Post job

Lead cook education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, lead cooks don't need a college education. The most common degree for lead cooks is associate degree with 35% graduates, with only 33% lead cook graduates earning high school diploma. Lead cooks who decided to graduate from college often finish Johnson & Wales University or Culinary Institute of America. Some good skills to have in this position include customer service, food handling and culinary.

Popular lead cook certifications include Certified Food Manager (CFM), ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification, or Food Safety Manager Certification. To improve lead cook qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in lead cook education paths.

What education do you need to become a lead cook?

What degree do you need to be a lead cook?

The most common degree for lead cooks is associate degree, with 35% of lead cooks earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 33% and high school diploma degree at 17%.
  • Associate, 35%
  • High School Diploma, 33%
  • Bachelor's, 17%
  • Diploma, 10%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a lead cook?

You should major in culinary arts to become a lead cook. 44% of lead cooks major in culinary arts. Other common majors for a lead cook include business and general studies.

Best majors for lead cooks

20 best online courses for lead 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. Child Nutrition and Cooking

coursera

Eating patterns that begin in childhood affect health and well-being across the lifespan. The culture of eating has changed significantly in recent decades, especially in parts of the world where processed foods dominate our dietary intake. This course examines contemporary child nutrition and the impact of the individual decisions made by each family. The health risks associated with obesity in childhood are also discussed. Participants will learn what constitutes a healthy diet for children...

3. 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...

4. 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...

5. 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...

6. 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...

7. Vegan Nutrition Health Coach Certification

udemy
4.6
(2,112)

Become a Vegan Nutrition Certified Health Coach, Learn Vegan Cooking, Embrace a Holistic Approach to Food...

8. 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...

9. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

udemy
4.7
(18,204)

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

10. 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...

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

udemy
4.4
(478)

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

12. 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...

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. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

udemy
4.5
(3,822)

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

15. 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...

16. Customer Service

udemy
4.6
(11,267)

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

17. 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...

18. Customer Service: 6 Keys To Exceptional Customer Service

udemy
4.6
(601)

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

19. Basic Fire Safety Awareness

udemy
4.3
(776)

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

20. Customer Service Basics: Improve your Service now

udemy
4.5
(889)

The basic golden rules to kickstart your service...

Average lead cook salary by education level

Lead cooks with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $38,650 annually. With a Associate degree, lead cooks earn a median annual income of $37,645 compared to $36,714 for lead cooks with an High School Diploma degree.
Lead cook education levelLead cook salary
High School Diploma or Less$36,714
Bachelor's Degree$38,650
No Education$36,233
Some College/ Associate Degree$37,645

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