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School cafeteria cook education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, school cafeteria cooks don't need a college education. The most common degree for school cafeteria cooks is high school diploma with 48% graduates, with only 18% school cafeteria cook graduates earning associate degree. School cafeteria cooks who decided to graduate from college often finish St. John's University or Wichita State University. Some good skills to have in this position include food handling, kitchen equipment and safety standards.

What education do you need to become a school cafeteria cook?

What degree do you need to be a school cafeteria cook?

The most common degree for school cafeteria cooks is high school diploma, with 48% of school cafeteria cooks earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 16%.
  • High School Diploma, 48%
  • Associate, 18%
  • Bachelor's, 16%
  • Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 14%

What should I major in to become a school cafeteria cook?

You should major in general studies to become a school cafeteria cook. 13% of school cafeteria cooks major in general studies. Other common majors for a school cafeteria cook include business and psychology.

Best majors for school cafeteria cooks

RankMajorPercentages
1General Studies13.3%
2Business13.3%
3Psychology8.9%
4Management6.7%
5Cosmetology6.7%

20 best online courses for school cafeteria cooks

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1. Cooking for Busy Healthy People

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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

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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. Fun food safety and sanitation course

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

4. Cook Real Food: How to Make Simple Plant-Based Meals

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Learn how to cook whole plant foods to make quick, easy, and healthy vegan meals for practical everyday eating...

5. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

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The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...

6. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

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4.4
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Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...

7. ISO 22000 (HACCP and PRPs) for Food Safety

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Standards, analysis, control points, and risk management related to ISO 22000 for food industry professionals...

8. Vegan Nutrition: Build Your Plant Based Diet & Meal Plan

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Learn How To Set Up A Vegan Diet For Weight Loss, Building Muscle, Healthy Eating, Meal Planning & Vegan Bodybuilding...

9. Vegan Nutrition Health Coach Certification

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

10. Occupational Health & Safety Training

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Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...

11. Food Photography: Capturing Food in Your Kitchen

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With DIY Food Photography, you'll be taking better photos in no time with what you have in your own kitchen!...

12. Blockchain applications in Food Safety, Healthcare & Pharma

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

13. Nutrition Certification: Advanced Diet & Meal Planning

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Advanced Diet And Nutrition Coach Strategies Dieting Certificate For Meal Plans, Fat Loss, Health & Sports Nutrition...

14. Customer Service: Keep 'em coming back!

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

15. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

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

16. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

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

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

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

18. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

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Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...

19. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)

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(2,583)

Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...

20. Your Customer Service Toolbox: Best Practices for Beginners

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4.5
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Excel as a front-line customer service agent using problem-solving & relationship-building skills, etiquette, and more...

Average school cafeteria cook salary by education level

According to our data, school cafeteria cooks with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $36,706 annually. School cafeteria cooks with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $35,449.
School cafeteria cook education levelSchool cafeteria cook salary
High School Diploma or Less$34,292
Bachelor's Degree$36,706
No Education$33,698
Some College/ Associate Degree$35,449

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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