants in juvenile detention facility.
  • Maintain cafeteria cleanliness, stock condiments, Pepsi machine syrup replacement.
  • Ensure customers convenience are met/exceed by accommodating and notifying customers of ingredients that may trigger food allergies or intolerance.
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Cook/dietary aide vs cafeteria cook skills

Common cook/dietary aide skills
  • Meal Service, 17%
  • Food Handling, 15%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 9%
  • Food Service, 9%
  • Diet Orders, 7%
Common cafeteria cook skills
  • Culinary, 21%
  • Cleanliness, 18%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 14%
  • Food Service, 12%
  • Food Handling, 11%
  • Quality Standards, 7%

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