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Dietary cook: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$37,450median pay per year, or $18.01 an hour, May 2025[2]
  1. $28,480lowest 10% earn less
  2. $32,44025th percentile
  3. $37,450median
  4. $44,80075th percentile
  5. $49,670top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Institution and cafeteria cooks, a group that includes workers titled dietary cook[1], earned a median of $37,450 a year in May 2025[2]. The job typically needs no formal educational credential[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.8%[6]
Openings per year
62,900[7]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[3]

How much do dietary cooks make?

The BLS title is Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria. The median wage was $37,450 a year, or $18.01 an hour, in May 2025[2]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[2]. The mean wage was $38,810 a year, or $18.66 an hour[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $28,480, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $49,670[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9]. By the hour, the 25th percentile was $15.60 and the 75th percentile was $21.54[10].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $28,480
25th percentile[4] $32,440
Median[2] $37,450
75th percentile[4] $44,800
90th percentile[4] $49,670

The median for all occupations was $50,980, so this job's median sits below it[5][2]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[11].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest state median at $49,670, followed by Alaska at $48,580 and Massachusetts at $47,790[12]. Louisiana had the lowest at $25,490[12].

The most jobs were in California (31,660), Florida (25,100) and Texas (24,740)[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kahului-Wailuku, HI had the highest median at $55,400, then San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $51,880[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, at 15,270, with a median of $46,870[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$49,6709,780
Alaska$48,5801,430
Massachusetts$47,7907,430
Hawaii$47,7701,570
Rhode Island$46,5701,190
California$46,39031,660
Vermont$46,3701,330
Connecticut$46,1204,500
New York$45,88017,670
District of Columbia$45,4501,500
New Hampshire$45,3701,720
New Jersey$44,5207,490
Oregon$44,5207,150
Delaware$44,0802,680
Maine$43,4901,790
Minnesota$43,4607,890
Colorado$42,5009,440
Maryland$41,3803,370
Arizona$39,6607,170
North Dakota$39,4901,820
Nevada$39,4301,650
Wisconsin$38,6509,890
Utah$38,2005,610
Virginia$37,89011,170
Illinois$37,44022,840
Montana$37,1502,290
Wyoming$36,9401,570
Michigan$36,87013,500
South Dakota$36,7302,120
Ohio$36,72023,440
Pennsylvania$36,54024,490
New Mexico$36,4703,160
Nebraska$36,3904,410
Florida$36,25025,100
North Carolina$36,14011,170
Indiana$35,98011,130
Iowa$35,8108,860
Idaho$35,6003,650
Tennessee$35,57010,680
Texas$35,36024,740
Georgia$35,0908,220
South Carolina$34,9607,850
Missouri$34,90013,130
Kansas$31,9507,570
Kentucky$31,55011,540
Arkansas$30,2406,530
West Virginia$29,7404,420
Oklahoma$29,27010,790
Mississippi$27,3906,420
Alabama$27,1208,780
Louisiana$25,4905,740

How to become a dietary cook

The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile used for training details covers cooks more widely, not only this group[16].

Many states do not require certification for cooks, but some states and localities require a food handler's certification[21]. Check with your state or local licensing board[21].

In an O*NET survey of 41 workers in this occupation, 71% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, and 14% said a post-secondary certificate[22].

What dietary cooks do

These cooks prepare large amounts of food for places such as schools, hospitals and cafeterias[23]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

Across the wider group, cooks work in restaurants, schools, hospitals, hotels and other places that prepare and serve food[25]. They stand for long periods and work under pressure[26]. Common hazards are slips, falls, cuts and burns[27].

Most work full time, though part-time work is common[28]. Cooks in school cafeterias and some institutional ones usually keep steadier hours[28]. Cooks in schools may work only during the school year, typically 9 or 10 months[29].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035, a bit below the 3.5% projected for all occupations[6][30]. Those counts include self-employed workers[6].

About 62,900 openings a year are projected on average[7]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[7]. Each year, 5.9% of workers leave the labor force and 7.5% move to a different occupation[31].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest a job with a low barrier to entry, since no formal credential is typical[3]. Pay is below the all-occupations median[2][5]. Many openings are projected each year[7], and school cafeterias can offer more regular hours[28]. The work involves long periods on your feet[26].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dietary cook make an hour?
The median was $18.01 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $18.66[2][8].
What education do you need to be a dietary cook?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as typical[3]. Employers may prefer a high school diploma[17].
What is the highest paying state for institution and cafeteria cooks?
Washington, with a median of $49,670[12].
Is institution and cafeteria cook a growing job?
Employment is projected to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[6][30]. About 62,900 openings a year are projected[7].

Facts and sources

  1. O*NET 35-2012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Cafeteria Cook, Cook, Dietary Cook, Dinner Cook, Food Service Specialist, Food Service Worker, Prep Cook (Preparatory Cook), School Cook. O*NET OnLine
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the US was $37,450 per year and $18.01 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria: 10th percentile $28,480, 25th percentile $32,440, 75th percentile $44,800, 90th percentile $49,670. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is projected to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 454,000 to 466,600 jobs (a change of +12,600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections: about 62,900 openings for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria was $38,810 per year and $18.66 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria: 10th percentile $13.69, 25th percentile $15.60, 75th percentile $21.54, 90th percentile $23.88. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs: California 31,660; Florida 25,100; Texas 24,740; Pennsylvania 24,490; Ohio 23,440. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kahului-Wailuku, HI $55,400; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $51,880; Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $51,620; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $51,530; Barnstable Town, MA $49,720; Fairbanks-College, AK $49,340; Bellingham, WA $49,320; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $49,280. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 15,270 (median $46,870); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 14,010 (median $38,290); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 9,860 (median $45,400); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 9,810 (median $38,870); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 6,620 (median $37,370); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 6,220 (median $36,480). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Cooks" covers Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 35-2012.00 survey of workers (41 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 71%, Post-Secondary Certificate 14%, Bachelor's Degree 7%, Some College Courses 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria: 5.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.