Line Cook Education Requirements And Courses

Line cook education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, line cooks don't need a college education. The most common degree for line cooks is high school diploma with 36% graduates, with only 29% line cook graduates earning associate degree. Line 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 culinary, sanitation standards and food handling.

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

What education do you need to become a line cook?

What degree do you need to be a line cook?

The most common degree for line cooks is high school diploma, with 36% of line cooks earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 29% and associate degree degree at 20%.

High School Diploma, 36%

Associate, 29%

Bachelor's, 20%

Diploma, 10%

Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a line cook?

You should major in culinary arts to become a line cook. 43% of line cooks major in culinary arts. Other common majors for a line cook include business and general studies.

Culinary Arts, 43%

Business, 13%

General Studies, 6%

Hospitality Management, 4%

Other Majors, 34%

Best majors for line cooks

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Culinary Arts	42.8%
2	Business	12.7%
3	General Studies	6.2%
4	Hospitality Management	4.4%
5	Criminal Justice	3.8%

Show more common line cook majors

20 best online courses for line cooks

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1. Cooking for Busy Healthy People

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

4.6

(539)

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

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. 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...

5. 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...

6. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

4.5

(3,822)

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

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. 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...

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. 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...

13. Customer Service: 6 Keys To Exceptional Customer Service

4.6

(601)

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

14. 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...

15. 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...

16. Basic Food Photography

4.2

(1,349)

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

17. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

4.5

(958)

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

18. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.

4.5

(2,235)

How to implement and audit a health & safety management system and obtain certification to OHSAS 18001 Standard...

19. Your Customer Service Toolbox: Best Practices for Beginners

4.5

(4,101)

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

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

4.4

(478)

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

Average line cook salary by education level

According to our data, line cooks with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $34,871 annually. Line cooks with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $34,135.

Line cook education level	Line cook salary
High School Diploma or Less	$33,449
Bachelor's Degree	$34,871
No Education	$33,094
Some College/ Associate Degree	$34,135