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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Virginia

Want to work as a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Virginia? Below are the key facts. Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.

What do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Make in Virginia?

For a cooks, institution and cafeteria working in Virginia, the median annual wage is $36,260 per year (or roughly $17.43/hour).Pay can range from $28,620 at the 10th percentile to $47,340 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$28,620	$13.76
25th percentile	$31,460	$15.13
Median (50th)	$36,260	$17.43
75th percentile	$41,500	$19.95
90th percentile	$47,340	$22.76

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Virginia compared to the national average — is 0.94.

National Wage Comparison

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

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 395,074 cooks, institution and cafeteria across the United States. In Virginia alone, around 11,070 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 7,290 cooks, institution and cafeteria.

Top Virginia Metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

The metro areas below employ the most cooks, institution and cafeteria in Virginia.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	2,320	$37,190
Richmond, VA	1,510	$36,180
Lynchburg, VA	540	$30,440
Roanoke, VA	410	$33,920
Charlottesville, VA	400	$37,300
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA	310	$35,870
Winchester, VA-WV	220	$35,860
Harrisonburg, VA	200	$37,910
Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA	190	$32,760

Top States for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Employment

View the states that employ 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

Where cooks, institution and cafeteria earn the most: 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

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

Knowledge Areas

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

Abilities

Key abilities 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

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

• Culinary Arts

Related Careers

Careers similar 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