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Kitchen worker education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, kitchen workers don't need a college education. The most common degree for kitchen workers is high school diploma with 44% graduates, with only 27% kitchen worker graduates earning bachelor's degree. Kitchen workers who decided to graduate from college often finish Michigan State University or College of Southern Nevada. Some good skills to have in this position include cleanliness, food handling and kitchen equipment.

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

What education do you need to become a kitchen worker?

What degree do you need to be a kitchen worker?

The most common degree for kitchen workers is high school diploma, with 44% of kitchen workers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 27% and bachelor's degree degree at 15%.
  • High School Diploma, 44%
  • Bachelor's, 27%
  • Associate, 15%
  • Diploma, 9%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a kitchen worker?

You should major in business to become a kitchen worker. 15% of kitchen workers major in business. Other common majors for a kitchen worker include general studies and culinary arts.

Best majors for kitchen workers

RankMajorPercentages
1Business15.1%
2General Studies13.8%
3Culinary Arts8.2%
4Criminal Justice5.8%
5Liberal Arts5.3%

20 best online courses for kitchen workers

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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. Unravelling solutions for Future Food problems

coursera

Our society depends on the availability of food and accessibility to it. According to the United Nations nearly 800 million people are hungry and on the other hand, over 650 million people are obese. While many people in developing countries experience food shortage, in industrialized countries people are throwing food away. These facts show how paradoxical and complex the world’s food problem is. ln this course, more than 10 food researchers from Utrecht University will address the main issues...

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. 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!...

7. 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...

8. 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...

9. Blockchain applications in Food Safety, Healthcare & Pharma

udemy
4.5
(3,019)

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

10. Basic Food Photography

udemy
4.2
(1,349)

Learn how to take delicious food photos from scratch...

11. 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...

12. 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...

13. 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...

14. 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...

15. Customer Service: 6 Keys To Exceptional Customer Service

udemy
4.6
(601)

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

16. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

udemy
4.7
(18,204)

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

17. How to Design Your Dream Kitchen

udemy
4.6
(931)

Learn Kitchen Design from A to Z...

18. You Found It! Foodies Ultimate Food Photography Masterclass

udemy
4.9
(571)

Beautiful Food Photography with any smartphone, iphone or digital camera. See Progress Quickly. Fundamentals matter!...

19. The Ultimate Food and Restaurant Business Course

udemy
4.5
(1,874)

For Existing Food & Restaurant Businesses & Start Ups. This course will significantly improve you chance of success...

20. Get to Know Your Food: Claims, Labels & Ingredients

udemy
4.4
(813)

Learn how to make the healthiest and best food choices amidst processed and packaged foods...

Average kitchen worker salary by education level

Kitchen workers with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $30,014 annually. With a Associate degree, kitchen workers earn a median annual income of $29,413 compared to $29,224 for kitchen workers with an High School Diploma degree.
Kitchen worker education levelKitchen worker salary
High School Diploma or Less$29,224
Bachelor's Degree$30,014
Some College/ Associate Degree$29,413

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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