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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Iowa

Thinking about a career as a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Iowa? Here’s what you need to know. Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.

What do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Make in Iowa?

The cooks, institution and cafeteria working in Iowa, wages run about $34,560 per year (or about $16.61/hour).Annual wages span from $25,140 at the 10th percentile to $40,410 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$25,140	$12.09
25th percentile	$29,680	$14.27
Median (50th)	$34,560	$16.61
75th percentile	$36,830	$17.71
90th percentile	$40,410	$19.43

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Iowa compared to the national average — is 2.08, indicating that cooks, institution and cafeteria are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, cooks, institution and cafeteria earn a median of $30,453 per year ($14.64/hour), higher than the Iowa median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 395,074 cooks, institution and cafeteria nationwide. In Iowa alone, approximately 9,460 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 7,290 cooks, institution and cafeteria.

Top Iowa Metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

The largest metro-area employers of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Iowa.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	1,720	$35,360
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	870	$34,310
Cedar Rapids, IA	810	$35,620
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	570	$34,410
Iowa City, IA	550	$36,230
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	380	$35,100
Ames, IA	350	$35,330
Dubuque, IA	340	$35,670

Top States for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Employment

The table below shows the states where the most cooks, institution and cafeteria work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	35,110
California	27,320
Florida	24,100
Pennsylvania	23,520
Ohio	23,180
Illinois	22,850
New York	16,980
Michigan	13,650
Missouri	13,310
North Carolina	11,970
Tennessee	11,890
Indiana	11,690
Oklahoma	11,660
Kentucky	11,650
Virginia	11,070
Washington	10,210
Wisconsin	9,680
Colorado	9,520
Iowa	9,460
Alabama	8,970

Highest-Paying States for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

The highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria.

State	Annual Median Salary
Washington	$48,260
Hawaii	$47,250
Alaska	$46,900
Massachusetts	$46,280
Connecticut	$45,870
California	$45,680
District of Columbia	$45,600
Rhode Island	$45,450
New Hampshire	$45,280
New York	$45,160

Skills

The most important cooks, institution and cafeteria skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for cooks, institution and cafeteria, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.
• Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
• Rotate and store food supplies.
• Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
• Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
• Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
• Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.
• Direct activities of one or more workers who assist in preparing and serving meals.
• Train new employees.
• Take inventory of supplies and equipment.
• Requisition food supplies, kitchen equipment, and appliances, based on estimates of future needs.
• Bake breads, rolls, or other pastries.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Processing Information

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

• Culinary Arts

Related Careers

Related occupations to cooks, institution and cafeteria include:

• Food Service Managers
• Dietetic Technicians
• Chefs and Head Cooks
• First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
• Cooks, Fast Food
• Cooks, Private Household

Also Known As

Boarding House Cook, Cafeteria Cook, Camp Cook, Cook, Culinary Specialist, Dietary Aide, Dietary Cook, Dinner Cook, Food Service Specialist, Food Service Worker, Galley Cook, Institutional Cook, Kitchen Cook, Line Cook, Mess Cook.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 35-2012.00