Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
SOC Code: 35-2012 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $41,205 | $48,526 | $55,869 | $63,190 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $43,701 | $48,027 | $52,333 | $56,659 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $40,726 | $46,030 | $51,355 | $56,659 |
| New Haven, CT | $38,376 | $44,450 | $50,523 | $56,597 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $42,099 | $46,883 | $51,667 | $56,451 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,824 | $48,526 | $52,250 | $55,952 |
| Napa, CA | $39,624 | $44,886 | $50,128 | $55,390 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $37,502 | $43,430 | $49,379 | $55,307 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $40,186 | $45,074 | $49,982 | $54,870 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $36,296 | $42,411 | $48,547 | $54,662 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.1 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| English Language | 3.6 |
| Food Production | 3.6 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.6 |
| Mathematics | 3.5 |
| Administration and Management | 3.3 |
| Production and Processing | 3.1 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.0 |
| Education and Training | 2.9 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 71.1% |
| Some college | 14.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 6.8% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 5.8% |
| Less than high school | 1.9% |
Typical Tasks
- Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
- Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
- Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
- Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.
- Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
- Direct activities of one or more workers who assist in preparing and serving meals.
- Bake breads, rolls, or other pastries.
- Train new employees.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Word GNOME Gnutrition IBM Lotus 1-2-3 Meals Plus PCS Revenue Control Systems FASTRAK School Meal Software Point of sale POS software Spreadsheet software Word processing software
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